The addition of well-performed and high profile international players will add some extra spice to the 2010/11 HRV Cup starting tomorrow. Here's a snapshot of some of the key players.
AUCKLAND ACES
Andre Adams (England)
The former BLACKCAP has a reputation as a dynamic game-breaker with both bat and ball. He made his First Class debut for the Aces during the 1997/98 season and returns this season as an international import after a stint with Nottinghamshire in England. The all-rounder played one Test, 42 ODIs and four Twenty20 games for the BLACKCAPS.
For the shortest format at domestic level he’s played 35 games, scoring 280 runs and snaring a handy 40 wickets.
The 35 year old right-arm medium-fast bowler and right-hand batsman has already played three Plunket Shield games for the Aces this season, scoring 62 runs and taking 14 wickets.
Jimmy Adams (England)
The 30 year old Englishman comes to the Aces after playing county cricket for Hampshire in the UK.
The talented left-hand opening batsman has played 43 domestic Twenty20 games, scoring 890 runs, with a top score of 101* and a strike rate of 130.49. He’s is also a very dynamic fielder.
Adams has represented England at Under 15 and Under 19 levels and the Aces will be looking to him to dominate the batting for them during the HRV Cup.
Yahoo!Xtra NORTHERN KNIGHTS
Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa)
The well known and often controversial South African is due to arrive in New Zealand on December 17.
The 36 year old right-hand batsman and right-arm bowler has played cricket around the world, including in the IPL for the Deccan Chargers.
He’s an explosive and dynamic cricketer having played in 90 Tests, 248 ODIs and 23 international Twenty20s for South Africa.
Gibbs has participated in 100 domestic Twenty20 games scoring over 2300 runs, with a strike rate of 125.99 and a high score of 101.
Brad Hodge (Australia)
The 35 year old Victorian arrived in late November to take up residence at the Northern Knights.
The Australian right-hand batsman and right-arm offbreak bowler has played six Tests, 25 ODIs and eight Twenty20 games for his country. He too has also played round the globe, taking up positions at the Kolkata Knight Riders and Durham.
He’s played in 102 domestic Twenty20 games, scoring over 3100 runs with an average of 35.30 and a high score of 106. With the ball he’s taken 43 wickets. He was the leading run scorer in last season’s Big Bash in Australia, scoring 738 runs, smashing 90 fours and 18 sixes.
Hodge will be looking to carry on his recent form from the Ryobi Cup where he scored 108 runs for Victoria at the MCG.
David Warner (Australia)
The dangerous opening left-hand batsman is a short-form specialist from New South Wales who has represented Australia in seven ODIs and 23 international Twenty20s.
24 year old Warner has also played for Australia Under 19s, Delhi Daredevils, Durham, Middlesex and New South Wales.
Warner has an impressive Twenty20 CV. He made his debut for NSW in 2007 and since then has played 80 domestic Twenty20 games, scoring close to 2100 runs, with a high score of 107* and a strike rate of 146.71.
He’s also an aggressive fielder and will fit nicely into the culture of the Knights, who pride themselves on being the fittest in the field.
David Hussey (Australia)
Say the name “Hussey” and cricket fans swoon. The younger brother of Michael, David Hussey will be coming to New Zealand shores to play one game for the Knights in the HRV Cup.
The talented short form all-rounder has played 132 domestic Twenty20 games. His talent has been recognised internationally by the Kolkata Knight Riders who paid $625,000 to secure him for the Indian Premier League.
The 33 year old right-hand batsman and right-arm off break bowler has scored over 3371 Twenty20 runs with a strike rate of 136.47 and a top score of 100*. With his bowling he’s claimed 38 scalps.
He’s described as having a “crash-and-bash” style which is likely to impress the Knights and fans alike.
CENTRAL STAGS
Michael Yardy (England)
The 30 year old all-rounder who hails from Sussex in England is expected to bat in the top five for the Stags this year and was chosen to complement some of the team’s other high-profile big hitters.
The short-form specialist has played 19 ODIs and 12 international Twenty20 games for his country, as well as 64 domestic T20 games.
During his domestic T20 career, Yardy has scored over 800 runs, with a high score of 76* and an average of 29.77. With the ball he’s claimed 45 scalps.
He’ll also come in handy in the bowling stocks with his left-arm slow style.
Ian Blackwell (England)
Blackwell is the second Englishman to join the Stags for the HRV Cup campaign this summer.
He is known as one of the hardest hitting batsmen to have come out of the UK.The slow left-arm orthodox bowler will add depth to the Stags’ bowling line up and will complement the pace from Mason and Bracewell nicely.
The 32 year old has represented England at the highest level, playing one Test and 34 ODIs for his country. He has played in 52 domestic Twenty20 matches, scoring over 800 runs with the bat and taking 35 wickets.
He too is expected to bat in the top five and his left-hand batting style will come in handy for the Stags.
