Great news! Legendary batsman ROSS TAYLOR is returning to play for the Central Stags tomorrow.

The man with more than 11,000 List A one-day runs retired from the BLACKCAPS earlier this year, but has kept himself available for the Central Stags and headlines a strong squad of 13 named for the opening round of the 2022/23 Ford Trophy against the Otago Volts in Dunedin from 11am.

Taylor will be entering his 20th season for the Central Stags, the only New Zealand Domestic team he has represented since his emergence as a prodigy with quick hands and power-packed pull shots from the small Wairarapa town of Masterton.

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Last summer he broke the New Zealand record for the fastest century in The Ford Trophy, smashing his hundred off just 49 balls at Pukekura Park en route to the 2022 Grand Final.

The Stags dropped only one match in the 10 rounds en route to the Grand Final last summer, but the Auckland Aces got up on the big day to deny the Stags the coveted trophy.

"It was good to make the Final last year, but hopefully we'll go one better this year," said Taylor.=

He has been in the nets with CD over recent weeks, since returning from India where he played in a new T20 Masters league featuring a number of former BLACKCAPS.

"I haven't played for CD for a while after the BLACKCAPS retirement, so it's nice to be back playing cricket in New Zealand again, and with a lot of teammates whom I've played a lot of cricket with.

"One-Day cricket was probably my best format in international cricket, so it's nice to be playing some white-ball and Ford Trophy. I'm really looking forward to it."

Paceman BRETT RANDELL will meanwhile make his List A One-Day debut in Stags colours tomorrow if named in the playing XI, while swing maestro SETH RANCE and spinner JAYDEN LENNOX also appear on the squad list for the first time this season. Lennox is one of two left-arm spinners in the squad alongside BLACKCAP AJAZ PATEL.

Rance had always targeted tomorrow's match for his first apearance this summer, after electing to forego the pre-Christmas rounds of the Plunket Shield to peak for an exciting white-ball summer. He'll be joined in the pace department by strike bowler BLAIR TICKNER who was released from the BLACKCAPS T20 camp to wing his way to Dunedin, the pair set to play an important role alongside Randell this season with longtime Stags quick Adam Milne now representing the Firebirds in Domestic cricket.

As announced yesterday, WILL YOUNG will make a return as captain for the first six rounds of The Ford Trophy to allow prolific NZC Domestic and Stags player of the year TOM BRUCE to enjoy playing as a batsman only in the lead-up to the Dream11 Super Smash, when regular skipper Bruce will take back the reins.

The match is live-streamed (free) here at www.cdcricket.co.nz with the toss scheduled for 10.30am, and after this first away match the team returns to Palmerston North for the first home game against the Wellington Firebirds on Wednesday 30 November next week.

Taylor is also looking forward to a fun evening on 15 December when he will be joined by comedian BEN HURLEY, longtime Stags and BLACKCAPS teammate JAMIE HOW and surprise guests at "The Aftermatch Function with ROSS TAYLOR" at The Devon Hotel in New Plymouth.

The Aftermatch entertainment and dinner follows that afternoon's free admission Ford Trophy Grand Final rematch with the Auckland Aces at Pukekura Park, and will be a fantastic night of great food, outstanding company, laughs and celebrity and luxury auction items up for grabs.

With limited capacity tables of 10 are selling fast, BOOK NOW or enquire today about tickets or accommodation for the event of the year in New Plymouth.

 

 

Round One • 2022/23

OTAGO VOLTS v CENTRAL STAGS

University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

11am • Thursday 24 November 2022

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SQUAD

WILL Young (c) — Taranaki

DOUG Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

TOM Bruce — Taranaki

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson

DANE Cleaver (w) — Manawatu

JAYDEN Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay

BRETT Randell — uncapped for Central Stags in List A cricket

SETH Rance — Wairarapa

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

ROSS Taylor — Wairarapa/Manawatu

BLAIR Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

RAY Toole — Manawatu

Head Coach: ROB Walter

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

GREG Hay — Nelson (injury)

BEN Smith — Whanganui (injury)

CURTIS Heaphy — Manawatu (NZ Development Men)

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#fordtrophy #lovethestags 

Article added: Wednesday 23 November 2022