Cricket: Shin splint robs CD of express deliveries

Adam Milne

Rd 2, Plunket Shield Saxton Oval, Nelson

Seth Rance is back from fulfilling fatherhood obligations but Black Caps speed merchant Adam Milne has been put on ice.

"Adam Milne's been told to rest because he's [nursing] splint shins," Devon Hotel Central Districts coach Heinrich Malan said last night from Nelson before the Stags roll out the wicket at Saxton Oval for the Wellington Firebirds in round two of the Budget Rental-sponsored Plunket Shield match starting tomorrow.

The two sides are coming of drawn affairs in their season-opening first-class encounters last week.

With Ross Taylor and seamer Doug Bracewell on test duties on the Australia tour and William Young back in the New Zealand A equation, Malan took the line of "it is what it is".

"We have a couple more [Ben Wheeler and Bevan Small] out due to injuries but we have the best 11 or 12 who are all capable," he says as Dean Robinson, of Taranaki, comes in to bolster the top-order batsmen and United Travel Taradale CC youngster Ben Stoyanoff the seaming stock.

An inspection of the oval deck today will determine who'll carry the drinks - a seamer's paradise will mean Ajaz Patel will again become 12th man and Stoyanoff will have the chance to "showcase his skills".

Malan said with the Stags and Firebirds coming off stalemates he was expecting both sides "to play some positive cricket".

CD are hoping to clinch at least five out of 10 shield games this summer.

-CD Stags (one to be 12th man): Ben Smith, Dean Robinson, Greg Hay, George Worker, Tom Bruce, Kruger van Wyk (c, wkt), Josh Clarkson, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner, Andrew Mathieson, Seth Rance, Ben Stoyanoff.