Cricket: It's a gypsy life for Auckland, even at home

By CHRIS RATTUE

Some coaches tell players that their home ground is wherever the next game is. Auckland's cricketers, though, don't even need an away game to deal with a variety of venues.

Eden Park's outer oval may be their base ground, but over the next couple of weeks their homes will include the No 1 ground and a couple of appearances at North Harbour Stadium.

Canterbury arrived in Auckland for today's State Shield one-dayer expecting to compete on Eden Park's outer oval, but found instead they will be on centre stage.

Auckland Cricket wanted to give its players the chance to play on the main ground and also give boxholders added value.

Auckland and Canterbury are winless after two rounds and their batsmen's nerves might not be helped knowing they will be playing on the same portable wicket used for the Boxing Day international.

In that match, New Zealand took 38 overs to overhaul India's paltry 108, yet another low point in the tourists' disastrous campaign.

That wicket produced what cricketers call "balloon bounce," although Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell and his Canterbury counterpart, Michael Sharpe, believe the pitch that day was not as bad as the scoring indicated. "We're still learning a lot about portable wickets in this country and sorting out how to get them right," Sharpe said.

"I wasn't at the Boxing Day game, but from television I thought it didn't play as badly as the scores suggested.

"We've had a look at it and they've watered it up a bit ... They said they hadn't put in any glue, although it smelt a bit gluey to me."

Auckland are not sticking to tradition either when the State Championship four-day competition resumes next Thursday, when they will play Otago at North Harbour Stadium.

The eighth-round State Shield match against Wellington will also be held there.

Next week's match will represent the first-class debut for North Harbour Stadium's open cricket ground, behind the main grandstand, which already hosts club and Max games.

Auckland Cricket helped to put in the pitch two years ago.

Auckland Cricket boss Lindsay Crocker said: "It will probably drag people to the game who wouldn't normally go and it's an opportunity to support the development that has gone on at that facility. We're absolutely confident the wicket is up to standard.

"It will be a bit of an adventure for our regulars and hopefully it will attract North Harbour people who wouldn't normally go to Eden Park."

Meanwhile, Auckland have added 20-year-old medium-fast bowler Gareth Shaw to the squad following the loss to Otago in Alexandra.

Shaw, who made his debut last season, is set to contest the final place in the XI with Richard Morgan and Brad Nielsen. Canterbury have kept the squad who lost a last-ball decision to Northern Districts in Taupo, minus Black Cap Craig McMillan, who was a late addition to that match as he searched for batting form.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (capt), Andre Adams, Aaron Barnes, Tama Canning, Matt Horne, Llorne Howell, Richard Morgan, Rob Nicol, Brad Nielsen, Craig Pryor, Mark Richardson, Reece Young.

Canterbury: Gary Stead (capt), Michael Papps, Paul Wiseman, Shanan Stewart, Chris Harris, Peter Fulton, Jarrod Englefield, Cleighten Cornelius, Carl Anderson, Stephen Cunis, Chris Martin, Ryan Burson.