New Zealand Off Season 2014

[hendrix]

I think he'd do a better job than either Sodhi or Craig and might even bring this team to the next level. We wouldn't even need him to take wickets.

 

[Flem274*]

You also think Lakmal is a good bowler.

CW needs some myth busting done.

 

[hendrix]

I think Lakmal has improved and is probably SL's best pace bowler. He'll do well in NZ.

 

[Flem274*]

That's crazy talk. Eranga is their best by several light years.

 

[Bahnz]

Patel is obviously better than any other NZ spinner not named Vettori. By miles. Cryin' shame that he's effectively retired.

 

[Kippax]

No big write-up or interview managed by Alderson.

 

[RxGM]

No big write-up or interview managed by Alderson.

Bugger

 

[Kippax]

There are quite a few cloudy patches for me:

- George Worker returning to CD
- Hira returning to Auckland No.
- M Bracewell moving to Canterbury
- Cam Fletcher taking the keepers role at Canterbury
- Nethula returning to Auckland
- Raval returning to CD No.
- Carl Cachopa returning to Auckland
- Will Young moving to Canterbury
- Who will take over as ND as keeper if Fletcher leaves? Ben Horne, Jonathan Bassett-Graham, Dane Cleaver or Rory Christopherson?

Worker wants chance to bowl | Stuff.co.nz

George Worker's desire to bowl more has seen him return to Central Districts for this summer.

Palmerston North's Worker has spent the past three seasons playing for Canterbury, but will return to his home province this summer, with a combination of things sparking the move.

"My results over the last couple of years haven't been quite as good as I would have liked," the top order batsman said. "My progression as a player felt like I wasn't quite progressing the way I want to.

"A change of atmosphere and scenery would be good."

Worker, 24, met CD coach Heinrich Malan and assistant Lance Hamilton while in Palmerston North recently and he liked what he heard.

"Probably the biggest factor is, hopefully, an opportunity to bowl more in all three formats and I haven't been doing that for Canterbury," Worker said.

 

[RxGM]

Worker wants chance to bowl | Stuff.co.nz

Where does the Hira "No to auckland" come from.

 

[Kippax]

Where does the Hira "No to auckland" come from.

He just wasn't in the 'welcome home to all these shunts' release.

Auckland Cricket

 

[Kippax]

Canterbury Cricket loses yet another batsman | Stuff.co.nz

Canterbury Cricket are in negotiations with another batsman as their batting bench empties out.

Former New Zealand A player George Worker is the latest to leave the province, heading back to Central Districts. The side have already lost Dean Brownlie (Northern Districts), Rob Nicol and Brad Cachopa (both Auckland) and Shanan Stewart to retirement.

Neil Broom eases the burden of the exodus somewhat, as will the fact Peter Fulton has not received a central contract and will play the full season, though Tom Latham is unlikely to be seen often as his international stocks rise.

Coach Gary Stead would not comment on whom the side was in talks with and chief executive Lee Germon could not be contacted, though it is believed Auckland's Jeet Raval is the man in question.

Stead said he was surprised Worker had left. He said Worker told him he wanted more bowling opportunities and that was a big part of why he was returning north. However, with Nicol out of the picture, there clearly would have been more opportunity for Worker with both bat and ball.

Stead said that although the departure of several batsmen left a gap, he had "spoken to a number of players about coming here and a number have approached me too".

"We might be a bit light on the list in batsmen this year but perhaps we've been a bit batter-heavy in the past and I'm excited about our batting stocks.

"We won the Plunket Shield last year with only four centuries - Tom Latham scored two of those and Andrew Ellis scored two.

"Those guys [who have left] obviously contributed too but I think we can still score runs.

"We've got Neil Broom back and we'll get a bit more use out of Peter Fulton."

There would also be an opportunity for local batsmen who had come through the under-19 and A programmes to impress, he said.

Both teams won their respective competitions last summer.

The major associations' initial contracts lists will be made public next Friday and despite the departures, it is still unlikely there will be any complete bolters on the Canterbury list.

Fulton will come on to the list as will Broom and newly signed wicketkeeper Cameron Fletcher, while Cole McConchie and Tim Johnston should also be included.

Kyle Jamieson is another who will push for a spot but with more games likely to be played at the spinner-friendly Rangiora ground because of the World Cup and other commitments at Hagley Oval, an extra spinner makes more sense.

Canterbury and the other five associations are to name between nine and 13 players next Friday.

 

[Kippax]

They've chopped out Chops' expression of pleasure at the new Aces sponsorship, I see. Might have to do the same with Raval's, when he signs for Canty.

 

[RxGM]

He just wasn't in the 'welcome home to all these shunts' release.

Auckland Cricket

I just still think NZC will force him on Auckland Cricket, regardless. He is currently considered out 3rd best T20I bowler behind McCullum and Vettori.

 

[Kippax]

I just still think NZC will force him on Auckland Cricket, regardless. He is currently considered out 3rd best T20I bowler behind McCullum and Vettori.

https://twitter.com/Roneelhira/status/487131481244852225

Excited about the Kings rubbish and his season ahead with the Kings, apparently.

 

[Kippax]

Snook: Mediocre imports jeopardise the game | Stuff.co.nz

OPINION: The wondrous world of professional sport has long ago lost its "soul", as codes have grown from activities of fun and friendship to ones governed by big business and self-interest.

For the modern player, it is a field of opportunity to live the dream and bank the coin, and no-one can blame any player for wanting to be part of this.

As we sit and wait for a minor miracle in Durban this weekend, a surprise win in Canberra and the Singapore rugby community to stop shaking their heads with laughter and smiles at the likelihood of big-time rugby entering their Asia division-two environment, back in Central Districts Cricket HQ in Napier the new chief executive, 35-year-old Neil Hood has some pondering to do. Will he be the man to embody the spirit of Central Districts cricket and return at least some of the soul to this organisation.

Under the guise of professionalism, this association has created a culture of providing access to first-class cricket for those not good enough to make the grade in their home town.

Once again a player who has played, but not resided and then returned home, wants to come back because his position is in jeopardy at home. Enough is enough.

So it sounds like Raval was keen to return to CD, but he's been met with the change of political tone at the Stags. Guys who favour a hard line on shifty migrant workers now have the power.

 

[Flem274*]

Would rather Raval than Worker tbf, unless Worker is keen on moving into the middle order and doing a bit of a Tastle with his bowling.

 

[RxGM]

https://twitter.com/Roneelhira/status/487131481244852225

Excited about the Kings rubbish and his season ahead with the Kings, apparently.

Far cry from the i'm moving back to live in Auckland to be with my wife no matter what that he came out with last year.

 

[BackFootPunch]

If Craig Cachopa plays for Auckland as an overseas player, can he then be picked for New Zealand straight away? Assuming he's not played anything other than CC in England.

Or does he have to serve some kind of stand down period / be released from his Sussex contract?

 

[brockley]

Once a player has signed a contract which he has as a local for an England county there is a clause that he must player for England.For this to change he would have to be released from his Sussex contract.Like South Africans he will play as an overseas player.Ryan Mclaren was barred from playing for S Africa because he was contracted to Kent,and it was Kent's off season.Thems' the rules when you become a mercenary.

 

[Prince EWS]

If Craig Cachopa plays for Auckland as an overseas player, can he then be picked for New Zealand straight away? Assuming he's not played anything other than CC in England.

Or does he have to serve some kind of stand down period / be released from his Sussex contract?

There's no ICC law preventing him from doing so, but I suspect he'd be in breach of contract with Sussex unless he sought a release.