Resurgent Canterbury swing bowler Warren Wisneski is delighted with the new pitch at Village Green, and in the new confidence within the team.

The 32-year-old, who played twice for the CLEAR Black Caps against the then mighty Australians in February 1999, did not begin playing cricket seriously until he was 19. Not surprisingly, given the former Central Districts player's physique, he was a rugby player before that.

Wisneski's new found wisdom this year contrasts to a difficult time for himself and Canterbury last summer, when he was dropped for the latter part of the season.

But all this is behind the big-hearted into-the-wind bowler now, who said, "I'm back in the fold. It was a bit of a strange year last year. There were a lot of things wrong with Canterbury cricket on the playing side and off the field, but they're being addressed now. The players are concentrating on doing their job and working hard for each other."

Of his role later in the derby game at QEII with Otago, Wisneski will be required as a batsman. In 54 first-class games he has scored 1520 runs at an average of 23.38. The big hitter has been concentrating on this side of his game whilst overseas this winter, but sees his Canterbury role differently.

"I can bat but my job is to knock sides over. I'm an opening bowler and that's what I do, so that's what I concentrate on more."

During the first game of 2001/02, against Wellington at Rangiora, young fast bowler Wade Cornelius, who took a career best of 7-53, acknowledged the support of the experienced Wisneski at the other end.

Whilst abroad during the winter Wisneski was tempted back by newly-appointed Canterbury coach Michael Sharpe.

Sharpe said, "I had a talk with Warren who was overseas. I told him our plans and what structure we wanted to set up and what I thought his role would be. He had a few weeks to think about that, and he's come on board and he's really excited. I think he's slipped in very well."

Wisneski was a late starter in cricket and only began to play seriously aged 19, encouraged by Taranaki captain Brian Richards.

"He took me under his wing and allowed me to express myself," said Wisneski. "I was also lucky enough to play for Taranaki with Alistar Jordan who played until he was 42 when I was just starting. If things were not going well he would make things happen. Alistar had a massive influence on my career with the way the game should be played from a bowling point of view."

Breaking into a Taranaki team that featured Jordan, Gary Robertson, Wayne Martin and Karl O'Dowda was not easy, but when Robertson and Martin went to play for Central Districts he got his chance.

He gained much experience in the UK preferring out of the way places ranging from Scotland to Land's End at opposite ends of the British Isles. In 2000 and 2001 he played for the Furness club in Barrow, a backwater in the far north West of England. He had succeeded Shane Bond there, after the future Test player gave up cricket temporarily to join the police force.

His first overseas experience was for Cheam in the Surrey League in 1992, where he played alongside future England players Mark Butcher and Ally Brown.

On his return Wisneski was asked to play for Central Districts. He made his debut against Otago late that year.

His cricketing philosophy has always been "You've got to want to play at the highest level you can." Partly for this reason, partly because of dissatisfaction with CD, and with the wish to find a base, Wisneski moved to Christchurch in 1994.

"CD gave me the opportunity. I'll always be grateful for that. But if you're going to progress as a player you need to train and that was not always possible with CD as it is so spread out."

Ben Harris, then a Canterbury selector, was "the big one behind the move," while Denis Aberhart was also an influence in Wisneski's shift south. "They heard I wasn't happy at CD and I wouldn't mind moving, but it was a bit of both because with Stu Roberts and Chris Flanagan retiring they needed a swing bowler."

Now approaching 200 first-class wickets, Wisneski seems in better form than ever this year and is ready to play a major part in the revitalised Canterbury team of 2001/02.

© CricInfo