Ethan Childs … likely to open the batting at the Chapple Cup. PHOTO/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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“Just playing good one-day cricket” is the focus for Highmark Homes Wairarapa at the Chapple Cup tournament from today to Sunday in Napier.
Wairarapa turned heads at last year’s tournament by qualifying for the top four for the first time with an upset win over Nelson.
Wairarapa will rate their chances of repeating that effort, having drawn Whanganui in today’s first round match. The winners go to the semifinals, while the losers go into the Cave Cup playoffs.
A 13-man squad has been named to cover the unavailability of regular opener John McKenzie today due to a school exam.
Jake Jonas, who has opened in the first two rounds of the Furlong Cup 2-day competition, will fill in for McKenzie but will likely drop down the order in Napier.
That would have wicketkeeper Jack Forrester take the opener’s role, having been a success at last year’s tournament, where he scored a century in the win over Nelson.
He will probably be joined by seam bowler Ethan Childs at the top of the order.
A big loss in the middle order is Gordon Reisima, who impressed with 62 against Taranaki last weekend. Paddy Gluck replaces him, but much will revolve around Brock Price and captain Jaco Vorster in the middle order.
Anthony Sprowson, who is ideally suited to the one-day game, will be valuable down the order.
The attack has a settled look, with seamers Ethan Childs, Stefan Hook, and Peter Sigvertsen, and spinners Quinn Childs and Hugo Wakeling in the side.
Wairarapa coach Neil Perry said the focus for the team would be to play good cricket and the results would come.
“We’ve been training well, and confidence is high that we can turn in a good performance.
“We’ll look to be positive early with the bat and not play silly shots, accumulate in the middle and have some wickets in hand to be aggressive towards the end,” Perry said.
“When we’re bowling, we’ll aim to get to try and get some early wickets and squeeze through the middle overs, with Stefan and Ethan our strike weapons.”
Wairarapa team:
Jack Forrester, John McKenzie, Jake Jonas, Ethan Childs, Brock Price, Jaco Vorster [captain], Paddy Gluck, Gus Borren, Anthony Sprowson, Stefan Hook, Quinn Childs, Hugo Wakeling, Peter Sigvertsen.
