Cricket: Waiting game goes on for Worker

AWAY: Joshua Clarkson is off to the U19 World Cup.

The frustration continues for George Worker but Central Districts Stags coach Heinrich Malan has had a heart-to-heart chat with his opening batsman.

"It's disappointing because he's in real good form after scoring 100 and a double and 100 only a few days ago," says the Devon Hotel-sponsored Stags coach, after Worker flew back on Saturday night from the Black Caps squad without making the lineup again.

"When a player's in that sort of form and you tend to get selected it's the best case," Malan said.

The talented left-hander from Manawatu is now available for Wednesday's Ford Trophy match against the Northern Districts Knights in New Plymouth after yesterday's match against the Otago Volts was abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain at Pukekura Park.

Malan said he had reiterated the significance of having no control on what national selectors were doing but Worker remained the architect of maintaining his own form. Words such as "intent", "communication" and "performance" were emphasised to ensure he was at his peak and ready to step up for his country again.

The outlook for Wednesday is more promising but teenager Josh Clarkson is away for the U19 World Cup cricket campaign, with Napier's Christian Leopard and Nelson's Felix Murray, while Taranaki's Jordie Barrett is a non-travelling reserve.

NTOB batsman Indika Senarathne, who is at the National A competition in Christchurch, joins the Stags tomorrow for training in the hope of boosting the top order.

While CD have 18-20 players in a squad for such cases, Malan said the long-term goal was to have a catchment of about 30 to counter the loss of players to other honours or injuries.

While "we have a fair way to go", he said they had identified aspects of the game where coaches could manage structures to ensure 20 players would keep each other honest.