Walton, from Northamptonshire, arrived in the middle of a two-day club round last week. He has been a regular club player and prolific run scorer in Christchurch for Woolston WMC.

Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald said Walton was selected ahead of another Englishman, Aftab Habib, who appeared for Canterbury in the Shell Cup last season, because he offered more all-round options.

The Canterbury side has changed considerably from the one which won the opening two rounds of the competition in Christchurch last weekend.

The demands of Conference cricket have removed seven players from contention with Southern 12th man Warren Wisneski ruled unavailable by New Zealand Cricket. The position of all-rounder Chris Cairns was uncertain last night. While the player was keen, his availability was in the hands of NZC after he withdrew from the first round of Conference play, easing back into cricket after a knee injury.

Another all-rounder, Chris Flanagan, will be donning the red and black strip for the first time in several seasons.

Although out of the Conference series, Llorne Howell remains in the provincial side, his off-season shoulder operation having left him below fielding standard at first-class level.

Central Districts has been forced to make three changes to its team because of Conference commitments, losing Craig Spearman, Mathew Sinclair, and Andrew Penn. Central won its opening match of the Max league against Otago but was then beaten by Wellington.

Squads

Canterbury: Llorne Howell (captain), Brad Doody, Tim Walton, Mark Hastings, Darron Reekers, Hamish Barton, Shane Bond, Chris Flanagan, Carl Anderson, Ben Yock, Stephen Cunis or Ryan Burson, Chris Cairns.

Central Districts: Mark Douglas, Jacob Oram, Rodney Brown, Glen Sulzberger, Craig Furlong, Martyn Sigley, David Blake, Michael Mason, Matthew Walker, David Kelly, Craig Findlay, Lance Hamilton.