2000/01 New Zealand domestic season preview
The New Zealand domestic cricket season is underway, with the six associations using the hit and giggle of the Shell Super Max League series to blood new players, build team combinations and prepare for the serious business of the Shell Cup one-day
Steve Deane
10-Nov-2000
The New Zealand domestic cricket season is underway, with the six associations using the hit and giggle of the Shell Super Max League series to blood new players, build team combinations and prepare for the serious business of the Shell Cup one-day and Shell Trophy four-day competitions.
The demise of the Conference series has seen the re-introduction of two full rounds of trophy competition. Cup matches will be spread throughout the season rather than being concentrated in the holiday period, as has been the case in recent seasons.
CricInfo talks to all the coaches and assesses the six associations' prospects for the season.
Auckland
Auckland was the beaten finalist in both the Cup and Trophy last year, but it will need to overcome a history of inconsistency if it is to claim any silverware this season. Coach Tony Sale agrees his side laid the foundation for success this season with a solid campaign last year.
"I think we have. I think it has been probably further back than that. Three years of planning and getting the structures within the coaching and development of Auckland cricket right, and the administration, means that we can go into the season with confidence knowing that we have got some depth."
Sale hopes the processes put in place will result in Auckland achieving what only Canterbury has managed in recent times - being at the top or very close to it every year.
"Canterbury are the bench mark as far as all the other teams are concerned for the Cup. We're looking to reach those levels and beyond. We believe we've got the ability to that."
Sale says continuity of selection will be a key factor for the Aces this season. "We picked our Max side in line with what our other sides will be like. We do that deliberately to use it as a build-up. The build-up in the Max has been really good as far as planning and strategising for the rest of the season."
Kerry Walmsley and Craig Pryor are the notable departures from last year's squad, and there are no notable acquisitions from outside the region. The Auckland squad contains talented youngsters that Sale describes as "the future of Auckland cricket", including Lou Vincent, Andre Adams and Tama Canning, as well as the experience of Blair Pocock, Aaron Barnes and Llorne Howell.
A broken arm suffered by Kyle Mills in the final Max game against ND is an early setback that may stretch the Aces bowling resources. Mills is expected to be out for at least two months.
But Sale says the Ace's goal is to win all three competitions, however, with more chance involved in the Max and Cup competitions, winning the Trophy and making the finals of the Cup will still be a successful season.
Canterbury
Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald believes depth will be the key factor in his side maintaining its place as the premiere one-day team in the country, and improving on its record of only one win in the last two seasons of Trophy competition.
"The way the season is this year I think every province can probably put an XI out that is pretty comparable, but you are going to have to have 20 to get through this - through the Cup and the Trophy. I believe you need between 17 to 20 players, and that doesn't even count our Black Cap players. But I think we've got them and I think some of the other provinces haven't. If they lose one or two key players I don't know whether they have got much to fall back on."
Canterbury will, as usual, contribute a high number of players to the Black Caps. But MacDonald says steps have been taken to ensure a good base of players for the domestic competitions. "You've really got to have two teams in Canterbury. You've got to have two first-class teams. Probably more so than other provinces we've really tried to keep our 'B' series going, which we've had to finance ourselves. It's very important that we've done it. It doesn't guarantee success, but it does give you options."
Stephen Fleming's departure to Wellington, Chris Cairns ongoing injury problems and the likelihood of Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan remaining with the Black Caps for all but three Shell Cup games will result in greater opportunities for Canterbury's second tier of players this season. As a result MacDonald says he has noticed extra enthusiasm and a "real buzz" among the team's emerging players.
"They know that there are more opportunities and there is more chance to play. It was actually very difficult during the winter pre-season training to have guys in the squad working hard when they knew that they had to be selected, and if they were they would get a couple of trophy games or maybe a couple of Shell Cup games and that was going to be their season. But now they know that there is some light at the end of the tunnel and they can get some regular first-class play."
MacDonald says although the younger members of the squad will have to step up the team will not be without experience. "When it comes to the experience factor we have the likes of Chris Harris, Gary Stead, Warren Wisneski and even Brad Doody, if he has another good Cup year like he did last year. There's four experienced guys which well be looking to take us through. And all our young New Zealand 'A' players (Jarrod Englefield, Aaron Redmond, Michael Papps) are class, quality players, so it's looking like we are going to have a reasonable side."
Canterbury is not without concerns over injuries to its bowlers. Wade Cornelius (knee) and Ryan Burson (knee ligament) will be out for two to six weeks.
Although he confesses to being "a bit of an eternal pessimist" MacDonald knows success for Cantabrians is measured in terms of silverware. "A successful season, as it always is for Canterbury teams, is to win every competition we play in. Its not always possible, but Canterbury cricket teams don't go into anything to come second."
Central Districts
Coach Dipak Patel says the success of Central Districts season will depend its ability to field a consistent bowling line-up, and the top order producing more runs. However, things haven't started well, with promising leg spinner Tim Anderson out for at least two months after becoming the latest New Zealand bowler to suffer stress fractures of the back.
