The Hawke Cup
The South Canterbury cricket team will have a diverse preparation for its Hawke Cup campaign this season, with new fixtures added for the 2013-2014 season.
South Canterbury Cricket operations manager Mark Medlicott said more emphasis would be put on the Mark Parker Memorial match, with a full-strength team likely to face an Otago selection on November 10 at Aorangi Oval.
While traditional limited-overs matches against Christchurch Suburban and Mid Canterbury are likely before South Canterbury’s first Hawke Cup zone encounter against Otago Country at home on November 30, it is the inclusion of a two-day warmup game against Canterbury Country on January 11 and 12 in Timaru and a 60-over match against Canterbury A on February 16 which should provide the most interest.
Both of those matches will act as a warmups in between Hawke Cup fixtures.
Medlicott said the two matches against the Canterbury teams offered players the opportunity to force their way into the Canterbury A setup if they were good enough.
The club season is also likely to have some changes but they will not be confirmed until next week.
South Canterbury coach Robin Beeby was not available for comment.
He will be keen to get his team to its second Hawke Cup challenge in as many seasons after the province had to wait more than a decade for the chance.
After topping the Zone 4 group last year, Beeby was named Canterbury Cricket coach of the year last season.
South Canterbury warmup fixtures
November 10 v Otago selection at Aorangi Oval (Mark Parker Memorial match 50 overs)
November 17 v Mid Canterbury at Aorangi Oval (Ron Biggar Memorial 50 overs)
November 24 v Christchurch Metropolitan in Christchurch (Blanchard Stokes Memorial 50 overs)
January 11 and 12 v Canterbury Country at Aorangi Oval (two-day match)
February 16 v Canterbury A at Aorangi Oval (60-over match)
South Canterbury’s Hawke Cup campaign
November 30 and December 1 v Otago Country at Aorangi Oval
January 25 and 26 v North Otago in Oamaru
February 1 and 2 v Southland in Invercargill
February 22 and 23 v Mid Canterbury at Aorangi Oval