Cricket: Taranaki build towards Hawke Cup defences

Ian Snook

Photo: Taranaki captain Jordan Gard will play his 50th match for Taranaki as the side prepare to play Manawatu this weekend in Palmerston North. Photo by: CD Cricket.

Mathematically, Whitaker Civil Engineering Taranaki are all but out of contention in holding on to the Furlong Cup for another season, but mentally they have plenty to gain by turning in positive performances against Manawatu this weekend in Palmerston North and the following weekend in Napier against Hawkes Bay.

Every player needs to step up and get the mind right for the Hawke Cup defences beginning at the end of the month.

Meeting the January challenges with a smile and a skip is what this month is all about.

Currently the Furlong Cup points are: [points/ games played / games remaining] Whanganui 48 (4) V HB Hawkes Bay 29 (2) V Whanganui / Taranaki / Wairarapa Taranaki 21 (3) V Manawatu / Hawkes Bay Wairarapa 11 (2) V H-K / Manawatu / Hawkes Bay Horowhenua-Kapiti 11 (3) V Manawatu / Wairarapa Manawatu 9 (2) V Taranaki / Wairarapa / H-K

The winning side will meet Taranaki in the first Hawke Cup challenge on January 30 & 31 and February 1st.

Coach Chris Coombe has had some tricky choices to make for this weekend in Palmerston North, with Ben Frewin and Trent McGrath unavailable from the normal group; and has come up with the following twelve.

Josh Borrell (NPOB), Robson Chapman (NPMU), Bailey Wisnewski (Inglewood), Rupert Young (NPOB), Liam Muggeridge (Stratford), Jacob Leuthard-Richards (NPMU), Davis Mills (NPOB), Mattie Thomas (NPOB), Jordan Gard © (NPOB), Ryan Watson (NPMU), Liam Carr (NPOB), Callum Stuart (NPOB).

Most interest centres around the inclusion of Chapman as an opener, who also offers left arm medium pace bowling; and batting all-rounder Mills, who offers similar skills on the right-handed side.

Both are competitive players and are ready to blossom in this environment. Now is the time to step up and grab a regular spot in the playing XI.

Fresh from his first Taranaki outings at the Chapple Cup, young all-rounder Ryan was originally chosen to replace the injured Frewin, but he pulled a muscle at Thursday’s training and in turn was replaced by the Terminator, Stuart.

Stuart will be keen to prove his value to the team, and demonstrate his effectiveness against a strong Manawatu batting lineup. This is his opportunity.

Taranaki began to increase the tempo and intensity in their last outing against Horowhenua-Kapiti with huge innings from Borrell (196) and Young (157).

Wisnewski scored an impressive 79 in the rained-out fixture with Wairarapa previous to that and Chapman was the best against Whanganui, so there is a hungry group of batsmen left who will be demanding more from themselves and something a bit special.

Every innings is an opportunity not to be wasted. In a talented batting line-up going all the way down to eleven, each player must feel sufficiently confident in themselves and their teammates to stride out and step up. The talking is over.

At the bowling crease the injured Freakish Frewin with nine wickets at 18.88 is the standout this season, so with his sidelining it should be a clamber to see who steps up.

Watson, Gard and Carr have all bowled good spells, but from here on they need to be bowling in partnerships. Pressure is the key.

Last season Taranaki posted a competitive 261 against Manawatu at Pukekura Park with the absent McGrath (79) and this season’s skipper Gard (58*), leading the way.

This was then backed up by bowling accurately and fielding well, and dismissing Manawatu for 196, with Freakish once again at the forefront with 5-27.

Gard, Watson, Carr and Thomas all grabbed wickets in what was a very disciplined performance.

Who will turn in the freakish performance at Fitzherbert Park?

Skipper Gard will run out for his 50th cap on Saturday, joining teammates Thomas, Muggeridge and Watson, Gard being the 34th Taranaki cricketer to achieve this milestone from a total of 714 players overall.

Still a youngster by cricket standards, Gard has been pushing hard for first class honours during the previous few seasons and he must certainly be in the discussions amongst the Central Districts selection panel.

Based on what I have seen of the current crop of CD players Gard must be very, very close to earning that jumper.

There will be added excitement as the team step out on Saturday morning, with the former Taranaki player from the Hawke Cup era in the 70’s Crafty Crow (Ross Crow – Taranaki player 422) on hand with a few stories to tell.

Update: The story has been updated on January 9 to reflect the team changes.