Cricket: Newbies plus for Stags says Malan

Heinrich Malan

Three newbies come into the Central Districts squad of 12 in the do-or-die Ford Trophy match against Otago Volts in New Plymouth today.

Middle-order batsman Tom Bruce, fellow Taranaki left-arm spinner Matty Thomas and Manawatu top order batsman David Meiring come into the Devon Hotel-sponsored Stags side.

Jamie How and Stevie Smidt are unavailable due to work commitments and allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett has been ruled out with injury.

"Most Volts guys haven't seen much of them so for us it's an advantage," CD coach Heinrich Malan said last night, before today's 11am start in the 50-over preliminary final.

Malan said the newcomers had had a good Provincial A tournament and performed creditably for their provinces in the Hawke Cup competition.

Top qualifiers CD lost to the Auckland Aces last Sunday to forfeit their right to host the one-day final at home.

The winners of today's game will play the Aces in the televised grand final at Eden Park on Sunday.

Third placed Otago won the knockout final over the fourth placed ND Knights last Sunday in Queenstown.

Malan said the Pukekura Park deck looked dry on a fine day yesterday.

However, the forecast is for intermittent rain today and the dreaded Duckworth Lewis Method may be needed to decide the result.

Should CD stumble, he will release Taranaki and Manawatu batsmen for the Hawke Cup challenge in Palmerston North at the weekend but the bowlers will be rested before the four-day Plunket Shield resumes for the Stags at Invercargill from Friday next week.

A CD selection will play the United Arab Emirates at Nelson Park in Napier, on Monday and Wednesday next week as the tourists prepare for the ICC World Cup matches at McLean Park.

Malan said first-class players Ajaz Patel and Greg Hay will be in the mix during games that will offer him and the two other selectors an opportunity to gauge other players.

In today's game against "a quality side with Black Caps", he did not expect his troops to improve in any one specific area.

"If we can execute five per cent on our current skills then we'll be in a good position," Malan said of the Kruger van Wyk-captained Stags.

"If Krugs can call right - he'll be shooting the coin - then we'll have to get runs on the board."

The goal for the newbies, should they make the cut, will be to thrive in the manner they did for their provinces without the Stags putting too much pressure "structurally" on them.