Cricket: Auckland turn to shorter game for success

Gareth Hopkins wants to forget the four-day stuff and focus on the one-day game. Photo / Dean Purcell

Auckland will work on the clean slate philosophy as the national one-day championship replaces the four-day Plunket Shield as the focus of domestic cricket from today.

Their loss to Otago on Tuesday means Auckland, the defending four-day champions, have no points from five rounds and are rooted to the foot of the table.

They play the same opponents at Colin Maiden Park in the 50-over format today and with any hope of retaining the first-class title gone, their eyes are on making an impact in the shorter game.

"We put to bed the four-day stuff for a while," captain Gareth Hopkins said yesterday.

"Regardless of where we are on the competition ladder, it's important to sign off on that and concentrate solely on the task at hand. It's a chance to start again and perform how we know we can."

Auckland lost the round one clash with Northern Districts on December 8 but use the same pitch today, one Hopkins described as full of runs and with a bit in it for the bowlers.

He is at a loss to work out what Auckland have done wrong in the Plunket Shield.

"We're doing some really good things but we're not quite getting across the line. If the guys were performing badly then it's almost easy. You can see what needs work. But we're almost falling at the last hurdle."

One intriguing newcomer into Auckland's 13 is former Central Districts and Canterbury quick Richard Sherlock, over a series of injuries and keen to make an impact.

Otago have brought in Pakistan medium pacer Yasir Arafat, who is contracted for the limited-overs campaign, and in Neil Broom and Craig Cumming have two of the leading batsmen of the domestic season.

Lively seamer Mat Harvie is rested while internationals Nathan McCullum and Aaron Redmond are injured, and test wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum is having a break before the start of the Twenty20 HRV Cup, starting on January 2.

Northern Districts look to get back on the form horse after being dusted by Canterbury in their Plunket Shield clash inside three days this week.

Test pair BJ Watling and Daniel Flynn are in their 12, replacing Brad Wilson and Anton Devcich.

Canterbury bring in Craig McMillan, Karl Frauenstein and Ryan Burson for bowlers Hamish Bennett and Jason Donnelly and allrounder Brandon Hiini.

In the other match, Central Districts will look to carry on where they left off in their record-shattering nine-wicket Plunket Shield win over Wellington on Tuesday.

CD have made one change, import Graham Napier arriving in time to play against his old province in place of Seth Rance. Wellington welcome back former international allrounder James Franklin, who will play as a batsman, and wicketkeeper Chris Nevin.

* Points after one round: Otago, CD, ND 4, Canterbury, Auckland and Wellington 0.

NATIONAL ONE-DAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 2, start 11am unless stated:

AUCKLAND V OTAGO (Colin Maiden Park)

Auckland: (from) Gareth Hopkins (c), Richard Jones, Reece Young, Ravi Bopara, Scott Styris, Anaru Kitchen, Ronnie Hira, Greg Morgan, Keeley Todd, Richard Sherlock, Michael Bates, Andrew de Boorder, Bhupinder Singh.

Otago: (from) Craig Cumming (c), Hamish Rutherford, Shaun Haig, Sean Eathorne, Neil Broom, Darren Broom, Derek de Boorder, Anthony Bullick, Neil Wagner, Yasir Arafat, Ian Butler, Nick Beard, Warren McSkimming.

NORTHERN DISTRICTS V CANTERBURY (Seddon Park, 1pm)

ND: (from) James Marshall (c), BJ Watling, Michael Parlane, Daniel Flynn, Kane Williamson, Peter McGlashan, Joey Yovich, Trent Boult, Bruce Martin, Bradley Scott, Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel.

Canterbury: (from) Kruger van Wyk (c), Michael Papps, Rob Nicol, Peter Fulton, Johan Myburgh, Shanan Stewart, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Corey Anderson, Karl Frauenstein, Ryan Burson, Leighton Burtt.

WELLINGTON V CENTRAL DISTRICTS (Wellington)

Wellington: (from) Matthew Bell (c), Cam Merchant, BJ Crook, Neal Parlane, Stewart Rhodes, Luke Woodcock, Chris Nevin, James Franklin, Dewayne Bowden, Jeetan Patel, Robbie Schaw, Andy McKay, Malaesaili Tugaga.

CD: (from) Jamie How (c), Peter Ingram, George Worker, Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram, Graham Napier, Tim Weston, Brendon Diamanti, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Bevan Griggs, Michael Mason, Ewen Thompson.