Coach steps up for Manawatu

Manawatu Cricket operations manager Ian Sandbrook also doubles as rep selector and coach – now player can be added to that.

He will step in to fill a vacancy in the two-day Hawke Cup qualifier against Wanganui at Manawaroa Park over the weekend.

Seven players from his squad are either injured or unavailable so Sandbrook will bat, probably in the lower middle order.

The former Central Districts wicketkeeper-batsman didn't want to tap into the Palmerston North High School 1st XI because exams are in full swing.

Manawatu never has a full-strength side with players on New Zealand and Central Districts duty. They include Ross Taylor, George Worker, Mike Mason and Bevan Griggs while Jacob Oram isn't playing the longer form of the game.

Pace bowlers Bevan Small and Adam Milne are with the New Zealand under-19 XI in Christchurch, Matthew Short is in Thailand, Chris Turkington is in Australia and Willie Murrie has work commitments.

Rob Sheary could be out for a month with the calf tear he suffered in last weekend's rep match against Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Also injured is Johnny Lash.

Two players will make their representative debuts – United captain and batsman Robbie James and Palmerston left-arm pace bowler Ben Dixon.

More than 50mm of rain fell on Wednesday leaving groundsman Dave Fulton working hard to get the Manawaroa Park No5 pitch ship-shape. Manawatu is traditionally too strong for Wanganui. When they last met, in January last year, Manawatu won by nine wickets.

The previous season Manawatu were destined for an outright win only for rain to halt play early on day two with Wanganui in trouble.

Last week, Wanganui at home lost on the first innings to Hawke Cup holder Hawke's Bay, scoring 187 to Hawke's Bay's 441.

Manawatu: Dane Cleaver (PNBHS), Jason McGregor (United), Luke Murray (Freyberg, capt), David Meiring (Marist), Dominic Rayner (Freyberg), Roald Badenhorst (Marist), Bryce Grant (Old Boys), Ian Sandbrook (Marist), Abhi Ganugapati (United), Robbie James (United), Cody Andrews (Old Boys), Ben Dixon (Palmerston).