Active Physio Wanganui rep cricket coach Rod Bannister is refusing to allow the absence of two key players impact on the team's performance in the Hawke Cup away clash against Taranaki this weekend.
Bannister was forced to make changes to his winning combination that beat Wairarapa pre-Christmas.
"Due to unavailability of two of our top six batsman, Mark Fraser and Max Carroll, we will go into this weekend's Hawke Cup match against Taranaki at Pukekura Park with replacements. The hard-hitting Nick Harding and opening bowler Ross Kinnerley have been brought into the side," Bannister said yesterday.
"Fresh off an outright win over Wairarapa pre Xmas, we face a big challenge against the heavyweights Taranaki in their own backyard. Despite this we have a team that has grown throughout this campaign and we understand what our roles are. The goal this weekend is to bat only once and to push hard continuing to build respectability within the CD Region as a developing and competitive side," Bannister said.
The Wanganui 12 are: Dom Lock; Dom Rayner (vc); Henry Collier (c); Jono Steward; Nick Harding; John McIlraith; Todd Inness; Chris Sharrock; Trav Bartels; Ross Kinnerley; Sam Oleary; Ryan Slight.