'Twins' go separate ways

SPLITTING UP: Representative ambitions have split spin twins Bhupinder Singh, left, who plays for Papatoetoe and the Auckland Aces, and Ish Sodhi who is now with Northern Districts and Counties Manukau.

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Cricket brought spin twins Bhupinder Singh and Ish Sodhi together and now representative cricket is breaking them up.

Singh remains Papatoetoe Cricket Club's premier offspinner when he is not playing for the Auckland Aces.

But Sodhi, a 19-year-old orthodox leg spinner like Australian great Shane Warne, has jumped associations in a bid to fast-track his way into first-class cricket and eventually the Black Caps.

He has the pedigree, having played for New Zealand at the under-19 World Cup in Australia earlier this year.

The Papatoetoe High School old boy was snapped up by Northern Districts shortly after his return.

"It was an opportunity to play first-class cricket," Sodhi says.

"The Aces already have a couple of top-class spinners at the moment, meaning it might have taken me a while to break in. So when Northern Districts offer me a contract, I jumped at the chance."

Signing with Northern Districts meant Sodhi has to leave Papatoetoe. He hasn't gone far. He moved from the Papatoetoe Recreation Grounds in Hunters Corner to War Memorial Park in Manurewa.

It's the home of Manukau Cricket Club and one of six premier teams in the Counties Manukau Cricket Association.

Sodhi had expected to make his Manukau debut last Saturday but the match was rained out.

He wants to play as much club cricket as he can. But he realises representative commitments might restrict him.

He says it's great being a professional cricketer even if it requires having to travel to Hamilton to train on almost a daily basis.

But he's not overly concerned. He has picked up a car as part of his perks and has no issues getting to and from work.

The car was part of a deal negotiated by his manager and former coach Shane Singe, the Manukau Cricket Club and South Auckland Motors.

Singh, who is also managed by Singe, also got one.

- © Fairfax NZ News