The chances of any play in the first-class cricket match today is pretty slim, if the bleak forecast of rain, hail and southwesterlies at Canterbury is anything to go by.
However, Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags have included Navin Patel, of Palmerston North, in their 12-man mix in the gameagainst the Canterbury Kings for round three of the Budget Rental Plunket Shield match at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora.
"Navin played relatively well for Manawatu and the CD A side so it's an opportunity for him to showcase his talent at a higher level," said CD coach Heinrich Malan of the right-arm seamer, after Wairarapa seamer Seth Rance got hamstrung at training.
It'll be the Stags' first game without Kruger van Wyk who retired last week. Talented batsman William Young will assume the mantle of captaincy while Dane Cleaver will slip on the wicketkeeping gloves.
Opening batsman and T20 skipper George Worker is unavailable this round because he is bestman at a relative's wedding at the weekend.
"We knew about George preseason and he's also selected to play for the All Blacks again so that's pretty awesome," Malan said as the New Zealand team prepare to play Sri Lanka in ODIs after this week's second test in Hamilton.
He took the opportunity to salute Van Wyk as a leader and a nuggety middle-order batsman.
"Whenever we were in trouble on the field he never gave up and fought right down to the last ball."
