Cricket: Stars to play in exhibition match

Shayne O'Connor.
Shayne O'Connor.
Some cricketers never really retire. That is certainly the case for former Black Cap and Otago left-armer Shayne O'Connor.

He dusted off his bowling boots last year when the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association masters XI played an Otago Country Cricket Association selection team in an exhibition match at Molyneux Park.

O'Connor is getting ready to do it all again this summer.

The teams will match wits in a twenty/20 fixture at the venue on January 27.

O'Connor said with Molyneux Park not on the domestic schedule, it was a way of bringing cricket to the region.

With the likes of Mark Greatbatch, Ewen Chatfield and Roger Twose expected to turn out for the NZCPA team, there should be plenty of interest in the fixture.

About 300 people enjoyed the game last year and O'Connor is hopeful of building the crowd by another couple of hundred.

Former All Black Justin Marshall has been added to list of starters for OCCA and will add intrigue.

''I don't know what he is like [as a cricketer] but we are about to find out,'' O'Connor said.

''I imagine he is a competitive little man, so he'll be into it like a robber's dog, no doubt.''

The game will start at 1.30pm, following a coaching clinic at the venue from 10am. Entry is by gold coin donation.

 

 


Exhibition match
Players confirmed

NZCPA masters: Mark Greatbatch, Ewen Chatfield, Wade Corneluis, Geoff Allott, Scott Styris, Glen Sulzberger, Daryl Tuffey, Roger Twose, Kerry Walmsley.

OCCA selection: Shayne O'Connor, Justin Marshall, Fraser Wilson, James Pyle, Charlie Hore, Rusty Neville, Rhiane Smith, Damien Petre, Eric Standfield, Ash Flannery, Hayden Finch.


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