Cricket: World Cup lure for shield trio

By TERRY MADDAFORD

With World Cup places at stake there will be more than usual interest in the all-northern one-day match on Eden Park's outer oval today.

Andre Adams, Scott Styris and, to a lesser extent, Tama Canning will be under the microscope when Auckland meet Northern Districts in their State Shield opener.

National selector Ross Dykes will be on hand as Styris and Adams continue their push for a return to the international arena.

Good performances by this pair, and perhaps Canning, would see them pressing for a recall when the team for next year's World Cup is named on Tuesday.

Dykes said all players were still in contention, with the first two rounds of the one-day competition assuming more than the usual importance.

"No one has been ruled out," Dykes said. "Selectors will be at all matches in the first two rounds before making a final decision on the World Cup makeup."

Adams gave a hint of his intentions when he smashed four balls out of sight at Auckland's final practice.

"Andre is well aware what is required," Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell said. "If he had two reasonable State Shield matches I'm sure we would lose him [to the Black Caps] for the next few games."

Auckland will go into the match with the former test opening pairing of Matt Horne and Mark Richardson, followed by Llorne Howell, Rob Nicol, Canning and possibly Adams.

"Andre's position in the batting lineup could depend on the situation," O'Donnell said. "I want him to build an innings rather than go out and ping 20 or 30."

O'Donnell expected Adams to bowl his complement of 10 overs.

For Nicol, this is the chance to establish himself at this level after missing last season's one-dayers because of the under-19 World Cup.

Northern have a talent-laden side, including Styris, Robbie and Matt Hart, and Joseph Yovich, who also could be on the fringe of a call-up.

Both teams have batsmen capable of posting big scores. Much, though, will depend on the pitch.

The game will be played on the outer oval because, apparently, the scoreboard in the main arena is not available.

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

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