Twenty-one year old Hawke’s Bay cricketer TOBY FINDLAY has gained his first professional cricket contract with the CENTRAL STAGS.

Findlay’s elevation comes after veteran allrounder DOUG BRACEWELL declined his Central Stags contract for the 2024/25 season as Bracewell intends to be available for overseas T20 franchise competitions.

Top allrounder Bracewell intends to remain available to play for the Stags this summer when he’s in New Zealand, but is unable to commit to availability for the Dream11 Super Smash T20 competition window — a condition of all men's contracts offered by NZC or the six Major Associations.

A tall young allrounder who has come through the CD age-group and Hawke’s Bay pathway, Findlay made his first-class Plunket Shield debut for the Central Stags in March 2023 at just 19, and has also represented New Zealand at Indoor Cricket. 

The circumstances of his Stags debut provided a cricketing first. 

 

Findlay had been brought in for the match at Palmerston North’s Fitzherbert Park to be 12th man, but a concussion to pace bowler BRETT RANDELL led to the youngster making an official first-class debut in the second innings as a concussion substitution, becoming the Stags’ first-class cap 308.

Findlay was quickly in the game, running out Otago Volts veteran Hamish Rutherford with his very first touch of the ball, before trapping Dale Phillips as his maiden first-class wicket - contributing to a five-wicket victory for the Stags.

After an injury prevented him from bowling for most of the 2023/24 season, Findlay played as a batter only for Hawke’s Bay and kept contributing as a key member of its successful Hawke Cup side last summer.

He scored four half centuries in Hawke’s Bay’s undefeated Hawke Cup Challenge Match campaign — two of them as an opening batsman, and two in the tail, relishing the chance to devote more time to his batting.

 

 

Central Districts Manager, High Performance DAVE MEIRING says Findlay (above, left) is an exciting long-term prospect.

“We believe Toby has the capability to be a genuine allrounder, and players like that can shift the balance of the team.

“Toby showed, during his Plunket Shield debut, that he doesn’t shy away from a challenge. 

“He’s confident in his ability, and he’s also willing to put his hand up in the face of adversity. 

“We’ve seen him mature a lot since then and, whilst the path towards becoming a top Domestic allrounder is only just beginning, we’re confident he will get to that point — and we’re excited to have this opportunity now to help him to get there.”

Findlay grew up immersed in the game as the son of former Central Stags first-class and Hawke’s Bay rep Craig Findlay; grandson of former Southern Hawke’s Bay Hawke Cup rep Harry Findlay; and nephew of another former Hawke’s Bay rep, Scott Findlay.

“Grandad played a lot of sport when he was younger and he coached me as a kid which was pretty cool,” says Findlay.

 

 

“I took on board a lot of learnings from him and everyone in the family has played cricket so we often talk about cricket in-depth around the dinner table.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have had that early start in the game, and then to have the opportunities I’ve had to grow through the Hawke’s Bay and Central Districts Cricket teams that I’ve played for.”

Findlay said that getting an unexpected chance to play for the Stags in early 2023 had a big impact on him.

“Once I got that taste, I realised how much I wanted to be part of this — I realised that I really did want to become a professional cricketer.

“It was an awesome opportunity, and a big eye-opener because it also showed me how hard I needed to work for it. 

“Although I then had a setback last season with injury, what really changed for me was my mindset, and I feel like I’ve never looked back since.

It was still sinking in that, from 1 September, cricket will now be his full-time job over summer.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Stags squad and having the opportunity to train regularly with them all at the team’s Rodney Green Foundation facilities at Mitre10 Park.

“There’s a real buzz when you are out there. The facilities are unreal, and I’ll be able to give it 100 per cent. 

“I haven’t bowled on the all-weather grass wickets there yet, so I’m really looking forward to that, and to having throwdowns with [Stags coach] GLENN POCKNALL and [assistant coach] ALDIN SMITH and the team. 

“I just am still pinching myself, to be honest, because it was another opportunity that came out of the blue."

 

DOUG BRACEWELL | MButcher

 

 

Bracewell, 33, said the decision to opt out of a Central Stags contract was a tough one, but one that he hoped would ultimately prolong his career. 

“I still have a strong desire to play for CD, and I intend to still be available for the Stags when I am in New Zealand.

“I’d like to thank CD Cricket for their support through this process,” he said.

2024/25 Contracts

JACK Boyle — Hawke’s Bay, top order RH batter

TOM Bruce — Taranaki, RH batter, RA spin bowler

WILL Clark — Hawke’s Bay, RA pace allrounder

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson, RA pace allrounder

DANE Cleaver — Manawatū, wicketkeeper-RH batter

JOEY Field — Hawke’s Bay, RA pace bowler

TOBY Findlay* — Hawke’s Bay, RA pace bowler

CURTIS Heaphy — Manawatū, RH top order batter

MASON Hughes* — Manawatū, LH top order batter

JAYDEN Lennox — Hawke’s Bay, LA spinner

BRETT Randell — RA pace allrounder

ANGUS Schaw* — Hawke’s Bay, RH batter, RA spin

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay, RH batter, leg-spin bowler

EWALD Schreuder* — RH batter, LA pace

BLAIR Tickner — Hawke’s Bay, RA pace bowler

RAY Toole — Manawatū, LA pace bowler, LH batter

* First season contracted

2024/25 BLACKCAPS Contracted Players

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay, LA spinner

WILL Young — Taranaki, RH batter

 

ENQUIRE HERE

Article added: 28 August 2024