Pitches of key interest

The condition of the pitches will be noted with special interest as matches in the Bidwell Cup senior men's interclub cricket competition get under way in Wairarapa tomorrow.
It will be the first time this season that club games have been played on grassed wickets and just what effect the unpredictable weather patterns have had on their make-up could have a big bearing on the outcome of games.
On paper, however, Lansdowne will start firm favourites against Wairarapa College at Wairarapa College, Greytown will be fancied to beat Red Star at Park Sportsground and there should be little between the Academy XI and Rathkeale College in the match at Rathkeale College.
Lansdowne's strength was illustrated by the naming of no fewer than eight of their players in the Wairarapa squad announced earlier this week - Sam Curtis, Henry Cameron, Lee Ewington, Chris Jefferies, Aaron Bidlake, Choi Jackson, Willie Thompson and Simon Butler.
Jefferies is a particularly interesting recruit for them. The veteran all-rounder was a stalwart of the Red Star club for many seasons and a regular in Wairarapa teams until his "retirement" a couple of seasons back. Obviously he has had a change of heart in the latter regard and his experience could prove valuable in a rep line-up likely to lack much of that commodity.
Jackson, Thompson and Butler were all part of the Wairarapa College first XI last season and are all talented youngsters in their own right.
It was, in fact, Jackson and Thompson who spearheaded the Lansdowne attack when they beat Rathkeale in an Umpires Cup limited-overs game last weekend, snaring four wickets apiece.
The names Cameron, Ewington and Bidlake are, of course synonomous with Lansdowne with John Cameron (father of Henry), Wayne Ewington (father of Lee) and Darryl Bidlake (brother of Aaron) giving them such fine service for many years.
Opening batsman and spin bowler Sam Curtis is, however, arguably the biggest acqusition for Lansdowne. He returns to the club after his OE and his all-round qualities are sure to play a huge part in their fortunes as the season progresses.
Wairarapa College have four players in the rep squad - top order batsman and wicketkeeper Camus Wyatt ,all-rounders Dane Buchanan and Seth Rance and opening bowler Peter Sigvertsen.
Wyatt's 'keeping skills will be keenly scrutinised as he seems to have the inside running for that important role in the Wairarapa squad. He would only help his cause if he got amongst the runs as well.
Greytown dominated the club scene last season and their comprehensive beating of Wairarapa College in their Umpires Cup game last weekend suggests they will difficult to knock off their perch.
It is interesting that all four Greytown players in the rep squad are essentially medium pace bowlers ?Hayden Spierling, Shane Mellor, Jeremy Ketel and Greg McLeod- but no doubt batsman like Josh Doherty and Mark Childs would have been there as well should they have been available.
Red Star also kicked off their season in good style last Saturday with a limited-overs win over Academy XI and considering they are without experienced players Greg Todd and Chris Jefferies this season that victory would have come as a big boost to confidence.
It is a fact, however, that in recent times Greytown have become something of a "bogey" team for Stars and they will be expected to continue that trend.
Both the Academy XI and Rathkeale College will be looking to put their Umpires Cup losses behind them in their game at Rathkeale.
The students do have talented youngsters in the form of Tom Broughton, Paul Lyttle, Andy Dodd, Simon Clinton-Baker and Duncan Watt and if they hit their straps the academy team will be given a decent workout.