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Brett Lee (Australia)
Known as “Bing” or "Binga" to his mates, Australian fast bowler Brett Lee will be looking to make a big impression in the HRV Cup.
The 34 year old right-arm fast bowler has had a long and illustrious career for his country with 76 Tests, 186 ODIs and 17 international Twenty20s under his belt.
Although his career has been marred by injury, Lee is back on his game and he’ll be looking at bowling around the 150km mark in the HRV Cup. Recently he took 5/47 for New South Wales in a One-day game against Western Australia.
In his stellar career he has played Twenty20 for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL and for New South Wales in the Australian domestic competition. He’s participated in 36 domestic T20 games, claiming 34 wickets, with an economy rate of 6.92; and scoring 195 runs as a lower order right-hand batsman.
He’ll be looking to fire on all cylinders during the competition in hopes of regaining a place back in the Australian ODI side in time for the World Cup in February.
Luke Wright (England)
Wright has arrived in Wellington to join the Firebirds for the HRV Cup.
The 25 year old international has played 42 ODIs and 27 Twenty20 matches for England and rounds out his CV with a further 70 domestic Twenty20 games for Leicestershire and Sussex.
With his right-hand batting he’s scored over 1180 runs, with an average of 20.34 and a high score of 103. He has also claimed 43 wickets with his right-arm medium pace bowling.
His all-rounder skills will make him an important addition to the Firebirds.
Damien Wright (Australia)
The 35 year old fast bowler from Australia has been involved in First Class cricket for more than a decade.
He’s played for Scotland, Glamorgan, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Sussex, Tasmania and Victoria. Wright has participated in 21 domestic Twenty20 games taking 17 wickets and scoring 174 runs with a high score of 38*
His speed will help bolster the pace attack for the Firebirds this season until fellow countryman Brett Lee arrives.
CANTERBURY WIZARDS
Shaun Tait (Australia)
The Australian speedster is currently recovering from injury and is expected to appear for the Wizards during the HRV Cup.
The 27 year old right-arm fast bowler will add depth to the Wizards’ bowling stocks, bowling in the 150/160km range.
He has appeared in three Tests, 25 ODIs and 17 International Twenty20s for Australia and has played over 54 domestic Twenty20 games.
In the shortest format on the domestic scene, he’s taken 78 wickets and has proved he’s handy with the bat in the lower order, scoring 77 runs.
Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands)
The 30 year old all-rounder has already arrived in Christchurch to join the Wizards and could be the surprise package for the side during the HRV Cup.
Born in South Africa, ten Doeschate has played for the Netherlands, Essex, Mashonaland Eagles and Western Province.
In domestic Twenty20, he has played 70 games, scored close to 1200 runs with a strike rate of 134.68 and a high score of 102. With his right-arm medium-fast bowling he’s claimed 37 wickets.
He’ll fit nicely into the Wizards’ mix and after the HRV Cup will head to Australia to play in the Big Bash for Tasmania.
Johan van der Wath (South Africa)
The South African all-rounder offers lively pace with the ball and powerful middle order batting to the Wizards line-up.
He has played both ODIs and Twenty20 games for South Africa as well as participating in 63 domestic Twenty20 fixtures. In the shortest domestic format the 32 year old has scored 526 runs with a top score of 48* and an average of 17.53 and claimed 61 wickets.
Van Wath also played for the Mumbai Champs in the ICL.
Mitchell Claydon (England)
The Australian born fast bowler from England will help bolster the Wizards’ pace bowling attack during the HRV Cup.
The 28 year old was born in New South Wales and took advantage of his UK passport, heading to England to play for Yorkshire before being picked up by Durham.
He’s played 27 domestic Twenty20 games, taking 26 wickets and scoring 40 runs with list left-hand batting.
Claydon is a keen surfer, so you might spot him catching some waves with some of the other Wizards at the likes of Taylor’s Mistake this summer.
OTAGO VOLTS
Darren Stevens (England)
The 34 year old Englishman adds useful all-round skills to the Volts for their HRV Cup campaign.
He made his Twenty20 debut for Leicester in 2003 and since then has played 85 short form games. During that time he’s scored almost 1800 runs with a top score of 77 and an average of 29.59. With his right-arm medium pace bowling he’s taken 39 wickets.
Although he is a strong bowler and will help the bowling stocks for the Volts during the competition, he’s also a clean striker of the ball and could come in handy down the order for the Otago side.
Chris Nash (England)
Nash comes to the Volts from Sussex in the UK.
He has played 49 Twenty20 games, with a batting average of 22.54 from 834 runs and a high score of 60*. With his right-arm offbreak bowling he’s claimed 13 wickets, with an economy rate of 6.88 and will be looking to increase that number while on New Zealand soil.
The 27 year old all-rounder offers depth with both bat and the ball. He’ll be looked at for scoring quick runs and taking crucial wickets to help the Volts secure the silverware this season.
