Young reps ready to play for Canty in Shield game

DAVID ALEXANDER/The Press

STEPPING UP: Batsman Tom Latham has been called into Canterbury's 12.

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One way or another, a New Zealand under-19 rep with a strong red-and-black pedigree will start a Plunket Shield match for the first time tomorrow.

With Shanan Stewart away with the Black Caps, batsman Tom Latham has been called into Canterbury's 12 to meet Otago in Queenstown, joining Logan van Beek, his team-mate during the recent under-19 world cup.

And, as many folk will know, the pair come from lineage of note.

Van Beek is the grandson of Simpson "Sam" Guillen, who played 42 matches for Canterbury, after partaking in five tests for the West Indies before emigrating to New Zealand and playing three more for his adopted country.

Then there is Latham, whose father, Rod, is something of a legend in these parts, in no small way because of the 101 first-class cricket matches he played for Canterbury.

Van Beek appeared in the team's one-wicket loss to Central Districts in the previous round, bowling four overs on the final day of the match when Stewart was abruptly summoned to Hamilton by the national selectors.

Canterbury coach Bob Carter said yesterday that he was toying with the idea of picking four frontline quick bowlers on Friday, which would mean a proper debut for van Beek. If he plays, Latham misses out, but it could well go the other way.

Latham might bat sixth and van Beek carry the drinks, it all depends on the pitch, Carter said.

Either way, it's still a big moment for Latham.

"I'm very happy and wasn't really expecting it," he said yesterday.

"I just got a text from [Canterbury network coach] Paul Wiseman at 8.30 this morning that said `Bob wants you at Wizards training at 10 o'clock'."

Usually an opener, he said he would be comfortable batting in the middle order.

"Anywhere will do, it doesn't bother me. Bob just said `we're not going to chuck you in the deep end first up' which is fair enough."

A prolific scorer at age-group and A team level, Latham said he had no qualms about the step up, adding that it was "a privilege" to follow in the footsteps of his dad.

"He's pretty proud."

The other notable sidebar to the match is that former Black Caps bowling coach Vaughn Johnson will be in charge of Otago.

Regular Volts coach Mike Hesson is assisting New Zealand during their Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia, leaving the still-New Zealand Cricket contracted Johnson to fill the void.

Johnson's NZC gig meant he was actually in Christchurch on Tuesday, offering specialist tuition to the same Canterbury bowling attack that his inherited team will face in Queenstown.

Otago has omitted Aaron Redmond, Neil Wagner and James McMillan due to to injury. They will be replaced by Darren Broom, Warren McSkimming and debutant James Fuller.

- © Fairfax NZ News