Brodie continues to build on solid foundations

He's dreamed of playing cricket for New Zealand since he was five years old and the highly regarded Josh Brodie continues to work quietly towards that goal.

The 22-year-old left-hand opening batsman knocked up a hundred for Eastern Suburbs against University on Saturday, which set the defending champions on the path to yet another one-sided victory in the Pearce Cup.

Brodie hit 17 fours and a six in his score of 118 and then had the satisfaction of watching his bowlers take 16 wickets on the second day of the match yesterday for a win over the students by an innings and 13 runs.

Brodie's name has been away from the spotlight for the past couple of months as the provincial game moved into one-day mode.

Wellington consider him a four- day specialist and he has already been talked about as potential test opener.

Good judges believe he has built his game on solid foundations, and over the past few weeks he has worked with John Wright and Mark Richardson on improving both the technical and mental side of his batting.

"I've wanted to play for New Zealand since I was five and that remains my goal," Brodie said yesterday.

"There is a New Zealand A tour to England this winter and I'd love to get on that, so hopefully I can keep putting the runs on the board.

"It was great spending time with John Wright and Mark Richardson. There was technical stuff and lots of chats about batting and the pressures that come from outside when you are picked to play for your country."

Before Brodie was overlooked for Wellington's ill-fated Twenty20 and 50-over campaigns, he had scored 412 runs at an average of 45.77 in the five first-class games played in November and December, including 103 against Auckland.

Brodie said he could not wait to pull the Wellington sweater back on when the four-day season starts again on February 25.

"Naturally I was disappointed not to play in the one-dayers for Wellington but I'm sort of over that now and just looking forward to the four-dayers.

"I've done a lot of work to get ready and spending four hours at the crease on Saturday was really good.

"It's always nice to score a hundred –, it was a bit patchy at times, but overall it was pleasing."

Brodie's 118 and 78 from Lance Dry helped Easts reach 308 and University were rolled for 131 and 164, with the wickets spread evenly around the Easts attack.

Easts were the only team to secure an outright win in the rain-affected two day round at the weekend.

Hutt Districts and Naenae did not bowl a ball in their match, Taita won on the first innings over Norths and second-placed Karori did likewise against Onslow.

In the Hazlett Trophy competition, Taita B beat Wellington College by an innings and 23 runs, Wellington Collegians won on the first innings over North City's second team and, for the second week running, Johnsonville were all over their opposition without being able to finish the job with the ball.

Johnsonville scored 272, with Scott Mudgway leading the way with 80, but they could not take 20 Petone wickets. Petone scored 103 and 65-4.

In the final game, Upper Hutt were first-innings winners over Karori B.

- © Fairfax NZ News