The absence of radio commentary has, predictably, made it bloody hard for most people to get a handle of what's happening on the domestic front. I've had to whittle out whatever (qualitative) information possible by glancing through the NZ Herald and various people providing coverage of the game on twitter (bless them). Besides the basic scorelines, there wasn't much to go on about in the first round:
Auckland 260 & 139
Northern Districts 136 & 244
Auckland win by 19 runs
Central Districts 253 & 377/4
Wellington 536/6 dec.
Match Drawn
Canterbury 420/9 dec. and 61
Otago 300/5 dec. & 182/4
Otago win by 6 wkts
The initial talking point of the low scoring Auckland-ND game was the return of Tim Southee from injury. Southee didn't take the new ball in either innings, and was still easing his way back in despite three cheap wickets in the second innings; but his old partner-in-crime Trent Boult stepped up with match figures of 8/74, apparently swinging it like a banana and prompting calls that he be included on the tour to Australia. Boult, however, was outbowled by Andre Adams (now representing Auckland an overseas player) who took 11 wickets, and supplied his gloss on the result by claiming NZ are in their worst state in a decade.
The bat dominated a lot more in the Central-Wellington clash. With Iain O'Brien still to make his return, Wellington handed a debut to 19-year old Scott Kuggeleijn who by some accounts bowled quick and very well, helping dismiss the Stags cheaply first time around. With only Adam Milne posing any threat among Central's depleted attack, Stephen Murdoch (103) and James Franklin (162) helped themselves. Jamie How (187) batted the Stags out of trouble by scoring 187 second time around, and while he was extremely disappointing in the one-dayers last season it may just be the selectors see him as a viable test option. An outside bet to tour Australia?
In the Canterbury-Otago game, the Otago new ball pair of Neil Wagner and Steven Finn reinforced my suspicion that they might be far too good for NZ's domestic top-orders. Title-holders Canterbury had a solid first innings score as Rob Nicol (whom I would like to see in NZ's test squad) ground out 107, but the word is that Finn and Wagner bowled tripe then. Otago boldly declared 120 runs behind, and then proceeded to roll Canterbury over for 61, Wagner taking another 5-wicket haul in his sleep. Otago then chased down 182 at nearly 4 an over to complete an incredible win against another side featuring a depleted bowling attack. Young Michael Bracewell, cousin of Doug, scored 95 in the first innings and is shaping as one to watch.
TAKEAWAYS FROM THE WEEK: Boult is all but certain of a place in the national side during the home tests, if not the Australia tour. Wagner has seen enough of NZ's domestic scene, but it's an agonizing five months before we get know if he can step up to the international level.
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