The Bay of Plenty representative cricket team embark on their 22nd Hawke Cup Direct Challenge when they square against Hamilton on today.

The three day match in the Waikato will see the Bay of Plenty side attempt to win the symbol of Minor Association cricket in New Zealand for just the fourth time since the Bay challenged South Auckland in 1932.

The Bay of Plenty team goes into their most important assignment in a number of seasons, with a team that have plenty of minor association cricket experience.

The return of Ben Williams, who is in his first season of coaching the Bay first eleven, will add experience in spades.

The genuine all-rounder, who first made his Bay of Plenty debut a decade ago, brought up his 50th game in the Bay of Plenty uniform last season.

Over a thousand runs and sixty wickets, tells the tale of a player that's leaves little petrol in the tank, when he takes to the field in the Bay uniform.

He is just one of two Bay players to post a century and take six wickets in an innings in a Bay of Plenty game.

Due to injury Alex Oakley will replace Tim Clarke as wicket keeper in the Bay of Plenty team.

With regular captain Jono Boult on Northern Knights duty, opening batsmen Peter Drysdale will lead the team in the Hawke Cup encounter.

Drysdale is in grand form with the bat and last weekend posted his second Baywide century of the season when he blasted an undefeated 114 for Mount Maunganui.

Another in fine touch is Bharat Popli, who posted his fifth Bay of Plenty century against Waikato valley two weeks ago.

The talented master blaster claimed the all-time list of most Bay centuries as his own when he blasted an unbeaten 126.

Occasional ND quick Tony Goodin leads a team of talented Bay bowlers.

New Zealand Under 19 bowler Sean Davey returns to the team from injury, with Ben Williams, Mitch McCann, Brett Hampton and Dale Swan giving the side plenty of firepower with the ball

Young Katikati College player Brody Gilroy will have the experience of his short cricket career, having being selected as the Bay of Plenty 12th man for the match.

The bowling star of the future, has had an outstanding season in Bay of Plenty age group cricket and has also earned ND representative honours.

Bay of Plenty v Hamilton (Hawke Cup Direct Challenge)

Peter Drysdale, Joe Carter, Bharat Popli, Mitch McCann, Ben Williams, Scott Steward, Brett Hampton, Alex Oakley, Sean Davey, Dale Swan, Tony Goodin – 12th man: Brody Gilroy

Not Available because of Northern Knights Duty – Jono Boult.

Coach: Ben Williams Manager: Ian Boult