"That's a big disappointment from our point of view. We were looking for big things from Tim this year after his injury problems (knee) last year. If we can get our top line bowlers Michael Mason, Lance Hamilton and certainly Anderson would have been one - if we can get them on the park on a regular basis I think it would solve a lot of our problems that we've had in the past," says Patel.
One of the problems Patel refers to is a recent losing record in the Shell Cup that is rivalled only by Otago. Like Otago, CD haven't recorded a winning season in the Cup for over five years.
The CD squad for once is fairly stable. Greg Loveridge has returned from a season in Wellington, while Andrew Penn (Wellington) and Campbell Furlong (overseas) are the notable losses. Patel hopes the acquisition of Leicestershire professional Ben Smith will help address the side's middle order batting woes. "Our senior batting players didn't contribute a hell of a lot (last season) so we've addressed that. We hope that his [Smith's] experience batting in the top four or five will help our so called talented players."
Craig Spearman will captain the side. Jacob Oram will deputise when Spearman is with the Black Caps.
CD's recent Trophy form has been good. It won the competition two years ago and last year had a two win/two loss record. Patel expects CD to be in contention for the title again this year.
"Certainly the four-day competition would be one area that we would target quite strongly. We feel that we have a good bowling attack. At the end of the day you've got to take 20 wickets to win and we've got the type of bowlers who can do so."
Patel says that CD are a young side with an average age of about 22, but he expects them to be competitive. He says a successful season for CD will be making the semi-finals of the Shell Cup and finishing in the top two of the Shell Trophy.
Northern Districts
Northern Districts coach Chris Kuggeleijn laughs at the description of the defending Shell Trophy champions as perennial overachievers. But he is willing to concede that ND have their own way of doing things.
"There's more than one way to skin a cat. We've got a pretty settled side but if things aren't working in certain ways then we've got to utilise the talents that we have, and try and upset other people's game plans or tactics."
The talents Kuggeleijn refers to are players such as young fast bowler Joseph Yovich, who bats anywhere between one and 10 on any given day. Northern are a team of all-rounders. Statistically they flatter to deceive, which Kuggeleijn agrees can lead to people viewing them as overachievers.
"Apart from Bruce Martin who had a bumper year and took 37 wickets (in the trophy), everyone else can improve, and improve markedly. That's the exciting thing from my point of view. We had only one person average over 40 but everyone, at times when we needed it, chipped in. That's been one of our strengths over the last few years."
Kuggeleijn is very confident Northern can repeat its trophy winning effort of last season, and knock Canterbury off its one-day pedestal. He says the Shell Cup final being a best of three series has made it more difficult, but that just makes the challenge more appealing.
Northern's squad will have a very familiar look about it. Despite the geographical difficulties that face the association Kuggeleijn says it does not struggle to retain players. "I think we've got a pretty special culture within Northern Districts, which is a big part of team sport. We're a bit different from lot of other teams because everyone has played for ND since they were about 12."
The ND squad is very young but does not lack experience. The likes of the Marshall twins [Hamish and James], Neal Parlane, Yovich and Daniel Vettori are all vastly experienced considering their ages of 22 or younger. Captain Robbie Hart is only 25.
Kuggeleijn is disappointed to have lost Scott Styris and Hamish Marshall to the Black Caps as he does not believe they will play much test cricket in South Africa, but he is upbeat about the prospect of having a fully fit Simon Doull in the side.
"Hopefully Doully will be right up until Christmas - for the start of the season, for those first three Cup and Trophy games which are vital."
Kuggeleijn is matter of fact about Northern's prospects for the season. He says winning both the Shell Cup and Shell Trophy will be a successful year; not winning both won't be.
Otago
Otago has been a perennial cellar dweller in the Shell Cup in recent times, finishing either bottom or second to bottom in each of the last five years. But the two men brought in to revive the southern-most association's fortunes have plenty of experience of life at the other end of the table.
Ex-Canterbury coach Denis Aberhart has moved south to take up the coaching role, taking with him former New Zealand skipper Lee Germon, who is coming out of retirement for the Max and Cup competitions only.
Aberhart says the transition from coaching the dominant association in the country, to one of the real strugglers has been enjoyable.
"Its a good challenge. I've been very pleased with the attitude the Otago players have had. I think that the talent is there. It's probably just a matter of believing in themselves and getting a bit of confidence."
He says the presence of Germon, who served as captain during his time at Canterbury, will be invaluable.
"Obviously he gave the game away earlier than everyone would have liked. I think he still has a lot to offer the game through not just his captaincy, but through his ability to score runs as well. On the leadership side of things, with the younger members of the side he'll be really vital for their development - he'll have a lot that he can share with them."
Aberhart believes Otago have underachieved in the Shell Cup over the past few seasons. So how does he plan to rectify that situation?
"I'm not going to rectify it at all. It's up to the players to rectify it. We'll just go out and be positive and aggressive, believe in ourselves and look to take the opposition on."
