Cricket: Strike blamed for rusty batting

By CHRIS RATTUE

The early-season cricket strike has contributed to some top players' struggling for form, says Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell.

Auckland take on Central Districts at Eden Park tomorrow in the fourth round of the State Shield.

The players' strike was settled before it seriously damaged the game here. But O'Donnell said yesterday that many players entered the season underdone and the strike was having a "lingering effect."

Auckland grabbed their first one-day victory this season against Canterbury on Thursday, but both sides produced patchy batting.

O'Donnell said the six provinces had planned half-a-dozen matches at the national academy in Christchurch before the strike intervened.

"It's certainly not the whole problem, but it contributed," O'Donnell said.

"Many batsmen just haven't spent enough time in the middle. They're one good knock away.

"The time down at the academy would have helped. They would have had six days on a good surface ... that would have given them time to get their feet moving, and so on.

"Everyone was a bit underdone, especially if they missed out in the first two games and went straight into the tests."

Auckland's Lou Vincent, who is among the Black Caps struggling for batting form, has been left to rediscover some touch in the State Shield instead of facing India.

Vincent failed to score in Auckland's run chase against Canterbury and O'Donnell said he was among the World Cup batsmen who needed to concentrate on the basics, working for singles and twos as well as dealing with the bad deliveries.

Vincent may relinquish the wicketkeeping gloves for tomorrow's game, although O'Donnell said his dual role should not be an excuse for any batting woes.

"Adam Gilchrist seems to manage."

Auckland have lost Andre Adams to the Black Caps from the team who beat Canterbury.

The 20-year-old medium fast bowler Sam Whiteman makes his debut at the expense of Brad Nielsen.

Whiteman's 2001/02 season was curtailed by a back injury.

Central Districts coach Mark Greatbatch said the strike was no longer a factor, although he acknowledged it had presented a dilemma for O'Donnell.

"If you had asked me in November it would have been a different story, but there's been plenty of playing time since then," the former New Zealand batsman said.

"With Mark being so new it would have been difficult having just brief contact with his players, then not being allowed any contact for six weeks.

"But I know our players practised hard during those six weeks. I did have the odd conversation with them during that time, talking about life and things like that."

Central, whose brilliant early run chase against Otago in New Plymouth disintegrated, have kept the same squad. Captain Craig Spearman and Jessie Ryder showed prime form at Pukekura Park, lashing 155 for the first wicket before the middle and lower order folded tamely.

Northern Districts are looking for a big turnaround when they play Otago at Smallbone Park in Rotorua.

Northern produced a poor performance when losing their last match against Wellington on Thursday, but captain Robbie Hart said he was confident his side would show some improvement against Otago.

"We had two good wins and then a bad day," Hart said. "We'll start from scratch and go back to ball one and produce some skills."

The bowlers will continue to work on their plans, while some of the batsmen may try a more attacking approach.

Northern's top-order have struggled. Michael Parlane, Nick Horsley, James and Hamish Marshall are yet to make a significant contribution in the competition.

In contrast, Otago opener and former Pakistani international Mohammad Wasim is the competition's second-highest run-scorer with 167 at an average of 55.66.

Northern Districts have made one forced change to their side.

Former Central Districts batsman David Kelly steps in for Scott Styris, who is on duty with the New Zealand side against India in Queenstown today.

In the other game, Canterbury meet Wellington in Christchurch.

The competition is delicately poised, with four teams sharing the lead. Central, Northern, Otago and Wellington have nine points, followed by Auckland on four and Canterbury 0.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (capt), Aaron Barnes, Tama Canning, Matt Horne, Llorne Howell, Richard Morgan, Rob Nicol, Craig Pryor, Mark Richardson, Reece Young, Gareth Shaw, Sam Whiteman.

Central Districts: Craig Spearman (capt), Jesse Ryder, Peter Ingram, Glen Sulzberger, Ian Sandbrook, Greg Loveridge, Campbell Furlong, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Lance Hamilton, Brent Hefford, Michael Mason.

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

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