Taranaki Cricket

News

22/07/2010
Ingram Called into Black Caps Tour
Peter Ingram is banking on an understanding employer after he emerged as the favourite to replace Jesse Ryder for next month's tri-series in Sri Lanka. Ryder's horror injury run continued yesterday when he was ruled out of New Zealand's tour because of ligament damage in his right elbow, which hampers his throwing. With the 14-man squad to depart tomorrow for three warmup matches in Darwin, the selectors were left scrambling for a replacement after the next in line, Aaron Redmond, was unavailable because of his wedding in Britain on August 20. Senior opener Brendon McCullum was given leave to miss the tri-series, which left Ingram, Shanan Stewart and Neil Broom as the leading contenders. As the only top-order specialist, the Central Districts opener is the frontrunner to be confirmed by New Zealand Cricket today. The only hitch is hastily re-arranging leave from his teaching job at New Plymouth's Francis Douglas Memorial College, which he was already granted for next month's NZA tour of Australia. Selection would represent a reprieve for Ingram, 31, who wasn't among the 20 players offered NZC contracts on Tuesday and was dropped for the second test against Australia in March. He debuted in all three formats this year and averaged a tidy 30.16 from six one-day internationals, three of them against Australia. Ryder, 25, first suffered the elbow problem during a Brisbane camp before the Twenty20 World Cup in May. The destructive opener averaged 18.6 [strike rate 109] in the Caribbean and was told on his return to rest the injury, and that surgery wasn't required. He was throwing again a month ago but the arm wasn't at the required level when tested in Christchurch this week. Ryder missed the entire home summer because of surgery on his abdominal wall and has played just 11 tests, 21 one-day matches and 14 Twenty20 internationals since his debut in February 2008. Coach Mark Greatbatch said the heat was on Ryder to work hard off the field. "Batting and bowling is not an issue and he's made progress with his fitness, which is good," Greatbatch said. "He's got to keep learning. I think he's getting better. He's a professional athlete and he needs to continually work. "He loves playing the game, which is great to have that passion. But he's got to love doing what he needs to do to get ready to go away, and that's a work-in-progress. "If he can do that, then he's going to be fit and strong and go on tours and stay on tours and perform to a higher level." Greatbatch hoped Ryder would be fit for the Bangladesh tour in September, which is followed by a full tour of India in November-December. Ad Feedback The coach confirmed Redmond was next in line and was "gutted" to be unavailable. He scheduled his wedding for August after originally missing selection. Meanwhile, McCullum will undergo cleanup surgery on his left knee on Monday in order to be fit for the Bangladesh tour. He is expected to be back training early next month. Ingram confirmed with TCA that he has the call up and is due to fly out Friday morning.

29/06/2010
Soil Testing Completed For Puke Park Nets
Soil tests for the proposed practice nets at Pukekura Park were completed last Wednesday 23 June 2010. Contrary to what was reported in the Taranaki Daily News on Friday 25 June there was no freshwater spring uncovered. Water found under the site was ground water and was not unexpected. As per the Daily News clarification printed last Saturday 26 June(page 5): "In yesterday's Taranaki Daily News it was reported that a freshwater spring was uncovered during soil testing for the proposed Taranaki Cricket Association nets at Pukekura Park . This was not the case and the water was actually ground water. Discovery of the ground water was not unexpected, according to Beca senior civil engineer Matt Low, who said ground water was a factor that was considered in engineering design and was not uncommon. TCA chairman Neil Sulzberger said the detailed design for the nets would now be completed without any changes to the design approach". Once the design and full costing are completed TCA will then need to make the necessary funding applications.

28/06/2010
Overseas Adventures
TCA's Development officer Jamie Watkins is currently putting his skills to good use over in the UK. Last week he had a coaching session with the White Ferns at Lords prior to their tour starting and was asked by one other player for a helping hand?????

28/06/2010
Ingram Selected in "A" Team
Peter Ingram has been selected to represent NZ A in the upcoming tour to Australia. The New Zealand A squad is to contest the emerging players cricket tournament in August was named. The tournament, which involves teams from Australia, India and South Africa, will see teams play four Twenty20 and four one-day matches. New Zealand A: Brent Arnel, Michael Bates, Neil Broom, Colin de Grandhomme, Brendon Diamanti, Daniel Flynn, Peter Ingram, Tim McIntosh, Rob Nciol, Aaron Redmond, Shanan Stewart, Neil Wagner, Luke Woodcock, Reece Young.

