Flashback … Andy Dodd in New Zealand Under-19 colours in 2008. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Andy Dodd made his Hawke Cup representative debut for Wairarapa as a 15-year-old Rathkeale College student in 2004.
Today, the batting allrounder will make a surprise return to the Highmark Homes Wairarapa team to play Hawke’s Bay in their final Furlong Cup two-day match at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval.
Dodd and his family have returned to the region for work, and although he has yet to play any club cricket here, his experience and representative experience was too good for coach Neil Perry to overlook.
After leaving Wairarapa as a teenager Dodd, now 30, played Hawke Cup cricket for Hawke’s Bay, Southland, and Hamilton, for whom he scored a century in Wairarapa’s unsuccessful challenge in 2012.
He went on to represent New Zealand at the 2008 Under-19 World Cup, replacing an injured Jeet Raval in a team that included New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, and pace bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
Dodd, who will bat at number five, will add much needed starch to the Wairarapa batting order that has often struggled to put together competitive scores.
He is also a very capable left arm spinner and could provide a useful bowling option on what is likely to be a dry Oval pitch.
Dodd comes in for regular captain Jaco Vorster who is unavailable. The experienced Gordon Reisima will lead the side.
It will also be special day for another former Rathkeale student who will make his long-awaited debut.
Eighteen-year old Jacob Osborne had been named in the squad to play Wanganui in December but missed final selection.
The medium fast bowler gets his chance after some impressive form in the Coastal Challenge, which included three wickets for 20 runs in knocking off the Wanganui United top order last Saturday.
The rest of the side is the same that took first innings points off Manawatu on January 18-19.
Marist’s Jared van Deventer gets another chance to impress at number three after looking the goods against Manawatu.
Robbie Anderson, John McKenzie, Brock Price, and wicketkeeper Jack Forrester complete the batting line-up.
The pace bowling duties will be shared by Stefan Hook, Ethan Childs, Peter Sigvertsen, and Osborne. Left-arm spinners Quinn Childs and Dodd can expect plenty of work with the pitch expected to provide spin and bounce.
Hawke’s Bay come into the match on the back of a comprehensive innings victory over Horowhenua-Kapiti two weeks ago.
The make-up of the side is unknown, but with several players including Kieran Noema-Barnett, leg-spinner Jayden Lennox, spinning allrounder Brad Schmulian in the Central Stags squad for the Ford Trophy One-Day series, the team will have a different look.
One player sure to be there is seam bowler Ben Stoyanoff, who dominated the second innings with 5-37 in the win over Horowhenua-Kapiti, and has previous success over Wairarapa sides.
Hawke’s Bay lead the Furlong Cup standings on 42 points, six clear of Manawatu in the race to secure the Hawke Cup challenge, with Wairarapa fourth on 26 points.
Sixteen points, including four batting and four bowling bonus points, are up for grabs in each match.
Play got under way at 10.30am yesterday and again today at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval.
Wairarapa team from: Gordon Reisima [captain], John McKenzie, Robbie Anderson, Jared van Deventer, Brock Price, Andy Dodd, Jack Forrester, Stefan Hook, Ethan Childs, Quinn Childs, Peter Sigvertsen, Jacob Osborne.
