Rookies dominate rep cricket squad line-up

More than half the players named today in an extended Wairarapa senior men's cricket team have yet to play for the province.
Selectors Dick Kendall, Brendon Bracewell and Robin James have included 12 first timers in their squad of 20 which will have their first training run at Rathkeale College on Wednesday, November 15.
The situation does not necessarily reflect though a deliberate policy by the selectors to place their faith in new blood for the 2006-27 season, which will kick off with a Hawke Cup elimination match against nelson at nelson on December 9 and 10.
The loss of several players from last year's squad was always going to mean that the number of personnel changes would probably be high, and adding to that likelihood was the strong early-season performances of the Academy XI, all members of which are new to the region.
As it happens five Academy players have made the extended squad??.wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Perkins, top order batsman David Irvine, off spinners Matt Young and David McCallum and medium pace bowler Richard Lewis.
An indication of the high regard in which the district's younger talent is held is evidenced by the fact that six college players are also in the squad, seven if you include all-rounder Cameron Stone, who is a teacher at Wairarapa College and plays for them at club level.
Three of the Rathkeale College players, Doug Bracewell, Andy Dodd and Brock Price, are genuine all-rounders with the other, Simon Clinton-Baker, a handy spin bowler.
From Wairarapa College are Jeremy Anderson and Tim Butler, who have been in good touch with the bat.
James, the new Wairarapa captain,, is the sole Lansdowne representative in the extended squad while Greytown have batsman Paul Lyttle and pace bowlers Seth Rance and Ewan Burt and Red Star, opening batsman Daniel Stoneley and medium pace bowler Jarrod Watt.
The other two places have gone to members of last season's Wairarapa team now playing their club cricket in Wellington, batsman-spinner Sam Curtis and pace bowler Hayden Spierling.
Their eligibility to play for Wairarapa is being checked out with New Zealand Cricket so their inclusion will be dependant on their response.
INTER-CLUB
On the inter-club scene in Wairarapa the highlight tomorrow will be the opening round of matches in the Bidwell Cup senior two-day competition.
Red Star will play Greytown at either the Pugh Sportsbowl or Rathkeale No.1, Rathkeale will host Lansdowne and Wairarapa College will be at home to Academy.
With two wins from their first three Umpires Cup games Red Star will go into their encounter with Greytown in a confident frame of mind but also aware that over the years Greytown have tended to be their bogey side.
The southerners have the in-form Seth Rance heading their attack and a lot could depend on how the Red Star top order fare against him.
Rathkeale College haven't quite played up to their potential yet, but they should still have the edge on a Lansdowne side which is struggling to rebuild after losing a number of last year's team and which relies heavily on the all-round capabilities of Robin James.
Academy's effort against Wairarapa College will be interesting, as the students are a gritty lot who will make them work hard for everything they get.
Academy have a very useful attack, but apart from Jamie Perkins their batsman haven't exactly been setting the world on fire, and they will be looking for greater consistency in that area.