Wanganui's Rod Bannister will begin a three-game series with Squash Wellington development officer Willie Bicknell tonight, with selection for the NZ Masters team to play the test series with Australia being up for grabs.
The first game between the two will be at the Bassett St courts, starting at 7pm,with the second at Bicknell's Thordon club next Wednesday. If required, a third rubber match will be held at Squash Gym Palmerston North next weekend.
Although Bannister is the NZ team's 45-49 year incumbent from 2013, when he also won the Australian Masters title, he has not had many competitive matches this year, with the selectors requesting a playoff between the two men to see who gets the final spot.
Bannister won the Ohakune Men's Open last weekend against fellow Central Districts A grade player Joseph Watts, so is confident about the three-game series.
Although unbeaten in Masters squash since 2011, Bannister said he had the upmost respect for Bicknell.
