Captain fit to lead injury hit senior team

Wanganui's senior cricket team injury woes have continued with their key Central District's batsman and wicketkeeper, Ben Smith, ruled out of today's Hawke Cup clash in Napier.

Smith injured his finger in the Plunket Shield game with Otago so will not take the field this morning against Hawkes Bay.

Wanganui High School batsman Bevan Hunter has also withdrawn, Saracens' English batsman Liam Fletcher and Marist all-rounder Chris Stewart coming into the team.

In one bright spot, captain Andrew McCaa has been ruled fit despite a hairline fracture in his foot.

Given the decimation, manager Andrew Lock was not able to secure a 12th man so it is a troop of 11 who will contest the game as he keeps his fingers crossed no one pulls a hamstring or dislocates a finger.

Otherwise even an "old b*****d" like himself could wind up fielding in the slips.

"We may be able to borrow someone from Hawkes Bay just to run the drinks on for us."

And as if it could not get any worse, when the Wanganui Chronicle checked in yesterday afternoon it was discovered Wanganui's team bus had broken down on the way to Napier, stranding them in Palmerston North.

"I really think someone's trying to tell me something," Lock lamented.