We have seen surprises in this tournament over the years though few teams dominated the tournament in the past. A new season always starts with a blank slate, with several young players coming to the fore and establishing their reputation. Past performances do give us some insights into the strengths of the sides. Let us look at how the teams have fared in this competition over the last few years.
# Central Districts
The Central Districts won their 12th title last season. The side which had been struggling for the last few editions went past Canterbury with a massive win in their last game. Grey Hay has been the captain for a while and commands the respect of his players. They have big players in the side and shall expect good performances in the season from Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner, Brad Schmulian, and Dane Cleaver. Unlike some of the other teams, they won’t have much of a problem with player availability and shall look to play like a cohesive team throughout the season.
# Canterbury
Cole McConchie missed its 21st title in the last edition by a whisker. They had dominated the season from the start but were unlucky to have missed out on the title. They lost only once in the season and have lost only a few games in the last three seasons. They have a good bunch of players, and the side would like to see good performances from Cam Fletcher, Chad Bowes, Todd Astle, Will Williams, and Todd Astle. The side has been among the top two sides in the last three seasons and McConchie’s side will start as one of the strongest contenders for the season.
# Auckland
They have been the most successful team in this tournament with a record 24 title wins, with the last coming back in 2021-22. They are the powerhouse of New Zealand’s cricket and have produced some of the best players representing the country. They had a poor season in 2022-23, winning only two games but will look for a better show this season. Robert O'Donnell is a good leader, and he would like to get the best performances out of Mark Chapman, Sean Solia, Louis Delport, Will Somerville, and Ollie Pringle.
# Northern Districts
Dean Brownlie’s side finished third on the point table last year. It was a good show for the side, which has struggled in the last few seasons, finishing at the bottom of the points table. They last won the title in 2011-12 and aim for their 9th title this season. The side will miss some key players in the first half as they are busy with international commitments. They have several exciting players in the squad, and the team will look for good performances from Joe Carter, BJ Watling, Tim Seifert, and Neil Wagner. They played well as a team last season, and it would be interesting to see how they fare this season.
# Wellington
Nick Kelly and his men had a poor season last year where they finished 5th on the points table, winning just two games. The last few seasons have been bad for them as they have struggled from the start. Their last title win came in 2019-20, and since then, it has been a downward slide for the team. They would be looking to put the disappointment of the last season behind and focus on doing well this year and winning their 22nd title. They have a good bunch of players in the side, including Tom Blundell, Hamish Bennett, Andrew Fletcher, Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, and Ben Sears. The side will count its chances this year.
# Otago
Hamish Rutherford’s side finished at the bottom of the points table last season with only one win. They have won the title 13 times, but a few generations of Otago cricketers haven’t touched the trophy. They would like the wait to end for the side, as they haven’t won the title since 1987-88. They would like to get over this jinx and end the 36-year wait. The side is blessed to have quality players in Dean Foxcroft, and Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rae, and these players would have to deliver as a unit for the side to win this season.
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