Cricket: Let mock exams begin

Jesse Ryder's ability to bowl adds to the balance of the team while Ajaz Patel is the slow-ball option.

Just as university is the new high school, making the cut in sport these days is more of a prerequisite than a sense of attainment.

That's what defending champions Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags will bear in mind when they play against the Mondiale Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval from 11am today in their one-day Ford Trophy match.

Only one-point separates the second-placed Stags from third-placed Aces, with both sides guaranteed a berth in the qualifying finals.

That means the losers of the match between the first versus second-placed teams on the ladder will be granted another lease of life so that adds zest to today's CD v Aces match.

If nothing, the Heinrich Malan-coached Stags are coming off a rain-abandoned match against undefeated top qualifiers Canterbury Kings in Christchurch last Sunday.

"The senior boys have led the team meeting and talked about getting the team across the line come tomorrow," Malan said yesterday from Auckland.

The William Young-captained Stags didn't just engage in some meaningful training yesterday but also were in good spirit.

"But the best form of preparation is playing out there - never mind how much time you spend in the nets to build your confidence," he said, delighted with the forecast of more fine weather.

Had it rained CD would have become second qualifiers.

Malan saw that as a tick for CD in buying an insurance policy this summer with bonus points, considering previous seasons they had fallen foul in white-ball cricket to inclement weather.

"If you follow the process and play good cricket the result will look after itself."

CHB seamer Blair Tickner will carry the drinks as Malan opts for Taradale spinner Ajaz Patel as his slow-ball option.

"Previously Mary [Kain] got injured [side strain] so it was going to be tough bringing only [opening batsman] George [Worker] in," he explained, justifying his decision to maintain the same starting XI that didn't get past a few overs against the Kings last Sunday.

"To be fair, Ticks [Tickner] is coming in leaps and bounds and learning a lot in the nets by bowling to the likes of Jesse [Ryder] and George so he'll be better for the experience and he'll get his chance."

He said ex-international Ryder, Worker and fellow Black Caps allrounder Doug Bracewell were fulcrums in providing leverage to twist and turn the make-up of the CD line up.

With one game played previously on the outer oval, Malan expected the wicket to be maintain its pace and bounce as a batting strip with shorter boundaries.

He reflected on the Georgie Pie Super Smash Twenty20 game they played against the Aces where they extracted 400 runs from 40 overs.

"It's a knockout game so it has a quarterfinal feel for for us."

Black Caps seamer Ben Wheeler will want to hit the proper channels today to add to Seth Rance and Bracewell's new-ball attack.

Wheeler is returning from an injury layoff.

The Michael Bates-skippered Aces are coming off a seven-wicket thumping of the Wellington Firebirds last Sunday at the Basin Reserve so CD can't ask for a better opposition to face in preparation of the playoffs.

The teams:

AUCKLAND ACES: Michael Guptill-Bunce, Brad Cachopa (wkt), Ben Horne, Shawn Hicks, Colin de Grandhomme, Robbie O'Donnell, Mike Barry, Donovan Grobbelaar, Mark Chapman, Tarun Nethula, Michael Bates (c), Lockie Ferguson.
Coach: Mark O'Donnell.

CD STAGS: William Young (c), Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (wkt), Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, George Worker, Ben Wheeler.
12th man: Blair Tickner.
Coach: Heinrich Malan.