Cricket: Blackett named in BOP development team

Rotorua cricketer Alastair Blackett has been named in the Bay of Plenty Development team to play Counties Manukau in this weekend's Basil McBurney Trophy opening round match in Tauranga.

He is one of five of the development team who played in last year's Northern Districts Senior Secondary tournament in Gisborne including Blair McKenzie, Jonty Grigson, Gurwinder Singh and Luke Tatley.

The Basil McBurney Trophy is the symbol of ND Development supremacy with Bay of Plenty posting a two win-two loss record in last season's title chase.

SELECTED: Rotorua cricketer Alastair Blackett has been named in the Bay of Plenty Development team to play Counties Manukau this weekend. PHOTO/FILE.

Counties Manukau set Bay of Plenty a huge challenge when they posted 269/9 in February with Bay of Plenty captain Stephen Crossan leading from the front smashing his way to the win with 144.

Crossan's score was the highest of the Bay of Plenty 2015/16 representative season passing the other representative centuries of Bharat Popli (119 & 111) Tim Clarke (110) and Ben Musgrave (102).

The Te Puke premier skipper has been re-appointed to lead this seasons Bay Development team, with the selectors again looking to the future with plenty of youth in the weekend side.

Tauranga Boys College student Iman Singh, will make his Bay Development debut after impressive form in the new season.

ND Development Competition
Sunday 30 October 2016 - 10.30am start.

Bay of Plenty v Counties Manukau, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga.

Bay of Plenty team: Stephen Crossan (c) Jonty Grigson, Alex Gooding, Brody Gilroy (Te Puke) Alastair Blackett (Rotorua) Blair McKenzie, Matt Golding (wk), Luke Tatley (Mount Maunganui) Gurwinder Singh (Otumoetai Cadets) Iman Singh (Tauranga Boys College) Cameron Neal (Greerton)

Coach: Charles Williams Manager: Richie Earl