Central Districts Cricket Association

OUR TEAM AND CULTURE

Founded in 1950, this summer (2025/26) our team is celebrating 75 years together, along with the 100th season of the Plunket Shield and 20 years of Stags T20 cricket.

The Stags and Hinds are from provincial central New Zealand, a huge geographic area with no major city but many vital, heartland towns and rural swathes.

We are the only Domestic teams to represent both the North and South Islands of Aotearoa New Zealand, and this means we have to overcome logistical, funding and training challenges that other teams simply don't have to deal with.

It makes the Stags a very close-knit and committed team. We're down to earth, adaptable Kiwi lads from provincial New Zealand, with a sense of humour and a knack for getting the job done.

Even in the modern professional landscape with all its pressures, we look to enjoy what we do, and to entertain people, have fun together, and play good cricket wherever we are playing. And, we're always very happy to connect with young fans, whether in our region or in the opposition territory!

Beneath the smiles and fun are hard-working, determined, competitive, super-fit cricket athletes searching to get the best out of their careers and talents in the high-intensity professional environment.

We all want to play for the BLACKCAPS (and many of us have) and will leave no stone unturned in the quest to represent New Zealand while still always embracing our team-first philosophy.

"We are the might of CD" is a line in our team song that resonates with all of us, getting it done together!

The Plunket Shield

Born in 1906, this revered championship comprises eight rounds of hard fought, four-day first-class cricket. The ability to win away is a key to overall success and in 2019, the Stags broke the CDCA record for most consecutive Plunket Shield matches without a defeat: 21 games without a loss. The national record is 24.

We are very fortunate to provide admission to watch these gripping, intense games at no cost to our public.

The Stags won the Plunket Shield national championship back-to-back in 2018 and 2019, and again in 2023 with five outright wins from the eight rounds and a special final day in Nelson. To have won this tough competition three times in the last seven seasons makes us very proud - it's the hardest competition to win

Super Smash

Ten rounds of fast, bold, unpredictable, exciting T20 cricket!

Take in a doubleheader under lights at McLean Park or holiday season afternoon at Fitzherbert Park or Saxton Oval.

With our mascot The Stag in attendance, big, buzzy crowds and gourmet food trucks, it's all on.

Great pricing (and free entry for tots under five) plus free kids' activities and fun free giveaways make for a really great-value family day out - and it's a cracking show to see our best players pushing the boundaries with the big hits.

The Stags are the reigning champion (2025) and have now won this trophy 4 times. The previous occasion was in 2019 after an impressive three years in a row in the Grand Final as one of NZ's top T20 teams

The Ford Trophy

First contested in 1975, New Zealand's national men’s one-day competition consists of 10 rounds of 50-over matches.

The Ford Trophy Grand Final is either streamed or televised each year and we've been regular Finalists in this format - winning the Trophy in 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2023.

We hosted the Grand Final at Pukekura Park as top qualifier in both 2016 and 2018, we were the top qualifier again in 2022 and 2023, and we won the 2023 Final at McLean Park.

Many of the innovative skills developed in T20 are filtering through into one-day gameplans, making the classic white-ball format even better to watch.

All our Ford Trophy games are FREE admission for you to enjoy a summer's day out, chilling on the bank or Pukekura Park terraces or in the stand with family and friends, coffee cart at most venues (or a café close by) to enjoy a top game of cricket on us!

OUR LEGACY

Over the years, many of New Zealand’s greats have played for the Central Stags

Men such as Harry Cave, Bevan Congdon, Bryan Yuile, Gary Bartlett, Vic Pollard, Dave O'Sullivan, Martin Crowe, Jock Edwards, Ian Smith, Tony Blain, Michael Mason, Jesse Ryder, Mark Greatbatch, Jacob Oram, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Mathew Sinclair and Ross Taylor are just a few of the many New Zealand representatives proud to have called the Stags their home team.

Our very first captain, Sir Joe Ongley, later became a New Zealand Supreme Court judge, knighted for his services to the judiciary. Other notable Alumni have included former television sports presenter, and later local body politician, the late Doug Armstrong; and Somerset County Cricket Club's very first professional captain, Maurice Tremlett.

International stars from Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardena to West Indies sensation Matthew Forde (ODI fastest 50 joint record-holder) have also represented our team.

We treasure our team's heritage, and offer a free membership programme for all our CD Alumni past players

OUR OVERSEAS CAMPAIGNS

Champions Cup (One-day) 2001, Perth, Australia

Result: Third of four teams

One win (versus Mumbai), two losses (versus Western Australia, KwaZulu Natal)

Champions League (T20) 2010, South Africa

Result: Fourth in Group A (four teams per group, eight teams overall)

Four losses (versus Chennai Super Kings, (SA) Warriors, Victoria, Wayamba)

ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (T20) 2025, Georgetown, Guyana, South America.

Result: Third of five teams

One win (versus Hobart Hurricanes), one washout (versus Rangpur Riders), two losses (versus Dubai Capitals and Guyana Amazon Warriors)