The squad charged with reversing Otago's fortunes will be minus Glenn Jonas and Stephen Mather, who have returned to Wellington, and the retired Aaron Gale. Additions include Kerry Walmsley and Craig Pryor from Auckland, Craig Cumming and Germon.
Otago's recent Trophy form has been in stark contrast to its dismal Cup efforts, with the association making, but losing, two finals in the last four years. Aberhart believes Otago can go one better this year.
"It's our intention to go all the way. We have the players with the ability and the potential to be there when the trophies are handed out."
Aberhart had plenty of experience dealing with the loss of key players to the national side when coaching Canterbury and it is something he will face again this year with Otago. He says the experience players gain playing international cricket benefits the team when they return.
"It's great that Otago has got five Black Caps this year. We won't see them as much as we'd like but the important thing is to mix them in with the other players when they return to the side. They're getting international experience and that can only improve their game."
Players such as Mark Richardson, who are likely to be selected only for Test matches, will be available for three round robin Shell Cup games and seven Shell Trophy games, but players selected for the internationals one-day matches will only be available for the last three rounds of the Shell Cup.
Matt Horne will captain the Trophy side. Missing the South African tour through injury should see him available for all 10 games.
Aberhart says Otago's season will have been a success if it is in contention near the end of all three competitions. "Once you're in contention then anything can happen," he says.
Wellington
Wellington begins the season by attempting to defend its Max title, but another season like last year's, when the capital side failed to make the semi-finals of the Cup and never threatened in the Trophy, will not be good enough for a sporting public that has recently rediscovered the taste of success.
Wellington have qualified for the semi-finals of the Max competition, comfortably defeating CD in a best-of-five series. Coach Vaughn Johnson says his side can defend its title. "Comparing where we are this year with last year we are probably just a little bit off the mark. But we've done all we've been asked to so were pretty happy."
Johnson says the success of Wellington's NPC rugby team hasn't placed any extra pressure on the cricket team to follow suit.
"Whether the rugby team win or lose we've still got the same amount of pressure on us. I think it's great for the province that the rugby team have got up and won a major trophy. Obviously we have been wanting to do that. We won our first trophy in about six or seven years last year, which was a stepping stone for us. Hopefully we can go on and win something else."
Although Wellington's results in the Trophy and Cup last year were less than flattering, Johnson says he doesnt feel under any personal pressure.
"No, not at all. The job of coach is to obviously get results. We felt that even though we missed out on the semis of the Cup and finished mid-table in the Trophy we still had stages of the season where we played very well. It was just a lack of consistency that we perhaps dipped out on."
The acquisition of New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming may prove to be a bonus if Wellington can qualify for the Shell Cup semi-finals, but international commitments mean he is unlikely to make his Trophy debut this season. But Johnson says he is happy with the depth of his squad.
"Obviously the addition of Fleming when he's available will be helpful to us, even though he is only going to be available for four to seven Cup games. But we feel we have got a reasonably balanced squad this year, with Mather coming back."
Johnson dismisses suggestions that Wellington have in the past relied on recruiting players from other associations, at the expense of promoting local talent. He says Wellington haven't used a county professional for three seasons and is intent on promoting as many home grown players as it can. He says it is important to look at why players from other regions want to come and play for Wellington.
"We're not going to turn players away. If they ring us and want to come to the province then obviously we are going to look after them as far as bringing them to the province and making things available for them. If people want to come from the province then that is a good sign from Cricket Wellington's perspective."
Matthew Bell will captain the Max side and a decision on the captaincy of the Cup and Trophy sides will be made over the next three to four weeks. Wellington's most effective bowler from last season, Robert Kennedy, is struggling with a shoulder injury and is doubtful for the start of the season proper.
Johnson says Wellington is aiming to at least make the semi-finals of the Shell Cup and finish in the top two in the Trophy. "But ultimately we will be judged on how we perform in all three competitions. We're aiming to win all three."
Some statistics from the last five years of the Shell Cup and Shell Trophy:
Shell Cup:
All matches:
P W L NR Canterbury 63 46 14 3 Northern Districts 60 35 24 1 Wellington 58 31 25 2 Auckland 56 22 31 3 Central Districts 51 16 32 3 Otago 50 13 37 0
Finals matches:
P W L NR Canterbury 6 5 1 - Northern Districts 2 1 1 - Auckland 2 - 2 - Wellington 2 - 2 -
Winners:
1995/96 Canterbury 1996/97 Canterbury 1997/98 Northern Districts 1998/99 Canterbury 1999/00 Canterbury
Shell Trophy:
All matches:
P W L D Northern Districts 30 15 10 5 Canterbury 30 13 10 7 Central Districts 29 11 11 7 Wellington 29 10 12 7 Auckland 30 12 15 3 Otago 30 11 14 5
Winners:
1995/96 Auckland 1996/97 Canterbury 1997/98 Canterbury 1998/99 Central Districts 1999/00 Northern Districts