David Leggat: Imports adding spice to some HRV Cup teams

Brad Hodge was strong value for Northern Districts in his four games. Photo / Getty Images

Trying to keep tabs on the overseas imports popping up in the domestic T20 competition is a bit like grabbing fog.

Just when you think you've got all bases covered, up comes a Dirk Nannes, David Hussey or Damien Wright, all Aussies, all late callups. The imports have certainly added some spice to the HRV Cup.

Lively left-armer Nannes, for example, and Wright, both roped in at short notice, were good value in a couple of outings for Canterbury and Wellington respectively.

Brad Hodge was strong value for Northern Districts in his four games, 191 runs at 95.5 with a couple of half-centuries.

Yesterday the gifted 36-year-old Victorian, who last played for his country three summers ago, was named in Australia's preliminary group of 30 for the February-March World Cup.

Top of the import pops? It's hard to go past Canterbury's Dutch allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate.

You might not immediately equate the Netherlands with cricket, but they are regular World Cup attendees coming out of the associate member qualifying tournaments.

Ten Doeschate, a 30-year-old who was born in Port Elizabeth and who plays with Essex in English domestic cricket, bowls lively medium pace and gives the ball a fearful clout.

Before last night's clash with Northern Districts, he had taken seven wickets at 17.4 apiece and belted 173 runs at 86.5 and a meaty strike rate.

And the locals? There have been some eye-catching performances by names both familiar and the less well known.

Andre Adams, a local import, if you follow, has picked up nine wickets for Auckland at only 12.44 apiece. Wellington spinner Luke Woodcock has nine at 11.88 and conceding less than seven an over.

Rob Nicol, once an Auckland batsman known for his stickability more than his dashing strokeplay, is a good example of a batsman who has opened his shoulders in the shortest game. His metamorphosis was shown with his splendid 75 off 54 balls in helping Canterbury see off Otago this week.

Then there's the new names. Take Central Districts' burly lefthand allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett. He clubbed poor Otago for 57 not out off 18 balls. Seven times he cleared the rope en route to the fastest per balls half-century in domestic T20.

So here's a thought: there's no reason New Zealand's T20 squad to play Pakistan three times between Boxing Day and December 30 needs to be exclusively a group of the same old-same old.

Why not throw in someone who appears tailormade for that shortest version, such as Noema-Barnett or the revitalised Nicol, who offers useful offspin as a second string?

Or young CD quick Adam Milne. Okay, the 18-year-old from Palmerston North is reed thin, needs to bulk up, but he's undeniably sharp and remember we're only talking four overs here, not expecting him to pull a 20-over stint.

There may not be many beauties about the T20 game immediately apparent to the purists, but it can open doors for players who wouldn't get within cooee of a test side.

It is a game at which a rather different set of skills can be a player's work tools. Keep them polished and unexpected pathways can emerge for unlikely candidates.