Cricket: Oram up for Black Caps contest in top-of-the-table clash

Jacob Oram faces a couple of different challenges when he leads Central Districts in their top-of-the-table one-day clash with Northern Districts at Owen Delany Park this afternoon.

He will go head-to-head with New Zealand pace bowler Ian Butler for the first time in their careers. He will also lock horns with Daniel Vettori in a Black Caps captaincy battle for the first time.

Oram and Vettori have been touted as future national captains but Oram was quick to play that down yesterday.

"I think talk of me as a prospective captain has died down," he said.

"Given my workload that is unlikely. I see Daniel as a prospective captain given his experience, maturity and the rapport he has with the players.

"It would be a big ask but I think he is tailor-made for the job."

Sentiment will be put aside today as Central, with seven State Shield points, tackle Northern - just a point back.

"ND are going to be very strong with five Black Caps," said Oram. "I'm looking forward to facing Butler and Daryl Tuffey and bowling at Scott Styris." Given weather to match, this promises to be a key clash in the Shield race.

Northern beat Wellington first up while Central got home comfortably - and with a bonus point - over Auckland after winning what the CD players admit was a crucial toss.

Both teams have retained the same 12 players down to play the washed-out second round games on Thursday.

The internationals who had expected to be in Queenstown for tomorrow's now-abandoned ODI with Sri Lanka will now play remaining Shield matches, giving the public a rare chance to see New Zealand's best in domestic action.

In other third round matches today, Auckland (2 points) plays Otago (2) at Eden Park and Canterbury (6) meets Wellington (2) in Timaru.

* Bowler Kyle Mills is back in the Auckland 12 against Otago at Eden Park.

Mills, who had a back problem during the one-day international against Sri Lanka in Auckland on Boxing Day, has recovered and replaces Keeley Todd in the only change from the 12 who were due to play Northern Districts in Thursday's washout in Taupo.

The Auckland 12: Brooke Walker (capt), Matt Horne, Lou Vincent, Richard Jones, Rob Nicol, Aaron Barnes, Tama Canning, Andre Adams, Paul Hitchcock, Kyle Mills, Kerry Walmsley, Reece Young.