3/06/2010
Don Stewart Nominated
Don Stewart has been nominated by CD Cricket to be considered for the Sir Jack Newman award. The Sir Jack Newman award is presented annually by the New Zealand Cricket Foundation to an outstanding junior cricket administrator for his or her past and present services to the development of junior cricket in New Zealand. The winner will be announced on the 11 June and TCA would like to congratulate Don for his nomination and wish him all the best.

31/05/2010
Taranaki Trio in White Ferns
Taranaki cricketers Aimee Watkins, Rachel Priest and Kate Broadmore have been named in a 14-strong White Ferns squad for the upcoming tour of England. The trio were part of the team that finished runner-up in the Twenty20 World Cup earlier this month. The England series begins with the first of three Twenty20 matches against England on June 29. This is followed by a single one-day international against Ireland, a 50-over match against the England Academy, and a five-match one-day series against England. As part of the succession planning in leadership positions, Suzie Bates will replace Amy Satterthwaite as vice-captain. NEW ZEALAND: Watkins (captain), Suzie Bates (vice-captain), Erin Bermingham, Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne, Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Lucy Doolan, Maria Fahey, Sara McGlashan, Liz Perry, Priest, Sian Ruck, Amy Satterthwaite.

27/04/2010
Watkins Rated Among Sexiest
Taranaki's Aimee Watkins is more accustomed to featuring on scoreboards so New Zealand's women's cricket captain admits surprise at being nominated as one of the world's sexiest sportswomen. The 27-year-old from Taranaki has been rated by website Yahoo!Xtra as one of the world's 64 hottest female athletes, alongside American skier Lindsay Vonn, Aussie swimmer Stephanie Rice and Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidisova. "I didn't know anything about it," Watkins said. "I've seen it now. Mum gave me a call and she was pretty excited and told me to go on and have a look. Since then I've had a bit of stick but, oh well. It's all a bit foreign to me." Apart from deflecting verbal barbs from team-mates, Watkins has been planning for the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts on May 5 in the West Indies. The White Ferns fly out on Thursday and Watkins was confident of her side's chances after a clean sweep of Australia in this year's Twenty20 Rosebowl series. "To beat Aussie 5-0, we're pretty happy with our Twenty20 form and our plans. We're pretty clear on what we need to do." New Zealand coach Gary Stead has taken an analytical approach to try to get a jump on the opposition. "I think some women's teams are still finding their feet with Twenty20 because we don't play it as much as the men," Watkins said. "Gary has done quite a bit of research and looked at stats and numbers and what kind of things correlate to winning. We know if we hit those marks then we're going to win games." Watkins was preparing to play on low and slow pitches in the Caribbean and although that wasn't the team's preference, felt New Zealand were well equipped with four spinners. "We've talked about the possibility of spinners opening the bowling. We'd prefer to have a little bit more pace in the wicket, to be honest. "But we've done a lot of work on playing spin and in Twenty20, you can't get too caught up on who the bowler is because every ball is an opportunity to score a boundary." Wellington boasts four players in the squad: Lucy Doolan, Sophie Devine, Sian Ruck and Liz Perry. "Lucy just offers a totally different skill set to anyone else in our team. Her ability to access different areas of the field is going to be a valuable asset to us," Watkins said. "And Soph has been in outstanding Twenty20 form and can hit the ball as hard as anyone." After the World Cup Watkins will take up an English county contract with Devon.

