Loyal NZ cricketing servants XI

BY DANIEL RICHARDSON

In light of the selections of first-class journeymen Peter Ingram and Andy McKay to the Black Caps, Daniel Richardson takes a look at 11 journeymen in New Zealand domestic cricket who haven't played for the Black Caps in any form of the game.

1. Michael Parlane (c), Northern Districts, debut 1992-93

The definitive first-class journeyman and the obvious choice for the captaincy. The older Parlane brother is the longest-serving current first-class player in New Zealand. He's a steady opener who has 15 tons in the four-day game, but with an average of 32 he was hardly banging down the door for a call-up to the next level.

2. Neal Parlane, Wellington, debut 1996-97

Parlane could count himself a bit unlucky he hasn't been thought of as an opener in recent times with some heavy scoring, particularly in the Twenty20 competition this summer. The 31-year-old has been a loyal servant to Wellington and Northern Districts and can also keep wickets if required.

3. Greg Todd, Otago, debut 2000-01

After starting out for Central Districts, Todd did what all New Zealand sportsmen do when things are looking tough for them in their home province – he moved to Otago to reignite his career. It went well for a while, too, and the former age-group star smashed twin hundreds in a match in 2007-08. The problem is that in 49 other four-day matches he has had only two further hundreds.

4. Reece Young, Auckland, debut 1998-99

A wicketkeeper-batsman by trade, Young enters our lineup as a specialist batsman because we are a bit light on talent at the top. Averaging 27 with the blade is hardly world-beating, but he can do the job.

5. Luke Woodcock, Wellington, debut 2001-02

Woodcock is only in his eighth first-class season, making him the spring chicken in the team at 27. He's an all-rounder who bowls handy left-arm spin, but with a bowling average of 40 and a batting average of 31, domestic cricket might be his lot.

6. Joseph Yovich, Northern Districts, debut 1996-97

A handy left-hand bat and reliable right-arm bowler Yovich is a fine No6. The former Whangarei Boys' High School student was a part of their only Gillette Cup victory, in 1994, alongside Matthew Bell.

7. Bevan Griggs, Central Districts, debut 2000-01

Manawatu's Griggs takes the gloves in this side and provides some steady lower-order batting. Considering how much Brendon McCullum gets rested from wicket-keeping duties, it's a wonder Griggs hasn't been in line to play at least once for the Black Caps.

8. Bradley Scott, Northern Districts, debut 2000-01

Scott was included for the Twenty20 World Cup squad in 2007 and has been in a few extended Black Caps' squads, but has never cracked the big time. The left-handed all-rounder, who surprisingly left Otago to forward his career rather than reignite there, won't be in the national frame again bar a miracle.

9. Bruce Martin, Northern Districts, debut 1999-2000

This team's genuine spinner, Martin has collected 215 domestic wickets at 35, but sitting behind Daniel Vettori in the Northern pecking order means he isn't even the best left-arm spinner in his provincial team.

10. Warren McSkimming, Otago, debut 1999-2000

McSkimming has played for New Zealand A before and averages a respectable 24 with the ball and taking 204 wickets in the process. A reliable right-armer, he doesn't trouble batsman for pace, but depends on accuracy.

11. Graeme Aldridge, Northern Districts, debut 1998-99

Solid with the ball on a greentop like in Whangarei, Aldridge has been mentioned in the past as a possible Black Caps bolter, but would need some serious injuries to happen before getting the call from Mark Greatbatch now. In domestic four-day cricket, this mock team has scored 31,517 runs and taken 1108 wickets across 860 games spanning an 18-year period. In one-dayers it has racked up 14,883 runs and grabbed 576 wickets across 966 matches.

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