A rare moment in Plunket Shield cricket with the Black Caps duo of Kane Williamson and Tim Southee set to turn out for Northern Districts against Auckland in round two, Tuesday 19 November at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
The pair have been named in the Black Caps test squad to take on England later this month and will be looking to get some time in the middle ahead of a busy home summer of international cricket.
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New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson has recovered from the groin injury which kept him out of the victorious tour of India. He comes into the side with a formidable record in the Plunket Shield, averaging 60 and owning ND’s second highest score of all time (284*).
It will be the first time Williamson has played in the competition since 2019.
Partnering New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer is their all-time leading wicket-taker Tim Southee, who currently sits on 770 across an illustrious 18 year career.
Southee recently announced his test retirement to come at the end of the England series, also taking place at his home ground, Seddon Park.
His Plunket Shield record is equally as impressive as Williamson’s, with 149 wickets at an average below 21 and 10 five-wicket bags.
“It’s great to have a couple of legends of New Zealand cricket back for this week,” said ND coach BJ Watling, who played alongside Williamson in the latter’s most recent Plunket Shield appearance.
“Every time they put the ND shirt on, they come and give back to our group and bring so much to the environment.
It’s a special time for Tim [Southee], and I’m looking forward to him enjoying himself this week before a big series coming up for him.”
The New Zealand duo will join a side buoyed with confidence after making a perfect start to the Plunket Shield campaign with a win at Hagley Oval against Canterbury, collecting maximum bonus points in a 7 wicket win.
“The decisive moment in the game was how we bowled in the second innings,” added Watling.
“To find a way to put a good opposition lineup under pressure and take 10 wickets on a flat surface was really pleasing.
The lads really applied themselves with the bat in our first innings to get good starts throughout, with Ben Pomare combining with the lower-order to get us to those final bonus points.”
Sandeep Patel and Matt Fisher are the players making way for the second round match, with Fisher absent through a load management break having got through 24 overs on his return from injury.
The full Northern Districts side is: Jeet Raval, Niel Wagner, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Freddy Walker, Henry Cooper, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ben Pomare, Robbie O'Donnell, Brett Hampton, Kristian Clarke, Bharat Popli.
Play starts at 10.30. Other round two matches see Otago host Wellington at University Oval in Dunedin and Central Districts at home at Nelson's Saxton Oval against Canterbury.