Napier Old Boys' Marist allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett is back in the equation of first-class cricket.
The 23-year-old, who has just returned from representing New Zealand in the Hong Kong Sixes, is among the 12 players coach/selector Alan Hunt and selector Scott Briasco have named for the Plunket Shield match starting tomorrowagainst the Canterbury Wizards in Napier.
Not seen as a four-day exponent in previous coach Dermot Reeve's reign, the aggressive right-arm medium bowler and left-hand batsman is the only addition to the team that had an outright win over the Wellington Firebirds last week in the opening round of shield matches.
Allrounder George Worker makes an exit while last week's 12th man, leg spinner Tarun Nethula, yesterday played in the Hawke's Bay's warm-up match against Manawatu at Nelson Park, Napier.
"He's good with both the bat and ball and, hopefully, Kieran will get the chance to bring his talent in," said CD skipper Jamie How last night, provided he's in the starting XI.
That Worker, 21, was the spin option means Nethula will only come in if the pitch offers some bounce and turn.
It probably doesn't help that Worker contributed only 15 runs in his two innings in the match against Canterbury last week.
Bay coach Lincoln Doull said, after their two-wicket loss to Manawatu in the 55-over match played with a two-day mindset, it was a slow track.
Noema-Barnett top scored with 56 runs while Cornwall century-maker on Saturday, Carl Cachopa, scored 55 as Bay were all out for 170 in the 53rd over. Manawatu overhauled the target in the 53rd over for the loss of eight wickets with Dane Cleaver scoring 80.
Noema-Barnett and Kurt Richards claimed two scalps each as Doull's men start their Hawke Cup/Chapple Cup campaign from this Friday against Horowhenua-Kapiti at Nelson Park.
How acknowledged it would be interesting for wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk to face former Canterbury teammates he captained before switching to CD this season.
"Kruger will have good fun and I'm sure he's looking forward to it," How said, keen to have another outright win but emphasising there's nine more games on the agenda.
Van Wyk has had a superb start for CD.
CD team - p12.
