Cricket: CD seek edge to stay alive in T20

Ben Wheeler winds up to extract swing for CD in the T20 campaign. Photo / ODT

Logic must prevail when trying to analyse what makes left-arm bowlers tick in cricket.

That is, if the left compartment of one's grey matter dictates terms to the right side of the body then it's only fair to deduce lefties are the only ones in their right minds.

Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags player Ben Wheeler laughs when asked if that's what gives his species an edge on the wicket.

"We might be a little bit crazy. We think a little bit differently to right-handers," says the 23-year-old left-arm opening seamer from Malborough before the Heinrich Malan-coached CD Stags host the Otago Volts on Friday in the opening clash of the Georgie Pie Super Smash Twenty20 round of matches in Napier.

The Kruger van Wyk-captained Stags, the only major association without an overseas import this summer, have only won two matches and will need to win all three games at McLean Park as well as rely on the results of a couple of other matches to go their way to make the playoffs.

CD play the Volts at 7.10pm, then lock horns with the Northern Districts Knights at 7pm on Saturday, following the Auckland Aces v Canterbury Kings match from 3.50pm.

On Sunday, the Stags take on the Kings from 3.50pm before the Knights play the Aces from 7pm.

The predominantly youthful CD have shown they can do the job but, to be fair, the batsmen haven't really had decent knocks to give their bowlers a fighting chance.

"We haven't batted well and it's been a bit patchy," says Wheeler of CD who are struggling to nudge the 150-run total.

Should the Stags have signed up an import or two?

"In the past we've had them [imports] and they didn't come off for us," Wheeler says as CD this summer embraced a policy of grooming talent in their scattered catchment area.

He says home-grown players had chalked up valuable time in the glamorous televised T20 campaign although, ironically, the turnouts at other parks have been poor.

CD chief executive Neil "Pods" Hood is offering fans "Stag Nation Christmas Party" deals on Friday for a pre-match bash starting at 5pm, including complimentary drinks and a barbecue buffet dinner. The best-dressed table of will receive 10 tickets to the ODI World Cup day match at McLean Park between the Black Caps and Afghanistan on March 8.

This Saturday, CD will run the Plunket Ladies Luxury Lounge for $30 and a ", manzone" for $50.

Wheeler echoes teammate Seth Rance's sentiments that night games, preferably batting first, should favour swing bowlers.

The pair have used the temperamental new white ball with dexterity, leaving stunned batsmen staring at their stumps in disbelief.

"Last Saturday night a couple of balls stuck to the hand but other nights they haven't," says the Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North CC premier player of the 4-8 in three overs, including a maiden in the 56-run victory in Wellington.

Wheeler is relying on head groundsman Phil Stoyanoff to do his magic on the wicket.

"If we win all three games we'll give ourselves a chance."

The seamer has battled his share of injuries - groin strain last summer, back issues the season before and a lower abdominal tear - but is enjoying a niggle-free 2014-15 summer.

Lowering the intensity of training to boost durability is working for him but so is playing one first-class match before the four-over T20s kicked in.

Wheeler has also been juggling his first-year sports and recreation studies at EIT with an exam paper today and tomorrow to complete eight although he hasn't attended classes for six weeks.

"It's quite good, actually, because you get your mind out of cricket," he says, banking on his sports experience but having to resort to cramming power points in his online studies.

Standings (played/pts): ND 8/22, Firebirds 9/22, Kings 7/16, Aces 7/14, Stags 7/10, Volts 8/8.