Cricket: Auckland face test of depth in semifinal

Ronnie Hira won't be playing with the Auckland Aces while they defend their Ford Trophy title. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Events, national and international, have conspired in some wretched timing for Auckland ahead of today's sudden-death 50-over semifinal against Otago at Colin Maiden Park.

Auckland, defending their Ford Trophy title, are without allrounder Colin de Grandhomme and reliable left-arm spinner Ronnie Hira, who have both been called up to the New Zealand squad ahead of the T20 series with Zimbabwe starting on Sunday.

And veteran swing bowler Andre Adams is off to Bangladesh for their inaugural T20 league this week.

In come left-arm spinner Bruce Martin and offspinner Bhupinder Singh. Coach Paul Strang hopes the revolving door to the Auckland dressing room in the past couple of weeks - just four players remain in today's 12 from the HRV Cup final-winning team of January 22, captain Gareth Hopkins, batsman Anaru Kitchen, Martin and allrounder Colin Munro - won't bite them at the last.

"There's no point in getting upset about it, so you just get on with it," Strang said yesterday. "Throughout the season we train with a wider squad of players and all the guys coming in now have got plenty of experience - we just have to make sure we perform out there as a team."

He rates Otago a handy team, with key batsmen in Craig Cumming and Neil Broom, a steady, solid bowling attack and a couple of younger players in decent form: batsman Mark Bracewell and former Auckland player Jimmy Neesham.

"All round I think it will be a pretty good contest," Strang added.

Central Districts, as top qualifiers, will host the final at Pukekura Park next Sunday, after their major semifinal against Auckland was abandoned because of rain last weekend.

Otago reached this eliminator by beating Canterbury, taking the last five wickets for 18 to win by 12 runs.

There is a spot of deja vu about today, too.

These teams met at the same stage last season, on the same ground, Auckland winning by 65 runs on the back of a rapid 161 from opener Tim McIntosh.

"It's a very convoluted path we've trodden before. We foster competitiveness in our squad and tomorrow will be a real challenge of that," Strang said.

In their only previous 50-over game this season, Auckland scored 303 for eight to win in Dunedin by two wickets on December 11, opener Brad Cachopa hitting 114. Given the absence of several frontline players, another Cachopa blitz would not go amiss today.

Otago are without seamer James McMillan, who has a shoulder injury, but have cover with Ian Butler or Warren McSkimming in the 12.