12/04/2010
Chairmans XI gain win
The annual TCA Chairman's X1 (Pre Historics) 40 over cricket match against Cambridge (Anitiques) was played in Cambridge at the picturesque Victoria Square ground on Saturday 9 April. Taranaki team is made up of players who are at least 45 years of age and have or are currently involved with Taranaki Cricket. Batters must retire at 30 runs and bowlers can only bowl a maximum of 5 overs. Taranaki batted first and were 2 wickets down early for only 4 runs on the board with former Taranaki opening fast bowler Colin McEldowney opening the bowling for Cambridge. Greg Alexander and Robbie Sim steadied the ship with a good 3rd wicket partnership with both batters retiring at 30 runs. Taranaki captain Brian Richards and TCA chairman Neil Sulzberger had continued the good work with Sulzberger retiring at 30 runs. Other good performances were from Taranaki selector Kerry O'Neill 28, TCA Board Members Peter Pritchard 19 and Russell Wilson 18 which got Taranaki through to a competitive 212 for 5 off 40 over's. Cambridge replied with 197 for 8 wickets with the pick of the Taranaki bowlers being Greg Alexander with 3 for 19 off 4 over's and Kevin Doherty with 2 for 12 off 4 over's. Taranaki official scorer Thelma Luxton and Umpire John Goodin travelled with the team. The annual fixture will be at Pukekura Park next year on the 1st weekend in April.

10/04/2010
St Joes - Twilight Cricket Runner-up
St Joes Twilight Cricket Team
Runners Up in a very close Final at Pukekura Park that could have gone either way.
See you next year guys.

29/03/2010
Woodleigh wins 2 Day Title

ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News

SUCCESS: Woodleigh batsman Moritz Hartmann celebrates scoring his century during his side's two-day premier title victory over Inglewood at Pukekura Park. Hartmann went on to score a match-winning 194.

A majestic 194 by Moritz Hartmann set Woodleigh up for a notable title double in Taranaki premier grade cricket.

Hartmann's century, which included 27 fours and three sixes, provided the backbone to Woodleigh's mammoth first-innings score of 487 as it went on to secure a seven-wicket win over Inglewood in the two-day final at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.

The win in the final – actually played over three days – gave Woodleigh its second Taranaki trophy of the season after earlier winning the one-day title.

"That's my highest score in premier cricket, it's one that counts," Hartmann said afterwards.

"It's pretty special. To score it in a final and on Pukekura Park is pretty neat."

Hartmann said it was also special for the Woodleigh club to win both titles.

"A lot of people probably wrote us off at the start of the season. We'd lost a couple of key players, but we've played well as a team all season. Everyone has chipped in."

On his 4 1/2-hour stint in the middle, he said it was an innings he would remember. "I was seeing the ball well. Nick [Bettington] set things up. I was a bit lucky, I was dropped twice ... once in the 40s and once in the 80s. But that's cricket."

After Inglewood scored 286 on Friday, Woodleigh piled on the runs on Saturday with Nick Bettington scoring 88 to establish the launch pad for Hartmann.

With a late charge from Andrew Mason with 43 and Simon Bird, 23 not out, Woodleigh was in the box seat.

And it turned to gold soon after, with paceman Hayden Whiting taking two wickets in his first over to rock Inglewood. Three down at stumps, the question was would Inglewood score enough runs to make Woodleigh bat again?

Some spirited resistance on the third and final day yesterday answered that, with Aaron Zame making a stylish 95 and fellow Taranaki rep Jason Dombroski 68. Both hit 11 fours in their innings, with Zame hitting one six as the pair put on 131 for the fifth wicket.

Some late fireworks from Richard Flitcroft ensured Woodleigh would have to bat again to claim the outright victory. Flitcroft brought up his half-century with a six and a four off David Simpson, but was out soon after for 59.

The best of the Woodleigh bowlers was Whiting, who finished with four wickets, with David Simpson and Simon Bird taking three each.

Needing 102 to win, Woodleigh made it through for the loss of three wickets.

Bettington was the batsman to anchor the innings with an unbeaten 32 as he guided his side to the title.

It was a long day in the field for the Inglewood bowlers on Saturday and their figures showed it.

Cole Brown bagged four wickets off his 27 overs, but conceded 122 runs, while Hayden McIntyre also picked up four wickets at a cost of 74.

Robert McLeod picked up two wickets in the second innings to give his side a glimmer of hope, but it was the batsmen who had the major say in the final.

22/07/2010
Ingram Called into Black Caps Tour

29/06/2010
Soil Testing Completed For Puke Park Nets

28/06/2010
Ingram Selected in "A" Team

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