CRICKET WELLINGTON MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 20 January 2011

Wellington U23 team named for National Tournament

The Wellington U23 team to contest the National U23 Tournament at Lincoln University between 24-31 January is:

Michael Pollard (Captain, North City)
Tom Blundell (Karori)
Leighton Burtt (Onslow)
Fraser Colson (Hutt District)
Tipene Friday (North City)
Ricky Joseph (Eastern Suburbs)
Stephen Murdoch (Karori)
Ian McPeake (Hutt District)
Niranjan Naguleswaran (Eastern Suburbs)
Barry Rhodes (Johnsonville)
Chris Tait (Taita)
Matt Taylor (Upper Hutt)
Harry Wright (Karori)

Wellington U23 Head Coach Shane Deitz says the squad is well balanced and he is confident the team will perform well at the tournament.

“We’ve picked a talented squad of players to take on the country’s best U23 cricketers with an eye on development but who can also push for a title win.”

“The group contains several players who have been performing consistently well in club cricket this season who now have an opportunity to impress and push their claims for future Wellington Firebirds places.”

Michael Pollard captains the team that also includes Leighton Burtt who will be playing his first matches in Wellington colours since transferring from Canterbury at the start of the season.

“As well as providing us with his proven ability to lead an attack, Leighton will be looking to use his experience to develop and mentor the young fast bowlers in the squad, who include Tipene Friday, Ricky Joseph and Ian McPeake, “said Deitz.

Each Major Association team will be able to play up to four players over the age of 23. There are three players over 23 in this Wellington squad – Burtt, Barry Rhodes and Stephen Murdoch.

All three formats will be played throughout the tournament that is played amongst the six Major Associations, including one three-dayer, three one-dayers and one Twenty20 fixture.

Wellington’s draw is:
24-26 January v Otago (three-day match)
28 January v Auckland (One-Day match)
29 January v Canterbury (One-Day match)
30 January v Northern Districts (One-Day match)
31 January v Central Districts (Twenty20 match)

The National U23 Tournament replaces the National U19 Tournament, which Wellington last won (shared with Otago) in 2002/03.

For more information contact:
Shane Deitz, Wellington U23 Head Coach

ENDS

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