Cricket: Father and son on opposite sides

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Most of the country's first-class cricket players will be in action this weekend, but with the pall of a strike still hanging over them.

Northern and Central Districts will play the first rounds of the two-day Fergus Hickey and Chapple Cup representative competitions.

While all first-class players will be encouraged to take the field - and most are keen to turn out for matches other than club cricket - they will not be allowed to have any contact with coaches from their associations.

The battle line remains in the pay dispute between the Players' Association and New Zealand Cricket, but planning for the season goes on.

Nothern Districts chief executive John Turkington said that while these were "frustrating" and "pretty difficult" times, work must continue.

"We have 22,429 players in ND, of whom only 21 are involved with the players' association," he said.

"We have plenty to do in the coaching and development areas.

"With a first-round State Championship game against Auckland scheduled for November 29-December 2 in Gisborne, we have had to keep on with our planning.

"You have to make bookings for transport and accommodation."

He said some first-class players were using the indoor facilities in Hamilton, but without having any contact with Northern Districts coach Bruce Blair or other association staff.

Central Districts chief executive Blair Furlong said it was much the same story in his patch, although he had the added problem of his son Campbell being on the other side of the fence.

"Any communication between us these days goes through his mother."

Like Turkington, Furlong is just getting on with preparing for the season.

"We have an early State Championship match against Otago in Wanganui [from November 23-26] so we hope things are sorted out well before that.

"We have the first round of the Chapple Cup this weekend and the Hawke Cup the following weekend.

"Our director of coaching, Scott Briasco, and Central Districts coach Mark Greatbatch will watch those games, but they can't have any contact with the players."

While obviously frustrated, Furlong said: "It's like the weather - there is nothing I can do about it."

Despite association claims that all first-class players are right behind the stand-off, it seems that may not be the case.

One unnamed player admitted that the dispute had "dragged on far too long" and that there was some sympathy towards New Zealand Cricket.

"I get the feeling it will be sorted out, but at the same time, I would not like to see the grassroots affected.

"The hardest thing is seeing how cricket, across the board, is suffering," he said.

"The bottom line is that the players want to play cricket."

Asked whether all players had been given the opportunity to vote on the issue, the player said: "I can't comment."