Biggest game in Cooks history

The biggest game of cricket ever played in the Cook Islands will be staged today and the Telecom national cricket squad is ready to take on their fancier Northern Knights opponents.

Local head coach Ben Sexton, who will be one of eight players debuting for the national squad today, is banking on local knowledge and a tough Knights training regime to win the game for the side. He reckons the Cook Islands may have it over the Knights with their local knowledge of the grounds and conditions at the Turangi oval and because the visiting team has taken on a tough training regimen while on their 9-day spring training camp here on Rarotonga.

Sexton added that the local side have been working on their own game and wont be letting the Northern Knights affect their game plan for today.

Were not focussing on what theyre going to do, were just going to go out there and play our game, says Sexton.

But more importantly, the twenty-20 game today is an opportunity to expose local players including a couple of teenage players to the pressures and experience of taking on a professional team. The national squad includes eight newly selected national players who are sure to go boomtown in their first ever national game.

Sexton and the national squad are looking forward to a big crowd at the Turangi oval for the biggest game of cricket ever held in the Cook Islands.

He promises there would be some big hitting on the petite Turangi oval.

There will be plenty of big hits, plenty of sixes. Were hoping to see a big crowd come along to the best cricket ground in the sport.

Everyone is invited to Turangi for what should be a thrilling game of cricket starting at 2pm.

The Telecom Cook Islands national cricket squad members are Glenn Miller (captain), Ben Sexton (player/ head coach on debut), Teremoana Punua (on debut), Composer Rikini (on debut), Shane Munokoa (on debut), Travel Tuaputa (on debut), Toala Teinaki, Willy Tommy, Tiri Toa (on debut), Rob Samuel, Cameron Thorp (on debut), Wayken Punga, Peter Ravarua (on debut) and Hamish Weir as manager.