The Central Stags have named two uncapped players as first-class cricket returns to Palmerston North for the first time in 14 years.

Hawke’s Bay duo WILL CLARK and TODD WATSON have got the nod for the sixth-round Plunket Shield squad, a match which will be played behind closed gates against Canterbury at Fitzherbert Park.

With a number of players away on BLACKCAPS or NZXI duty, and contracted Stags SETH RANCE and BEN WHEELER still sidelined by injury, opportunities abound this weekend — with CHRISTIAN LEOPARD and LIAM DUDDING also stepping in for their first Plunket Shield appearances of the 2021/22 summer.

WILL CLARK | MButcher

Watson, 24, and Clark, 20, are both Hastings-born right-handers and former New Zealand Under 19 representatives who have come up through the CD development pathway.

Said Central Districts High Performance Manager Lance Hamilton, “Will and Todd have obviously featured for us in a lot of Central Districts A matches, as well as regularly impressing for Hawke’s Bay at interdistrict level.

“Will is a tall young allrounder of promise who has been consistent for Hawke’s Bay with both bat and ball.

“He made a flying start to this season with a double century for Hawke’s Bay in the Furlong Cup while Todd is an aggressive medium pacer who has chalked up a number of good performances for Hawke’s Bay already in his relatively short career.

TODD WATSON in action for the Napier Texans | Photosport

“With many of our regular players unavailable, we will have at least one debutant this weekend against Canterbury, and it’s a great opportunity for several of our squad to experience and learn more about the requirements of the game at this level.”

Regular captain GREG HAY returns to lead the team and make his 90th Plunket Shield appearance.

PHOTOSPORT

The 37-year-old veteran of more than 6000 first-class runs broke his thumb whilst batting at Pukekura Park during a solid Dream11 Super Smash T20 campaign late last year — resulting in a frustrating interruption for surgery and subsequent recovery.

Hay got back in action for Central Districts A earlier this week and rejoins the Stags as the only member of the team to have featured the last time they played a Plunket Shield match at Fitzherbert Park — against the Wellington Firebirds in late March 2008.

Paceman Dudding last played in the Plunket Shield in the 2016/17 season, while allrounder Leopard’s last Plunket Shield match was last April, also against Canterbury.

Both stand to make their fifth first-class appearance this weekend while seamer RAY TOOLE is poised to play his first first-class match on his home turf of Fitzherbert Park fresh off a maiden six-wicket bag in the Stags’ fourth-round loss to Northern Districts in Napier.

Toole’s performance was the bright spot of the match for the Stags, the 24-year-old’s Manawatu man’s match analysis of 9/87 not only his career best, but the best by any New Zealander in the Plunket Shield this season.

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Under the red phase of the Protection Framework, all of the Central Stags’ matches will be played behind closed gates for the remainder of the 2021/22 season, with free livestreams and livescoring with video highlights available here at www.cdcricket.co.nz to follow the action ball by ball

2021/22 PLUNKET SHIELD | Round Six

v

CANTERBURY

Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North - closed gates, watch with free livestream

10.30am Sunday 20 to Wednesday 23 March 2022

CENTRAL STAGS

GREG Hay — captain, Nelson

TOM Bruce — Taranaki

WILL Clark — Hawke’s Bay — potential Stags debut

LIAM Dudding — Hawke’s Bay

JOEY Field — Hawke’s Bay

CHRISTIAN Leopard — Hawke’s Bay

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

BEN Smith — Whanganui

RAY Toole — Manawatu

BAYLEY Wiggins — wicketkeeper, Hawke’s Bay

TODD Watson — Hawke’s Bay — potential Stags debut

Coach - Rob Walter

Contracted players unavailable for selection

Adam Milne – IPL

Ross Taylor, Dane Cleaver, Blair Tickner, Will Young,

Josh Clarkson, Jayden Lennox – NZXI / BLACKCAPS matches v Netherlands

Seth Rance – Achilles injury

Ben Wheeler — knee injury

CANTERBURY SQUAD

Cole McConchie — captain

Chad Bowes

Jack Boyle

Leo Carter

Cam Fletcher — wicketkeeper

Zak Foulkes

Andrew Hazeldine

Ken McClure

Henry Nicholls

Will O'Rourke — potential first-class debut

Fraser Sheat

Theo van Woerkom

Will Williams

Toss: 10am NZT

Livescoring, livestream, schedule: visit cdcricket.co.nz

Official hashtags: #PlunketShield #LoveTheStags

 

HURRY - last days for lounge package!

 

Article added: Friday 18 March 2022