Twenty20 vision drives ND's Bradburn

Northern Districts cricketers are due to arrive in Whangarei this week to begin their two-week spring training camp.
 Northern Districts coach Grant Bradburn's  aim is to improve in the Twenty20 game  in the upcoming season.
The addition of Sri Lankan batting sensation Thilkaratne Dilshan to the side for the T20 competition should help their chances in the January competition.
"We're excited to have a player of that calibre come to the Knights. It's especially good for our young players to rub shoulders with a player like Dilshan and barring any injuries ... we will have our Black Caps available for that series, including Daniel Vettori."
"That's exciting in itself and it will drastically change the look of the Twenty20 side from last year," he said.
 Bradburn took over as coach midway through last season after Andy Moles was promoted to succeed John Bracewell as Black Caps coach. Success followed shortly afterward with a victory in the State Shield one-day competition and, while Bradburn refuses to single out one form of competition for special emphasis, the team's only real failure last year was in the shortest form of the game.
"We're looking to improve across the board and we're targeting all three competitions and will be preparing accordingly."
"I believe we've got a well-balanced squad that is capable of performing in all three competitions ... and I'm looking for improvements across all formats in particular the Twenty20, where we didn't do so well last year."
There are three changes in the list of contracted players from last season.
Kaipara Flats opener Brad Wilson was offered a contract after playing regularly for the side after his recall midway through last season.
Wilson's elevation may prove even more important with the surprise elevation of B.J. Watling to the Black Caps to play  Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Pace bowler Te Ahu Davis, who was recalled to the side at the same time as Wilson earlier this year, also received a contract, while captain James Marshall  dropped off the Black Cap roster and signed an ND contract.
Brent Arnel has picked up a Black Caps contract, while bowler Simon Andrews drops off the list and top order batsman Cam Merchant picked up a Wellington contract after struggling for runs last season at ND.
The coach is very pleased with the way the players have fared over the winter with six of the team including Wilson and Joe Yovich in Australia getting valuable time playing and training on grass. Starting the summer based at Cobham Oval makes perfect sense to Bradburn.
"It's more of our home base than Seddon Park this year, as you can see from schedule we're playing there more this year, the facilities are the best in our area so it's a no-brainer that we spend preparation time up there, and it also gives us the chance to have a team building getaway while we're there," he said.
The squad will head north for a camping retreat at Cape Brett for the first three days of the camp before further preparation for the season involving a one-day game and a Twenty20 game against ND A squad at Cobham Oval.
 NORTHERN DISTRICTS:
Graeme Aldridge, Trent Boult, Kane Williamson, Bruce Martin, Te Ahu Davis, Peter McGlashan, Michael Parlane, B.J. Watling, Bradley Scott, James Marshall, Brad Wilson, Joseph Yovich.
* ND players on Black Cap contracts: Brent Arnel, Daniel Flynn, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori.