By Terry Maddaford
Northern Districts' Shell Trophy cricket campaign starting with their home game against Wellington on Thursday will be a real family affair.
In the Northern team for their first two trophy games are three sets of brothers and three players whose father or an uncle played for ND.
Captain Robbie Hart
and his older brother, Matt, have been ND regulars since the 1992-93 season. Michael and Neal Parlane played a first-class game together two seasons ago.
They have been joined by Hamish Marshall, poised for his first-class debut after a successful Shell Cup season and with it the chance to play alongside his identical twin James who made his debut last season.
Also in the line-up are Grant Bradburn, who like his father Wyn has played test cricket; Mark Bailey, whose uncle John played for ND (Mark's father, Jim, played for Hamilton); and Graeme Aldridge, who is awaiting his first-class debut to follow his father, Bill, who played at that level for Canterbury and limited-overs matches for Northern.
The first recorded instance of three sets of brothers playing in a first-class game together was more than a century ago.
T. and W. Eden, G. and S. Fowler and E. and H. Boddington played for Nelson (then a first-class team) against Wellington in the 1881-82 season.
With Simon Doull and Daniel Vettori not considered because of their international commitments and with Alex Tait scheduled for ongoing treatment for a rib injury, Daryl Tuffey and Joseph Yovich have been recalled.
New Zealand selector Ross Dykes said the trophy matches were vital in the on-going search for players at the highest level.
While Dykes will split his time between Eden Park where Auckland play Otago and WestpacTrust Park where ND meet Wellington, he will retain a close interest in the trophy opener between Canterbury and Central Districts which starts at Jade Stadium this morning.
