Under 19 side to face South Africans

The Otago U19 cricket team to face South Africa U19 in a three-day warm-up match in Oamaru, beginning on Wednesday, has today been named.

The Otago side is without experienced captain and first-class player Brendon McCullum, who is in camp with the New Zealand U19 team he will captain in the test series against South Africa.

Coach Mike Hesson says his team is unsure of what to expect. "We don't know too much about this South African side, it will be their first game in New Zealand. It is a fantastic opportunity for these young cricketers to play against international competition and it is up to them to make the most of it. The boys are looking forward to the challenge ahead of them."

New caps in the side are Matt George and Nick Ward, who come in to cover for the absent McCullum and other top order batsmen Alistair Collie and Jarrad Waldron who are both away with school teams.

The game will be played Wednesday-Friday at Centennial Park, Oamaru, commencing 10.30am each day.

The team is:
Jordan Sheed (captain) (Dunedin)
Anthony Wilkinson (vice captain) (Dunedin)
Matt Adair (Central Otago)
Matt George (North Otago)
Shaun Haig (Dunedin)
Johnathan Hodson (Southland)
Richard Johnson (Dunedin)
Mark Joyce (Dunedin)
Nathan King (Dunedin)
Jamie Murley (Dunedin)
Ben Ryan (Dunedin)
Nick Ward (Southland)