The Auckland Aces have announced 19 players in a training squad that will prepare for the start of the domestic season on November 7.
The squad named includes the Aces' three New Zealand contracted players, all 12 Auckland contracted players and four uncontracted players in the form of pace bowler Dean Bartlett, off-spinner Ronnie Hira, and quick bowlers Gareth and Lance Shaw.
It was only a few days ago that the Aces were battling it out in the Champions League in India but their exit from that competition means attention has rapidly turned to the beginning of the season and the start of the Plunket Shield.
The Aces begin their campaign against near neighbours the Northern Knights and will be hoping a new season brings an improvement in fortunes after a disappointing four-day performance last year.
Coach Paul Strang is aware that the Aces under-delivered in last season's competition but is confident work has been done to remedy that.
"We targeted a number of things that we needed to work on over the winter and the bonus of our Champions League involvement has been that most of the guys have been working very hard on both fitness and cricket skills right through the off-season,'' he said.
Aces training squad: Dean Bartlett (Ellerslie), Michael Bates (Suburbs New Lynn), Brad Cachopa (Takapuna), Andrew de Boorder (Howick Pakuranga), Colin de Grandhomme (Howick Pakuranga), Martin Guptill (Suburbs New Lynn), Ronnie Hira (North Shore), Gareth Hopkins (Parnell), Anaru Kitchen (Waitakere City), Tim McIntosh (Parnell), Bruce Martin (Parnell), Chris Martin (Parnell), Kyle Mills (Howick Pakuranga), Colin Munro (Howick Pakuranga), Jeet Raval (Suburbs New Lynn), Gareth Shaw (Papaptoetoe), Lance Shaw (Papatoetoe), Bhupinder Singh (Papatoetoe), Daryl Tuffey (Suburbs New Lynn).
