Cricket: Pencils sharpened for Hawke Cup mock exams

HBCA president Harry Findlay (left) and coach Colin Schaw with the Hawke Cup at Milner Park, Oamaru, after beating holders North Otago in February. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

NO more living in a false economy of cricket for the Hawke's Bay senior men's representative team.

The Pay Excellence-sponsored Bay side are taking stock this long weekend of their Hawke Cup campaign, starting early next month, with a 106-over red-ball game on Saturday and a 50-over white-ball one on Sunday against cup holders Bay of Plenty at Tauranga Domain.

The players will turn out for their respective premier men's clubs tomorrow in the Property Brokers 110-over competition (all at Nelson Park, Napier) as it's HB Anniversary Day public holiday although the forecast is for rain.

Bay coach Colin Schaw says Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags trio of Andrew Mathieson, Ajaz Patel and Blair Tickner are gone as the first-class Plunket Shield campaign starts on Saturday.

Schaw says his son, Scott Schaw, also won't be available this weekend because the Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay wicketkeeper has tertiary study commitments in pursuing his teaching degree.

In-form Big Barrel Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) batsman Matt Edmondson, who was the main contributor in lifting the Chapple Cup last Sunday, will don the gloves behind the stumps with back-up wicketkeeper Dominic Thompson still at varsity.

"This weekend we'll be trying to consolidate the middle and top order so the boys will be vying for places," says coach Schaw who is in his second season at the helm.

United Travel Taradale batsman Callum Hewetson, who Schaw considers unlucky to miss out in the Chapple Cup side, comes into the mix this weekend.

So does Heretuanga Building Society Cornwall CC player Casey Rangi.

"We may lose another seamer at some stage or get one back so I'm trying to get some cover," says Schaw who sees Rangi and New Zealand under-19 rep Christian Leopard (NTOB) as third and fourth seamers with Cornwall's Liam Dudding and Taradale's Ben Stoyanoff sharing the new ball.

A predominantly brittle top and middle order in the Chapple Cup means Schaw is keen on a Rahul Dravid-type batsman who can stop the rot and allow others to bat around him.

Enter Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North CC newcomer Brad Schmulian, a former Auckland
A cricketer who is here in the hope of breaking into the CD Stags.

"We have a lot of stroke makers so we need some stability in the middle to bat around and we can breathe a little."

Hawke's Bay etched their name on the symbol of minor association supremacy in February when they beat North Otago in Oamaru, breaking a cup drought dating back to the summer of 2007-08.

However, in their first defence in March they lost it to BOP at Nelson Park as courageous rival skipper Peter Drysdale led his troops to a six-wicket victory despite a broken finger sustained on day one of the challenge.

Schaw is hoping the BOP outfit will test his Jacob Smith-captained troops.

He won't have to worry as BOP have ND Knights pair Jono Boult (66 BOP caps) and Brett Hampton (54) in the mix to add to Drysdale's most appearances (68) and wicketkeeper Tim Clarke (56).

Century-making hero from Napier Ben Musgrave is also in the red-ball game.

Luke Tatley, Gurwinder Singh, Sean Dykes, Jonty Grigson and Iman Singh are all youngsters who have yet to make their BOP debuts.

Tatley and Iman Singh are high schoolers.

CHB South African import legspinner and offspinner Angus Schaw will be increasing their bowling loads for the Bay as they will be expected to frustrate opposition batsmen throughout the Hawke Cup campaign.

The coach's edict, though, is to ensure peace of mind through the selection process by maintaining continuity so incumbents are not playing under duress.

■ Hawke's Bay: Liam Dudding, Matt Edmondson (wkt), Callum Hewetson, Christian Leopard, GC Pretorius, Casey Rangi, Angus Schaw, Indika Senarthne, Bradley Schmulian, Jacob Smith (c), Ben Stoyanoff, Rupert Young.
Coach: Colin Schaw.

■ BOP, red-ball side: Peter Drysdale (c), Sean Davey, Ben Musgrave, Jono Bolt, Brett Hampton, Stephen Crossan, Tim Clarke, Donovan Deeble, Campbell Thomas, Luke Tatley, Gurwinder Singh, Kyle Dovey.

■ White-ball side: Sean Dykes, Cameron Neal, Tim Clarke (c), Brenton Thompson, Jonty Grigson, Jono Bolt, Brett Hampton, Matt Golding, Alastair Blackett, Donovan Deeble, Brody Gilroy, Iman Singh.
Coach: Charles Williams.