Cricket: Canterbury man to skipper Auks

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Llorne Howell's sudden rise in Auckland cricket has continued, with the former Canterbury batsman being named captain for the start of the Shell Cup one-day campaign.

Howell, who will open the batting, has taken the reins from injured opener and captain Blair Pocock, who will miss the first two games and possibly a few more after breaking a rib against the West Indies.

It is a new-look Auckland side in other areas too, as they head into the first round against Wellington in a day-night game at Eden Park tomorrow.

Last season's coach, David Trist, has moved on to take the national side, leaving Tony Sail at the helm of a solid Auckland team, who include newcomers John Aiken, formerly of Wellington, and Tama Canning, a young player who learned much of his cricket in Australia.

Promising batsman Lou Vincent will don the wicketkeeping gloves.

It appears a well-balanced side, with Chris Drum, Kyle Mills and Brooke Walker to spearhead the bowling attack.

There is plenty of experience in the Wellington team, who went all the way to last season's final, where they lost to Canterbury.

Chris Nevin will join the ranks of wicketkeeper-captains in leading the Vaughn Johnson-coached Wellington team.

Robert Kennedy and Carl Bulfin seem set to lead the pace attack, with other internationals Roger Twose, Matthew Bell and allrounder Richard Petrie expected to play vital roles. Newcomers Paul Hitchcock, formerly of Auckland, and Matthew Walker, formerly of Central Districts, have been given early call-ups.

Wellington have a testing start with away games in Auckland and Alexandra. With Bulfin, Petrie and Twose under injury clouds, it could be an even tougher time.

Bruce Martin will make his Shell Cup debut for Northern Districts against Central Districts at Blake Park in Mt Maunganui.

With Mark Bailey out for the first game, serving the second game of a two-match suspension, Martin has been given his chance in a team little changed from previous seasons.

Even without the injured Matt Hart, who would normally join his brother Robbie in the ND side, there are still two sets of brothers, twins Hamish and James Marshall, and Michael and Neal Parlane.

Alex Tait, who missed games last season through injury, is back to full fitness and joins Scott Styris, Darryl Tuffey, Graeme Aldridge and Joseph Yovich in a useful bowling attack.

Jacob Oram will lead CD in the absence of Craig Spearman, who is on test duty in Wellington.

Spearman's place at the top of the order will be filled by Joseph Hill, formerly from Marlborough and more recently Manawatu, while English-born Craig White, who learned much of his cricket in Australia, joins the side as a possible opening batsman and a bowler of brisk medium pace.

Chris Harris will take the helm at Canterbury until his expected call-up to the New Zealand one-day team.

Gary Stead, who led Canterbury to their Shell Cup victory earlier in the year, is another on test duty but could well return to the side once the one-day internationals start.

There will be plenty of interest in newcomers Aaron Redmond and Academy batsman Marcel McKenzie, who are likely to bat in the middle-to-high order.

Canterbury meet Otago in Christchurch in the traditional South Island battle.

Rob Lawson retains the Otago captaincy with a reasonably well-established line-up and new coach Chris Taylor.

In the major change to the Cup season, the final is scheduled for the first time over the best of three matches from February 4 to 8.