There are three changes to the South Canterbury Hawke Cup cricket squad to play Southland at Aorangi Oval.
The South Canterbury selectors have named their 12 to play Southland in the Southern Zone Hawke Cup match at Aorangi Oval this weekend is;
Craig Davies, Ritchie Preston, James Laming, Nick Horsley, Sam Carlaw (c), Jacob Naylor, Zane Sanders, Sam Porter, Matt Woods, Simon Murphy, Ben Watson, Kevin Teahen.
Wicket-keeper batsman Johnny Geddis is unavailable for personal reasons and has been replaced by Celtic gloveman Jacob Naylor.
Waimate captain Glen Drake has commitments with the Canterbury under 19 team, with his place taken by Temuka’s returning former captain Ritchie Preston.
Left-arm fast bowler Craig Hinton is getting married today, with his place in the 12-man squad going to veteran seamer Kevin Teahen.
Teahen appeared on the outer after missing selection for the innings and 26-run win over North Otago last month, but he has earned his spot back after taking 11 for 57 in two club matches before Christmas.
Despite the strong form, South Canterbury coach Robin Beeby hinted Teahen was likely to be the 12th man, with Celtic speedster Ben Watson likely to play after carrying the drinks for the North Otago match.
Beeby suggested either Naylor or Preston would take the wicketkeeping gloves, but both would play regardless because the side was light on batting.
The absence of Geddis and Drake will add pressure to the likes of Nick Horsley, Craig Davies and captain Sam Carlaw, all of whom made significant contributions with the bat against North Otago, to do so again.
Despite the changes, Beeby was happy with the continuity of the team.
“It’s a reasonably settled lineup and the batsmen should take some confidence from that,” he said.
English import, Matt Woods will spearhead the attack after taking eight wickets in the opening Hawke Cup contest.
Albion batsman Steve Waddell joins Invercargill Old Boys’ batsman James Wadworth as new faces to the Southland team which had a first innings loss to Otago Country in their opening game last month.
Waddell and Wadworth replace Hamish O’Brien and Calum Johnstone, who are both unavailable.
It was hoped former Volts player Craig Smith would return to the Southland setup this weekend but the left-arm medium-pacer is still unavailable and will target the game against North Otago in Invercargill next month.
Southland coach Steve Jackson said Waddell and Wadworth had been performers for their clubs in recent seasons and deserved their callups.