Smith's lead will lift players

BACK IN ACTION: Ben Smith will anchor the Wanganui top order tomorrow against Taranaki at Victoria Park. PHOTO/FILE

DESPITE losing 33 years worth of playing experience, especially in the batting department, the return of Active Physio Wanganui's ace top-order player has given them a boost for the start of tomorrow's opening Hawke Cup match with Taranaki at Victoria Park.

Coach Stuart Gillespie has made a handful of changes from the one-day squad that contested the Chapple Cup three weeks ago, several of them forced such as the achilles injury to Mark Fraser and veteran allrounder Dominic Rayner being overseas.

"We're without Mark Fraser and Tom Lance - Tommy's injured and not available till after Christmas, and Mark's out for the season, walking around in a cast."

Those two players plus Rayner combine for over three decades of wearing the Wanganui whites.

However, the news is better for Devon Homes Central Districts batsman Ben Smith, who was given a fitness test by the Stags to check out his broken finger from a game against Wellington in late October.

"Ben was doubtful up until today. He came through that with flying colours and is eager to play," said Gillespie.

Having made 244 against Otago in mid-October and 117 against Wellington, it's no secret the coach is looking to Smith for one of those classic Wanganui anchor innings so the other young batsmen in the team can stay with him.

"If he brings that, then one; it's a feather in his cap if he keeps scoring runs, but it's also the way that Ben plays. It lifts the guys around him.

"The important thing is getting enough runs from the batting lineup.

"[Runs] are a precious commodity, the guys haven't played a lot of cricket on grass in the last couple of weeks."

A batsman like Dominic Lock can play survival cricket, protecting his wicket, which Gillespie described as "his own style of doing things".

The bowlers like Ryan Slight and newcomer Sam Beard, who Gillespie says is strong and can bowl quick, gave the Wanganui batsmen a peppering in the nets this week.

While that was going on, Gillespie was taking a long look at the x-factor - the Tasman Tanning No1 pitch which will be used for the first time this season.

The coach hopes some of the grass will yet come off, but having spoken to the groundsmen, he is satisfied the best wicket has been prepared given the hampering weather conditions.

"I don't think there's going to be a lot of bounce in it, but it could be a bit of sideways movement.

"It will do something with the new ball."

Out in the field, it will also be a big weekend for the somewhat quiet Morgan Inness, vice captain during the Chapple Cup and now handed the reins with the departure of Fraser.

"Morg's keen - he's a player of the future as far as I'm concerned," said Gillespie.

"As long as the guys out there support him, he'll be ok. Plus he's got his brother [Todd] out there, so that will help."

Gillespie knows from bitter experience against Taranaki that they often favour an aggressive stance against Wanganui, trying to intimidate opponents not quite sure of themselves, although several of the veteran players from his last coaching stint against them have moved on.

The two-day game will start at 10.30am tomorrow.

-The Wanganui team is:

Morgan Inness (c), Ben Smith, Dom Lock, John McIlraith, Greg Smith, Todd Inness, Nick Harding, Chris Sharrock, Ross Kinnerley, Sam O'Leary, Sam Beard, Ryan Slight.