Mondiale Aces name side for start of Plunket Shield

Media Release
Wednesday, 22 October 2014

The Mondiale Auckland Aces have named their first side of the season for the start of the Plunket Shield against the Northern Knights tomorrow in Whangarei.

It's quite a different team to the one that finished the Plunket Shield last year with the off-season seeing the return of Brad Cachopa, Carl Cachopa, Tarun Nethula and captain Rob Nicol, all of whom are in the 12 that will travel to Cobham Oval.

The side has plenty of batting talent with Jeet Raval, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro and Anaru Kitchen also included. de Grandhomme will undoubtedly be called upon at the bowling crease as well, where he was the top wicket taker for the Mondiale Aces last season in this competition. The bowling attack will also have the experience of Michael Bates and Nethula to call on, the pace duo of Matt Quinn and Dean Bartlett, as well as a host of all-rounders in the shape of Munro, Nicol, Carl Cachopa and Donovan Grobbelaar.

Coach Matt Horne unsurprisingly wants his team to focus on the basics as they commence their season.

"We've prepared well and the guys are raring to go. This game is really about getting everyone back into the groove of four day cricket and that starts with making sure we do all the simple stuff well."

The game starts at 10.30am tomorrow morning at Cobham Oval, Whangarei.

A team will be named from the following twelve players:

Rob Nicol (Captain) (Cornwall)
Dean Bartlett (Ellerslie)
Michael Bates (Suburbs New Lynn)
Brad Cachopa (Takapuna)
Carl Cachopa (Takapuna)
Colin de Grandhomme (Howick Pakuranga)
Donovan Grobbelaar (Howick Pakuranga)
Anaru Kitchen (Waitakere City)
Colin Munro (Howick Pakuranga)
Tarun Nethula (Cornwall)
Matt Quinn (Cornwall)
Jeet Raval (Suburbs New Lynn)

ENDS

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