WAIRARAPA and Rathkeale College top order batsman Liam Burling will have the opportunity to showcase his skills against formidable opposition at the Basin Reserve in Wellington next Thursday.
Burling, who has represented Central Districts at age group level, is the only youngster from outside the Wellington region to be selected to play in the annual Governor-General's fixture, which sees a team consisting of talented college players take on a side including many who have made a name for themselves in the top domestic competitions.
Before that, however, Burling will lead Rathkeale in their Umpire's Cup match with Wairarapa College at Rathkeale tomorrow.
The form book says Rathkeale deserve to start favourite as they are sitting in third place on the competition table on 12 points with Wairarapa College bringing up the rear on 2pts but any assessment of the playing strengths of the two teams would suggest Wairarapa College are capable of giving every bit as good as they receive.
In Lucien Burt they have an outstanding all-rounder with the potential to swing the game his team's way with both bat and ball while Hugo Wakeling has emerged as a key member of their attack.
He took a five-wicket haul in his team's narrow one-wicket defeat by Red Star last weekend, a match in which Wairarapa College had Red Star reeling at 120/9 chasing 148 for victory only for the last two batsmen to get them home with nine balls to spare.
The other Umpire's Cup match is Greytown at home to Red Star. Greytown are second on the points table with 16pts -- just three behind Lansdowne -- while Red Star are fourth with4.
Here though it might be wise to take little notice of that table placing when reflecting on what could happen tomorrow as the return of George Deans and Troy Burling will give Red Star a boost in the batting department and Xavier McCluskey likewise in the bowling.
His 3-15 off 10 overs against Wairarapa College last weekend followed a 3-13 against the same team when they met in a Twenty20 match two days earlier.