The Central Stags squad has expanded to 13 for this week's penultimate Plunket Shield clash, recalling Hawke's Bay seamer BEN STOYANOFF for the first time in two seasons.

Stoyanoff made his first-class debut for the Stags against Canterbury at Saxton Oval in November 2019, his sole appearance to date as he replaces LIAM DUDDING from last week's squad - Dudding now isolating as a COVID household contact.

 

Spinner JAYDEN LENNOX, allrounder JOSH CLARKSON and keeper-batsman DANE CLEAVER also rejoin the squad after their recent NZXI forays against The Netherlands, and Cleaver's first call-up for the BLACKCAPS T20i squad.

After the frustration of a second weather-hit draw against Canterbury this season (having got into a winning position both times before the weather folded), the midtable Stags are heading into a rematch with Northern Districts this week.

It's the last away match of 2021/22 for Central - which will be followed by next week's Stags season finale at home at McLean Park which is free admission and open to all spectators meeting vaccine pass requirements.

This week's four-day fixture begins tomorrow, Tuesday 29 March at Whangarei's Cobham Oval where the sun is now thankfully shining after last week's torrential downpours - ND's match against the Auckland Aces washed out on all four days.

The toss is set down for 10am and the match will be livescored and livestreamed so you can watch the action for free here at www.cdcricket.co.nz

The match is the 97th first-class fixture between the Stags and neighbours ND.

The Central Stags would like to take this opportunity to wish our most iconic player, ROSS TAYLOR, all the very best for his farewell Series with the BLACKCAPS which also begins tomorrow.

2021/22 PLUNKET SHIELD

Round 7 v NORTHERN DISTRICTS

Cobham Oval, Whangarei

10.30am Tuesday 29 March to 1 April 2022

CENTRAL STAGS

GREG Hay — captain, Nelson

TOM Bruce — Taranaki

WILL Clark — Hawke’s Bay

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson

DANE Cleaver — wicketkeeper, vice-captain, Manawatu

JOEY Field — Hawke’s Bay

JAYDEN Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

BEN Smith — Whanganui

BEN Stoyanoff — Hawke’s Bay

RAY Toole — Manawatu

BAYLEY Wiggins — Hawke’s Bay

 

Coach - Rob Walter

Contracted players unavailable for selection

Adam Milne – IPL

Doug Bracewell, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, Will Young - BLACKCAPS matches v Netherlands

Seth Rance – Achilles injury

Ben Wheeler — knee injury

NORTHERN DISTRICTS

Joe Carter — captain

Peter Bocock — wicketkeeper

Katene Clarke

Brett Hampton

Scott Kuggeleijn

Bharat Popli

Tim Pringle

Brett Randell

Jeet Raval

Neil Wagner

Freddy Walker

Joe Walker

 

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

Official hashtags: #PlunketShield #LoveTheStags

Article added: Monday 28 March 2022