Stead earns place in NZ A team (24 February 1999)

24 February 1999

Stead earns place in NZ A team

The Christchurch Press

Scoring runs in pressure situations this season has led to Canterbury's Gary Stead being named in the New Zealand A team for its three-day cricket match against South Africa at Lincoln next week.

Stead will also captain the side, which includes Canterbury's new wicketkeeper-batsman Gareth Hopkins who has had a similarly outstanding Shell series this season.

National selection panel convener Ross Dykes said the selectors had been impressed with Stead's performances in difficult situations this season.

Stead topped the Shell Cup aggregates, including a man-of-the-match winning innings of 84 in the cup final against Wellington. He followed this with Shell Trophy scores of 62 not out and 87.

Hopkins also had a successful cup season with bat and gloves then followed that with a maiden first-class century for Canterbury against Central Districts.

Dykes said he and fellow selectors, Steve Rixon and Rick Pickard, wanted to choose in-form players and also see how some players coped with the higher level of play. "We have seen plenty of the likes of Craig Spearman, Chris Drum, and Robbie Hart, but we want to have a look at a few others."

Dykes said there was nothing sinister in the omission of off-spinner Paul Wiseman, who was also left out of the test team to face South Africa in Auckland.

"A bit depended on the make-up and balance of the team.

"We want to look at Brooke Walker and if we had two spinners it would have been light on batting depth."

Only 11 players were named so as to minimise disruption to the Shell Trophy teams which are also playing a round then, and no team has been more affected than any other. Wellington pace bowler Carl Bulfin is still a doubtful starter with an ankle complaint, but Dykes said the team announcement could not be delayed any longer.

The team contains two former test players, Otago fast-medium bowler Shayne O'Connor and Auckland opening batsman Bryan Young.

Gary Stead (captain, Canterbury), Robbie Lawson (Otago), Bryan Young (Auckland), Mark Bailey (Northern Districts), Mathew Sinclair (Central Districts), Scott Styris (Northern Districts), Gareth Hopkins (Canterbury), Brooke Walker (Auckland), Shayne O'Connor (Otago), Andrew Penn (Central Districts), Carl Bulfin (Wellington).

Meanwhile, Canterbury has added three East Christchurch-Shirley players - Ryan Burson, Carl Anderson, and Marcel McKenzie - to its squad to prepare for its next trophy match against Auckland starting on Saturday at Rangiora's Dudley Park.

Coach Garry MacDonald said there could be the odd change to the team to play Auckland from the 12 which played the first two trophy games.

MacDonald hopes New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming could be available for the following home trophy match against Otago from March 5-8.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)