Two uncapped players have been called in for Ford Trophy joint leaders the CENTRAL STAGS ahead of Thursday's free admission Ford Trophy one-dayer against the Auckland Aces at Pukekura Park.

The Stags have already thumped the Aces once this week, winning by a comfortable eight wickets on Tuesday for a third bonus point win from four matches.

Now with the BLACKCAPS' next assigment around the corner, WILL YOUNG, BLAIR TICKNER and, fresh off his List A one-day career best three-for on Tuesday, AJAZ PATEL drop out of the 13 while top order bat JACK BOYLE and spinning allrounder BRETT JOHNSON step in.

BRETT JOHNSON

Both have played Domestic representative cricket before - Boyle for Canterbury where the 26-year-old scored four Ford Trophy centuries and five half centuries with a top score of 130, and Johnson having made two appearances for the Wellington Firebirds in 2020, before transferring to Central Districts over the winter.

The pair has performed for Hawke's Bay and Central Districts A this season and at least one of the duo will make his Central Stags debut tomorrow in New Plymouth. 

No doubt defending Ford Trophy champions the Auckland Aces will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday, after a horror start this season with no wins from the front half of their 10 rounds.

SETH RANCE has led the way in a strong attack | PHOTOSPORT

The Stags meanwhile sit at the top of the table on equal points with the other most impressive team of the summer so far, Canterbury - who play the Otago Volts today in Christchurch.

Regular white-ball skipper TOM BRUCE makes his return to the captaincy duties with stand-in captain Young dropping out of the squad.

The toss tomorrow is set for 10.30am, for an 11am start, and after this match the Stags will head to Napier for their first free admission match at McLean Park this summer, on Sunday, a rematch against the Wellington Firebirds who are the only team to have taken a win off them.

The Ford Trophy is also live-streamed for free here at www.cdcricket.co.nz

ROUND FIVE • 2022/23

CENTRAL STAGS v AUCKLAND ACES

Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

11am • Thursday 15 December 2022

SQUAD

TOM Bruce (c) — Taranaki

JACK Boyle — Hawke’s Bay — uncapped

DOUG Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson

DANE Cleaver (w) — Manawatu

JAYDEN Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

BRETT Johnson — Hawke’s Bay — uncapped

SETH Rance — Wairarapa

BRETT Randell

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

ROSS Taylor — Wairarapa/Manawatu

RAY Toole — Manawatu

Head Coach: ROB Walter

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

GREG Hay — Nelson (injury)

BEN Smith — Whanganui (injury)

JOEY Field — Hawke's Bay (injury)

CURTIS Heaphy — NZ Development team

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#fordtrophy #lovethestags 

SEE FULL SEASON SCHEDULE

AUCKLAND ACES SQUAD

Robbie O'Donnell (c)

Adithya Ashok

Mark Chapman

Luois Delport

Danru Ferns

Matt Gibson

Ryan Harrison

Ben Horne (w)

Simon Keene

Ben Lister

Will O'Donnell

Sean Solia

George Worker

Get sorted now for the holiday season!

Article added: Wednesday 14 December 2022