Will the Birds be back on top today? PHOTOSPORT

Anyone's Game

Posted Sunday, 31 December, 2017 in Domestic News

It’s been another week of musical chairs at the top of the Burger King Super Smash table with the lead changing hands almost every single match.

The congested leaderboard makes for exciting holiday season action ahead with the teams all fighting to get an edge on their rivals and everyone wanting to securely lock in a finals spot.

Current leaders the Knights regained the lead they lost last week with a revenge win over the Central Stags yesterday but, with only a two-point buffer, that lead could last barely 24 hours if the Firebirds win today!

The day before that, the Aces were trumps of the nation, while wind back another 24 hours and it was the Kings who reigned supreme!

The Aces are one of the first teams in action in 2018 with a New Year’s Day visit to Hagley Oval, the Aucklanders welcoming back their influential veteran allrounder Donovan Grobbelaar from injury for a match they will not take lightly.

With his tricky in-between pace Grobbelaar combines superbly with legspinner Tarun Nethula and Aces skipper Craig Cachopa says it’s great to have him back.

“Grobbs is a classy individual and a smart cricketer, he also adds some experience to the group.

“It's been a good time on the road with the lads, the cricket has been superb and we've managed to take in some classic southern hospitality also with a few team activities.”

Arguably most in need of a quick points table boost over the upcoming rounds is the Otago Volts who incredibly have yet to notch a win despite some serious game-changers in their midst like BLACKCAP Neil Wagner, powerful top order man Hamish Rutherford and paceman Jacob Duffy with his knack for picking up bags of wickets.

Southern fans can probably take consolation that the Volts’ record so far this season — zero from five — echoes the luckless start made by the Wellington Firebirds last summer — yet it was the Firebirds who went on to take home the trophy.