Cricket: Auckland able to keep two keepers

Auckland will continue to play both Gareth Hopkins and Reece Young, despite urgings from New Zealand Cricket for one of the wicketkeepers to move to another province.

It will again result in the unusual situation where New Zealand's second and third-choice wicketkeepers play for the same province. Hopkins is back-up to Brendon McCullum for one-day internationals and Young is McCullum's deputy in tests but both will spend time this domestic season playing as batsmen only.

The New Zealand selectors wanted one to relocate to another province so both were keeping wicket regularly but neither player was keen. They are both settled in Auckland and have young families.

Auckland have since devised a programme, with help from NZC, that will see Young pull on the gloves for extended periods during four-day cricket with Hopkins standing behind the stumps for shorter versions of the game.

One will step in if the other is away on international duty.

"The New Zealand selectors would have preferred to have both of their No 2 and 3 keepers keeping actively," Auckland chief executive Andrew Eade said. "If I was in their position, I would want the same.

"We indicated to both of them that we rate them both as wicketkeepers and don't want to preclude one ahead of the other.

"While it's not ideal, we think the juggling act can work and it has proven to work because they have both been away with New Zealand over the winter, so it hasn't harmed their chances. They both decided on that basis."

What has made the arrangement workable is the fact both hold their spots as batsmen alone. Young was Auckland's batsman of the year last season after accumulating 749 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 49.93. He was equally prolific in other forms of the game.

Hopkins also had a good season with the bat, scoring 554 first-class runs at 79.14, and was recently among the 20 players who received central contracts.

"That's what made it possible," Eade said. "I don't think we would keep both if one had to be dropped, because it would affect their livelihood. The fact is both are good enough to hold a place as a batsman.

"A few people have said we should encourage one to go but they are both good batsmen and we think it's our job to put the best team out each week.

"We don't think it's hindering New Zealand cricket in any way and, in fact, it's helped with competition because Gareth's arrival [in Auckland in 2007] actively lifted Reece's performance.

"Gareth is good enough to be in the top six of any association so that is a key reason why we desperately want to keep both of them."

Negotiations to move one didn't progress very far when both indicated their desire to stay in Auckland but it's understood that Central Districts were seen as the logical destination.

This would have been tough on Bevan Griggs who has served CD well since 2000 and holds the record for most wicketkeeping dismissals with 213.

While there is a lack of depth in most areas of New Zealand cricket, wicketkeeper is one area of relative strength.

Along with Griggs, Otago is well served by McCullum, Canterbury have Kruger van Wyk who is in the process of qualifying for New Zealand, Wellington have former international Chris Nevin and Simon Allen and Northern Districts have Peter McGlashan, who plays Twenty20 internationals.

New Zealand selector Mark Greatbatch said the arrangement fitted around the Black Caps' summer schedule.

"We are pretty comfortable with it," he said. "They have two good players there so we want to help them as much as possible. As long as we are communicating with the players and coaches, it can work.

"They will share the duties but share it at times which work. Pakistan is coming in November and December [for three tests] so Young will don the gloves then to play first-class cricket.

"When the one-dayers come around, Hoppy will take the gloves. They will dovetail things for the rest of the season."