Time to dust the cobwebs off the silverware. The battle resumes tomorrow for one of New Zealand's oldest sporting trophies: provincial cricket's 112-year-old Hawke Cup.
Current holder Hawke's Bay is looking to extend a reign that began in early 2021 and has named a strong squad for the three-day Challenge from Canterbury Country that begins at Napier's Nelson Park tomorrow morning.
The Hawke's Bay squad features four capped Central Stags (spinner Jayden Lennox, pace bowlers Liam Dudding and Ben Stoyanoff and allrounder Will Clark) as well as former Canterbury top order batsman Jack Boyle who played in five Challenges for opponents Canterbury Country between 2014 and 2018.
Hawke's Bay retained the Cup in two defences last summer
Joining him in a first Hawke Cup selection for Hawke's Bay is former Wellington Firebirds leg-spinner Brett Johnson, the pair having both relocated to Hawke's Bay over the winter.
Canterbury Country has responded with a stacked line-up of its own, with the notable inclusion of former top Canterbury paceman, now Lancashire contracted County star, Will Williams.
Williams is joined by a slew of fellow capped Canterbury representatives: Fraser Sheat with his sharp pace, spinner Blake Coburn, young medium pace allrounder Zak Foulkes, and Harry Chamberlain who has a first-class 169 to his name, as well as Netherlands international Tim Gruitjers who has played six first-class matches for his country as well as ODI and T20i cricket.
This match was originally scheduled to be played last season but was postponed due to the Omicron outbreak.
The weekend's winner will go on to host last season's Zone 4 qualifier at their home ground in the final 'catch-up' match from 2021/22.
Hawke's Bay squad:
Angus Schaw (captain), Jack Boyle, Will Clark, Liam Dudding, Brett Johnson, Jayden Lennox, Scott Schaw, Ben Stoyanoff, Dominic Thompson, Todd Watson, Jono Whitley
Canterbury Country squad:
Rhys Mariu, Blake Coburn, Alister Collins, Sam Chamberlain, Harry Chamberlain, Fraser Sheat, Archie Redfern, Jesse Frew, Zak Foulkes, Tim Gruitjers, Will Williams, Matt Laffey
Hawke's Bay current tenure:
- February 2022: Weather affected draw, Cup retained v Bay of Plenty
- January 2022: Won on the first innings v Manawatu
- February 2021: Won by an innings and 52 runs v North Otago
RESCHEDULED HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES
(2021/22)
4-6 November 2022
Hawke Cup Holder Hawke's Bay v Zone 3 Challenger, Canterbury Country
From 10.30am, Nelson Park, Napier
18-20 November 2022
Hawke Cup Holder v Zone 4 Challenger Southland
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
2022/23 HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES
27-29 January 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
10-12 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
24-26 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
10-12 March 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Challenger TBC
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
