Promising Canterbury batsman Shanan Stewart has been named in Canterbury's squad of 13 for the State Championship which starts next Monday with the first game of the summer, against Wellington at Rangiora.

The New Zealand Under-19 batsman and Academy player this year will be surrounded by experienced quality batsmen as Canterbury looks to regain the winning formula, not only in one-day cricket but also the four-day variety, under the leadership of the experienced Gary Stead.

Stead is set to play his 50th game for the province and is only one run short of 2500 runs for Canterbury at an average of 37.29 - an average only bettered by Graham Dowling, Walter Hadlee and Chris Harris among those to have scored more than 2500 runs for the province.

Chris Harris, until One-Day International requirements take him out of the scene, will be another to provide some security for the younger batsman.

Canterbury's attack also shapes as promising with the experience of pace man Warren Wisneski available again and surrounded by able support in Stephen Cunis, Wade Cornelius and Ryan Burson among the pace bowlers with Paul Wiseman, Harris and Aaron Redmond to look after the spin demands.

Canterbury selection convener Craig Thiele said tonight he felt the side named had the potential to compete.

While Canterbury had performed consistently in the one-day game, reaching the finals of the competition it had dominated last year, it had not performed in the four-day game over the last two summers.

Thiele said he wanted to see more emphasis on the longer version of the game.

The State Canterbury side for the State Championship is: Gary Stead (captain), Brad Doody, Jarrod Englefield, Michael Papps, Chris Harris, Aaron Redmond, Shanan Stewart, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Warren Wisneski, Stephen Cunis, Wade Cornelius, Ryan Burson.

The Canterbury Draught A training squad to prepare for country match starting on December 1 is: Robbie Frew, Robbie Miller, Marcel McKenzie, Peter Fulton, Darren Reekers, Tim Papps, Mark Hastings, Ben Yock, Chris Sowden, Cleighten Cornelius, Carl Anderson, Andrew Ellis, Brendan Diamante, James Ward, Michael Davidson.

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