Schoolboy spinner makes debut for Taranaki

A schoolboy offspinner has been selected to make his debut in the Taranaki cricket side.

This comes after injury and illness decimated the side's bowling ranks ahead of the weekend's Hawke Cup elimination match against Wanganui.

Francis Douglas Memorial College student Kurt Leuthart, 17, received a late call-up yesterday afternoon for the match in Wanganui after Inglewood's Robert McLeod withdrew because of injury.

McLeod had been included in the side only after Daniel Bolstad withdrew at noon yesterday suffering from the continued effects of a virus he picked up a fortnight ago. Bolstad joined promising left-arm spinner Andrew Mason, who had to pull out with a knee injury.

The withdrawal of Bolstad leaves a youthful opening attack, with New Plymouth Boys' High School quick Warwick Millar and the teenage Ethan Bolstad (Daniel's brother) likely to take the new ball.

It will be a tough assignment for Millar, who has barely had a day off since last weekend when he fronted for his school on Saturday in club play, Taranaki on Sunday, and had four days of cricket at the Super 8 secondary school tournament in Hamilton for the rest of the week.

Nevertheless, Yarrows Taranaki coach Alistar Jordan has little other option with the continued reluctance of some senior cricketers to turn out for their province and the growing injury list.

The shortage of front-line bowlers makes Taranaki's task this weekend even harder. Needing first innings points against Wanganui, and Manawatu to trip up against lowly Wairarapa, to gain a Hawke Cup challenge, Jordan has taken the captaincy off top-order batsman Ryan Fleming in an effort to turn his batting form around. "We just want him concentrating on his own game," Jordan said. "He's struggled, there's no doubt about that. I don't think he has had enough time to think about his own game."

Jordan was in no doubt Fleming was worth persevering with, despite the New Plymouth Marist United player failing to score any consistent scores at the crease this season.

"He's a good player, but we just have to find the one little flaw in his technique and ... things would come right."

Inglewood top-order batsman Ngatai Walker has been given the captaincy for the match, with Jordan confident he would do a good job. "He's got a good head on his shoulders, that's for sure."

Taranaki will, at least, take some confidence south after thrashing Wanganui by seven wickets in a Chapple Cup one-day match in New Plymouth on Sunday.

In-form allrounder Hayden Whiting returns to the side after missing the one-day match with an injured finger, giving Jordan some relief.

"I'm reasonably confident, given the way the boys fronted up last week, but I doubt whether [Wanganui is] going to be as easy because they were pretty disappointed in their performance," Jordan said, before pointing out his first priority was for Taranaki's top-order to fire.

"We just haven't got enough runs before and we need it, because we've only got a good steady bowling attack."

YARROWS TARANAKI: Dean Robinson, Aaron Zame, Ngatai Walker (captain), Ryan Fleming, Scott Davidson, Travis Stewart, Jamie Watkins, Hayden Whiting, Jason Dombroski, Ethan Bolstad, Warwick Millar, Kurt Leuthart.

WANGANUI: (one to be released) Mark Fraser, Dominic Carroll, Jarrod Calkin, Charlie Ellison, Ben Smith, Tom Bruce, Tom Lance, Chris Stewart, Max Carroll, Rodd Dickison, Dominic Lock, Brett Turner, Ross Kinnerley.

TARANAKI premier club cricket continues today with the second day of round four of the two-day competition.

New Plymouth Boys' High School is in a rare good position against defending champion New Plymouth Old Boys after picking up first-innings points last week.

In other matches, Stratford is hosting Hawera United after rain dominated play last week, Francis Douglas Memorial College is home to Inglewood and New Plymouth Marist United hosts Woodleigh.

- © Fairfax NZ News