Otago cricket would welcome guest appearances by New Zealand batsmen in its warm-up match with England but is keen to retain strictly local players for the three-day first class match against the tourists.
It was revealed yesterday that a lack of four-day cricket before New Zealand takes on England in the three-test series next month prompted management to ask Otago to include guest batsmen in its games against the tourists.
England has a two-day game and three-day game scheduled in Dunedin from February 25, its only opportunity to give test reinforcements Michael Vaughan, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Monty Panesar a chance to acclimatise before the first test in Hamilton from March 5.
Incumbent test opener Craig Cumming and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum are the only New Zealand players representing Otago.
It means the remainder of the test batting line-up would go into the Seddon Park test not having played anything other than a twenty/20 or one-day match since the last test against Bangladesh which ended in Wellington on January 14.
Discussions have centred around including players such as Peter Fulton and Matthew Bell in the Otago side.
Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes said Otago had an obligation to help the national side out and confirmed he had spoken with national coach John Bracewell about the prospect of guest players.
Dykes said he would prefer the Black Caps be included in the warm-up two-day match against England on February 25 and 26. However, he believed the ensuing three-day first class match, from February 28 to March 1, should be kept strictly for Otago players.
‘‘To have England play a first class match in Dunedin is a pretty big thing for Otago cricket,'' Dykes said.
‘‘To play a match against England would be pretty special in the life of an everyday first class cricketer. I'd be very reluctant to deny someone that opportunity.''
Dykes said the make-up of the Otago squads would also hinge on whether Otago reached the State Shield final, which is scheduled for Sunday March 2.
Otago needs to beat Northern Districts in Invercargill tomorrow, and rely on other results to go its way, to qualify for the February 24 semifinal match.
If Otago can finish second and earn a home semi, the match would be played in Invercargill because the University Oval pitch is being prepared for the England matches.
Should Otago win the semi and qualify to meet Auckland in the final in Auckland, selectors may need to rethink the make up of the Otago team to play England. The first class match against English finishes on March 1 and Otago would need time to prepare for the final.
‘‘We're not really going to be able to make any first decisions until after Wednesday's round of the State Shield,'' Dykes said.
