Cricket: Auckland coach buoyant despite sitting on bottom

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Apart from one bad session which he feels cost Auckland any chance of points against Canterbury, Auckland coach Tony Sail has been reasonably pleased with his team's start to the cricket season.

Auckland go into their Shell Trophy match against Otago on Eden Park's outer oval today in equal bottom place with the southerners.

Both have no points from two games. Auckland have, however, jumped to an early lead in the Shell Cup with two good wins.

"Apart from that session on day one against Canterbury, we have been competitive, but we have no points to show for it," Sail said. "Adam Parore and Brooke Walker are due back on Friday, but have only a slight chance to play in the cup game on Sunday.

"Otago will take some heart from their Shell Cup win over Wellington, but there will be something for us to play for as neither of us have any points [in the trophy]."

Auckland captain Blair Pocock who missed his team's cup win over Canterbury on Sunday, will have a fitness test on his injured hamstring, but Sail is confident he will play.

In the only change from the team who played in Christchurch, left-arm spinner Mark Haslam, who played in the opening game, has returned in place of wicketkeeper Richard Irving. Lou Vincent will perform the keeping duties, but will bat at six.

Former international left-arm spinner Mathew Hart has rejoined the Northern Districts side for their game against Canterbury in Rangiora.

Hart missed all of last season with a wrist injury, but has forced his way back with some good early-season batting form for Bay of Plenty.

Northern go into the game with the maximum 12 points as they chase the New Zealand record of eight consecutive first-class victories.

Canterbury, on two points, have brought back allrounder Aaron Redmond after he missed the game against Auckland for disciplinary reasons.

He replaces opening batsman Brad Doody, which means Robbie Frew will join his captain, Gary Stead, at the top of the batting order.

There will be major changes in the Wellington team for their match against Central Districts at the Basin Reserve.

Carl Bulfin, Mark Gillespie, Andrew Penn and Robert Kennedy are all out with injury. Central, who go into the match with six points, two behind second-placed Wellington, have replaced young wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan with Martyn Sigley, and Jamie How has taken Greg Loveridge's place.

All matches start at 10.30 this morning.

Auckland: Blair Pocock, Tim McIntosh, John Aiken, Richard King, Dion Nash, Lou Vincent, Aaron Barnes, Tama Canning, Andre Adams, Richard Morgan, Mark Haslam, Chris Drum.

Otago: Matt Horne, Andrew Hore, Craig Cumming, Chris Gaffaney, Martyn Croy, Brendon McCullum, Craig Pryor, Warren McKimming, Paul Wiseman, David Sewell, Karl O'Dowda, James McMillan.

Canterbury: Gary Stead, Robbie Frew, Jarrod Englefield, Chris Harris, Aaron Redmond, Michael Papps, Gareth Hopkins, Hayden Shaw, Warren Wisneski, Carl Anderson, Mark Hastings, Shane Bond.

Northern Districts: Robbie Hart, Graeme Aldridge, Mark Bailey, Grant Bradburn, Simon Doull, James Marshall, Mathew Hart, Bruce Martin, Michael Parlane, Neal Parlane, Alex Tait, Joseph Yovich.

Wellington: Matthew Bell, Richard Jones, Jason Wells, Roger Twose, James Franklin, Chris Nevin, Mark Jefferson, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien plus three players to be named this morning.

Central Districts: Joseph Hill, David Kelly, Ben Smith, Mark Douglas, Jacob Oram, Jamie How, Greg Todd, Hayden Morgan, Martyn Sigley, Ewen Thompson, Gareth West, Michael Mason.