Cricket: Early success for new coach

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell has had a flying start to his new job. He now hopes he will be joining his side in celebrating victory over Northern Districts.

Buoyed by their last-round win over Canterbury in his return to his old stamping ground, Jade Stadium - or Lancaster Park as it was when he left for South Africa 17 years ago - O'Donnell is happy enough heading into the one-day final.

Chasing 200 to win was always going to be difficult, but Auckland set out determined not to lose wickets to Shane Bond and Chris Martin at the top of the order, says O'Donnell. Llorne Howell again led the way.



Auckland, who will be without Lou Vincent, Kyle Mills and Andre Adams for the final, will have to improvise. So will Northern, who are without Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey and Daniel Vettori.

O'Donnell says Auckland have played without their Black Caps at times this season, meaning others had the chance to step up.



He has no qualms about the move away from Eden Park to the outer oval at North Harbour.

"Absolutely. We like playing there. It has the look of a cricket ground and has a good wicket."

Of other grounds, he is not so sure.

"I have not seen too many really good first-class wickets around the country. Certainly, they are not as good as we had in South Africa. The different soil used in different parts of the country probably contribute to this.



"You want to be playing on the best possible wickets.

"In first-class games you want to be able to score 400 or more runs. If we want to bridge the gap between domestic and test cricket, we have to have the wickets that will assist that."



He is more than happy with the State Shield format.

"Having just the six teams is ideal. In South Africa they have gone to 11 sides. There are not enough players to sustain that. Their game has suffered because of it."

Of his thoughts as Northern Districts squared off with Wellington in Wednesday's semifinal, O'Donnell said: "I honestly didn't care who we got to play. It was always going to be a good final, whoever was involved."

The finalists shared the honours in two pool matches.

Northern thumped Auckland in the first round at Eden Park. Auckland, in a weather-hit second clash, won at Westpac Park in a match decided with the assistance of the Duckworth/Lewis countback.