BJ WATLING TO DEBUT AS HEAD COACH OF NORTHERN DISTRICTS TOMORROW AT SEDDON PARK

19 Oct 2023

Cricket returns to Seddon Park on Friday 20th October as BJ Watling takes charge of his first game as Head Coach of the Northern Districts (ND) side against the Otago Volts in the opening round of the Plunket Shield.

Watling’s return comes after a 243 game playing career for ND, with fellow ex-Blackcap Daniel Flynn his assistant after coaching the women’s side last season.

“Excited and ready to go,” said Watling when asked his thoughts on the season ahead.

“We’ve challenged each other throughout a very good pre-season, managing to spend most of it on grass.

It’s been great to work with the likes of Flynny [ND Assistant coach Daniel Flynn] again, we’ve known each other since the U14s and have been able to have some robust conversations to keep learning and growing.”

ND welcome Matt Fisher back from injury; the promising New Zealand A seamer last played a competitive fixture in October 2022 against the same opposition at Bay Oval.

“Great to have Fisher back into the ranks,” added Watling.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him this summer and bringing his aggressive mentality to our bowling attack.”

Also returning to the side is top-order batter Sandeep Patel who debuted in the 21/22 Plunket Shield season at Cobham Oval against Wellington. The Counties Manukau youngster enjoyed a prolific summer last year including a double century against Northland in the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl. He will likely line up in the middle order alongside the experienced Joe Carter, who also marks a return from injury that ruled him out of the final Plunket Shield rounds of the 22/23 season.

Jeet Raval will captain Northern Districts once again, joined in the middle by his regular opening partner Henry Cooper, who featured in the recent New Zealand A series against Australia A. Cooper has an excellent record against Otago Volts, averaging 53 with three hundreds including a career best 200 at Molyneux Park in 2021.

“Two great weeks together as a full squad in Napier,” said Ravel on the team’s preparation heading into round one.

“Flynny and BJ have added heaps of energy into the group. They’ve been infectious with our preparation which has rubbed off onto everyone and lifted the intensity week by week.”

Explosive keeper-bat Tim Seifert will take the gloves after spending large portions of the off-season playing franchise and international T20 cricket in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, UAE and England. Like Cooper, Seifert has a strong record against Otago Volts in First Class cricket, averaging 58 with a career best of 167* in 2017.

Blackcaps seamer Neil Wagner will lead the attack alongside Scott Kuggeleijn who continues to push for international selection after an impressive 12 months which saw him make his test debut in February. Last season’s top wicket taker Kristian Clarke, Brett Hampton and Matt Fisher complete the seam-bowling options available for ND.

Joe Walker provides the front-line spin option and will match-up well against a left-hand heavy Volts batting line-up.

“I’m particularly excited to see our engine room of quicks firing on all cylinders this summer,” added Raval.

“We’ve got a full quota to pick from and they’re shaping up well alongside Joe [Walker] who provides an excellent spin option.”

ND’s player of the 2022/23 season Bharat Popli is absent from the squad as he continues his rehabilitation from injury, with Zak Gibson, Tim Pringle, Scott Johnston and Pete Bocock also recovering from injury or managing bowling loads.

“Unfortunate for Baz [Bharat Popli] to miss out after a fantastic summer last year,” said Raval.

“Sandeep [Patel] has earned his spot in the team after having a couple of good summers since making his debut two seasons ago.”

Play starts this Friday, 20th of October at 10:30am at Seddon Park, Hamilton and will continue throughout the weekend, with the final day on Labour Day Monday. Entry to the match is free to the public.

Livestream is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbq3S0AHEew.

Follow live scoring via https://scoring.nzc.nz/.

NORTHERN DISTRICTS V OTAGO VOLTS

FRIDAY 20TH – MONDAY 23RD OCTOBER

SEDDON PARK, HAMILTON

Jeet Raval (C) | Counties Manukau

Henry Cooper | Northland

Sandeep Patel | Counties Manukau

Joe Carter | Bay of Plenty

Tim Seifert | Waikato Valley

Katene Clarke | Counties Manukau

Scott Kuggeleijn | Hamilton