Adrian Seconi

These days, Shaun Haig has a lot more to think about than whether to go for it if the ball is tossed up outside off stump.

While the headlines have focused on Brendon McCullum's imminent retirement from international cricket, his older brother Nathan McCullum will make an unexpected return to first-class cricket today.

A proposed $10.3 million multisports facility has passed an important checkpoint - the project is feasible.

Football has embraced masters grades while netball is tailoring its competitions to its younger member base. Sports writer Adrian Seconi looks at two different approaches to the one problem - how to keep people involved in club sport. 

Otago captain Hamish Rutherford smashed a six to seal an impressive eight-wicket win against Northern Districts at the University Oval yesterday.

Black Caps spinner Nathan McCullum has recovered from a knee injury and will replace the injured Bradley Scott in the only change to the Otago squad.

Black Caps and Otago all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was expecting to be a little sore when he woke up on Monday morning.

Otago steamrolled Auckland to secure a preliminary final berth against Canterbury in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Otago wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder reckons this summer has a familiar feel to it.

Just how has Otago been able to turn around what was shaping as a pretty miserable one-day campaign and give itself an opportunity to make the final?

For about 90 minutes, it looked as though Otago might get an opportunity to fight for a spot in the final.

North Otago Hawke Cup hero Duncan Drew reckons the current team is stronger than the side which achieved near immortality in Oamaru when it won the trophy in 2010.

Middle-order batsman Polly Inglis helped the Otago Sparks finish the one-day competition on a positive note with a win against Wellington at the University Oval yesterday.

Our rivals might not value the relationship as much. But for the Black Caps there is no bigger assignment than a series against Australia. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi looks at the players who could make a difference during the tour which gets under way today with an ODI in Auckland today. 

Mauled. Battered. Eviscerated. However you describe Gregor Croudis' assault on the Taieri attack, it does not do justice to his remarkable innings at Memorial Park.

Otago opener Brad Wilson is happy to see his name on the team sheet for today's Plunket Shield match against Wellington in Queenstown.

Otago spinner Mark Craig had a good day but his side faces a daunting challenge.

You might expect life would have slowed down for retired cyclist Alison Shanks.