Cricket: Pitch uncertainty in four-day switch

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland captain Brooke Walker fears the North Harbour Stadium pitch could prove to be a "nightmare" for the State Championship clash against Otago.

The outer oval makes its first-class debut in the four-day game which begins this morning, and Walker's previous experience there has left him a tad concerned.

"My one and only club game there was at the start of this season and it was a terrible wicket," Walker said.

"It was under-prepared and seamed all over the place. We've asked them to make sure it is ready on day one for this game, rather than leave moisture in it so it will last for four days.

"I'm told they've been using the heavy roller there to get it ready and a lot more work has gone into it.

"It's the unknown factor, though.

"I don't have much confidence in it if it plays the way it did during that club game. If it does, it will be a nightmare."

Walker believes his Auckland side, the defending champions, were developing well as a four-day unit, but said Otago looked dangerous opponents, with a classy seam attack and Pakistani Mohammad Wasim bolstering the batting.

Otago coach Glenn Turner added to the uncertainty surrounding the pitch conditions, saying: "No one seems to have much confidence in the pitch or the weather for the next four days."

Turner also questioned why a round of four-day games had been placed in the middle of the State Shield, which resumes on Friday next week and runs until the final on February 1.

"It's okay if players are used to switching like that all the time, as happens in English cricket," he said. "Our players are not accustomed to it.

"It seems a bit funny but it's probably got something to do with television and money. It usually does."

Auckland have recalled batsmen Tim McIntosh and Matt Horne, who missed some one-day games with a hand injury inflicted by young fast bowler Gareth Shaw in the nets.

Otago have also reverted to their standard four-day line-up.

The match is scheduled to start at 10am.

In the round's other games, Canterbury take on Central Districts in Timaru and Northern meet Wellington in Taupo.

Canterbury are keen to ram home their advantage over Central Districts of recent days, which included a nine-wicket trouncing in the State Shield match on Tuesday and a first-innings victory in the provincial A series.

Central are weakened by the absence of key opening batsman and captain Craig Spearman, who is nursing a broken finger.

Struggling New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan will bat at No 4 for Canterbury.



Points after three rounds: Auckland 10, Wellington 9, CD 8, Canterbury 7, Otago 6, ND 1.

Auckland: Mark Richardson, Matt Horne, Lou Vincent, Tim McIntosh, Rob Nicol, Tama Canning, Craig Pryor, Brooke Walker (capt), Reece Young, Heath Davis, Gareth Shaw, Sam Whiteman.

Otago: Mohammad Wasim, Robbie Lawson, Craig Cumming (capt), Marcel McKenzie, Jordan Sheed, Peter McGlashan, Jeff Wilson, Nathan Morland, Shayne O'Connor, Kerry Walmsley, James McMillan, Warren McSkimming.

Canterbury: Gary Stead (capt), Robbie Frew, Michael Papps, Craig McMillan, Shanan Stewart, Peter Fulton, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Hayden Shaw, Brendon Donkers, Chris Martin, Ryan Burson.

Central Districts: Glen Sulzberger (capt), Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Ian Sandbrook, Ross Taylor, Bevan Griggs, Greg Todd, Martyn Sigley, Michael Mason, Lance Hamilton, Brent Hefford, Taraia Robin.

Wellington: Matthew Bell (capt), Richard Jones, Neal Parlane, Leighton Morgan, Grant Donaldson, Chris Nevin, Matthew Walker, Mark Jefferson, Andrew Penn, Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie, Iain O'Brien.

Northern Districts: Robbie Hart (capt), James Marshall, Hamish Marshall, Michael Parlane, David Kelly, Nick Horsley, Matthew Hart, Joseph Yovich, Bruce Martin, Graeme Aldridge, Gareth West, Mark Orchard.