Plunket Shield captain GREG HAY is one step closer to rejoining the Central Stags after a lengthy lay-off for a broken thumb.

Hay broke his thumb just before New Year's whilst batting at Pukekura Park in the Dream11 Super Smash, and missed the remainder of the Stags' white-ball season, as well as last week's fifth-round Plunket Shield match against ND.

The break required surgery and was a disappointing blow for the veteran opening batsman after having been in the best T20 form of his life this summer.

Hay has been named in the CENTRAL DISTRICTS A squad in a three-day match starting today in Johnsonville, Wellington.

The game against Wellington A is the final CD A fixture of 2021/22 and, with a busy week of NZXI warm-up fixtures, leading up to the BLACKCAPS T20 and ODI Series against The Netherlands with no fewer than seven Stags selected across those matches, it's an opportunity for players to put their hands up for spots in the first-class side.

The three-dayer gets underway at 10.30am at Alex Moore Park with live-scoring here at cdcricket.co.nz

After a good season, CD A is fresh off a thriller in Hastings in which they beat Northern Districts A. The squad includes former Australia Under-19 leg-spinner Kyle Gardiner who represents Hawke's Bay.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS A

v Wellington A

Alex Moore Park, Johnsonville

16-18 March 2022

Angus Schaw - captain, Hawke's Bay

Greg Hay - Nelson

Tyler Annand - Hawke's Bay

Will Clark - Hawke's Bay

Toby Findlay - Hawke's Bay

Kyle Gardiner - Hawke's Bay

Curtis Heaphy - wicketkeeper, Manawatu

Mason Hughes - Manawatu

Sebastian Lauderdale-Smith - Taranaki

Christian Leopard - Hawke's Bay

Liam McCarthy - Hawke's Bay

Todd Watson - Hawke's Bay

Article added: Wednesday 16 March 2022