Auckland Cricket Announces 15 Man Aces Squad for Champions League T20

Auckland, New Zealand, August 24, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The squad includes all the overseas professionals who played for the Auckland Aces in the HRV Cup although Hampshire opener Jimmy Adams' availability is subject to his sides' progression in the English competition.

The side boasts Andre Adams, currently having a great county season in England, and Rob Quiney as their imports with the added firepower of BLACKCAPS Martin Guptill, Chris Martin and Kyle Mills. It's a team with a huge amount of experience with former internationals Daryl Tuffey, Lou Vincent and skipper Gareth Hopkins also in the mix.

Aces coach Paul Strang thinks that experience is an important factor for the Aces as well as the balance of the squad, saying: "We're going to a bit of a pressure-cooker environment and having guys who've played matches on the big stage is invaluable. Also I think we have a great mix of skill sets in the group which means we're pretty well covered no matter what the conditions and opposition might throw at us."

Strang believes the hard work and organization that have been going on with the Aces and behind the scenes across the winter months will have the side in good shape. He commented that, "Our preparation has been good and I think that come that first clash with the Kolkata Knight Riders we'll have done pretty much everything we could to be in the best possible form. The way the competition is set up there's no margin for error so we're concentrating on getting our build-up spot on so we've got the best possible chance."

The Aces leave New Zealand on September 2 to fly to Australia for a weeks training before flying to Hyderabad on September 9 where they will have ten days preparation for the qualifying tournament that runs from September 19-21. The Champions League tournament then runs from September 23 to October 9.

The squad of 15 is as follows:
Gareth Hopkins (captain) (Parnell)
Andre Adams (Overseas professional)
Jimmy Adams (Overseas professional)
Michael Bates (Suburbs New Lynn)
Colin de Grandhomme (Howick Pakuranga)
Martin Guptill (Suburbs New Lynn)
Ronnie Hira (North Shore)
Anaru Kitchen (Waitakere City)
Bruce Martin (Parnell)
Chris Martin (Parnell)
Kyle Mills (Howick Pakuranga)
Colin Munro (Howick Pakuranga)
Rob Quiney (Overseas professional)
Daryl Tuffey (Suburbs New Lynn)
Lou Vincent (Takapuna)

For more information see Auckland Cricket's official website.