The 2024/25 Domestic cricket season will open exactly one month from today at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth with the CENTRAL STAGS hosting the Auckland Aces.

In a break from recent seasons, the cricket calendar opens with The Ford Trophy for the first time since 1995/96, the Stags set to play five one-dayers across October and early November before turning their attention to the first-class Plunket Shield.

Their first two Ford Trophy matches of the season will be at Pukekura Park, on Sunday, 20 October and a midweek second round against Northern Districts three days later on the 23rd.

The Ford Trophy fun will be back one month from today!

PHOTOSPORT

The Stags will return to Taranaki at the business end of the season for a potentially crucial 10th Ford Trophy round against the Wellington Firebirds at Pukekura Park on Sunday, 23 February 2025.

In between, our 2023 national champions will hit the road for a string of five away matches, before hitting Napier’s McLean Park for rounds eight and nine in mid-February.

All one-day and four-day Plunket Shield matches will be FREE admission again this season!

Last summer's Plunket Shield finished with an emphatic victory

MBUTCHER

The Stags' first-class Plunket Shield four-dayers are in the diary for...

• Napier’s McLean Park — versus Otago from 11 November, and, against defending champion the Wellington Firebirds from 28 November
• Nelson’s Saxton Oval — against Canterbury from 19 November
• Palmerston North’s Fitzherbert Park — the final match of the season in which the Stags host the Aces from 29 March

Last summer’s Dream11 Super Smash finalists the CENTRAL HINDS will also be bringing FREE entertainment to Pukekura and Fitzherbert Parks this summer!

The Hinds have a bumper season of Hallyburton Johnstone Shield home fixtures.

They will host a doubleheader weekend at Pukekura Park versus the Canterbury Magicians on 14 and 15 December 2024 and return to Pukekura Park for a further doubleheader weekend against Northern Districts on 8 and 9 February 2025.

The Hinds can't wait to be back on the park together again

PHOTOSPORT

In all, the Hinds get six of the 10 one-day rounds at home venues this season, including rounds three and four in Palmerston North where they will be fired up for a big clash with the Auckland Hearts on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December.

Set to play under a new coach and a new captain this summer (both yet to be named), the Hinds will meanwhile have opened their season on Saturday, 16 November, away to arch rivals the Wellington Blaze at the Cello Basin Reserve. 

A special trophy in memory of the Hinds' first captain, Viv Stephens

PHOTOSPORT

 

 

That match will see them not only looking to open their one-day HBJ campaign with a win, but to win back the Viv Stephens Memorial Trophy that honours the Hinds' first captain and goes on the line in the first fixture each season between these two teams.
 

A late-February trip to Dunedin is the overarching goal for both our Central teams, with the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Ford Trophy finals to be hosted by Otago this summer, on 1 and 2 March respectively.

Central Districts CEO LANCE HAMILTON said it was pleasing to be able to bring almost a month’s worth — 27 match days — of national competition cricket to the Central Districts public, with free admission at every venue for our spectators.

“At a time when a lot of people are feeling the pinch from economic pressures, it’s pretty cool that we can still offer a free experience for sports fans and families alike.

“A number of BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS will be on show for their domestic teams in these competitions, and it’s a chance to see these players in smaller centres like Taranaki and Palmerston North.”

Napier and Nelson are meanwhile playing host to the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS this summer, with ticket presales for NZC and CD Cricket’s CRICKET NATION members now on sale. Head to www.nzc.nz to score your membership discount now!

NZC is also close to finalising the national Dream11 Super Smash, the T20 holiday season programme yet to be announced.

GLENN POCKNALL, Head Coach of the Central Stags, said his squad was looking forward to something different this season, with the front half of the one-day campaign preceeding the red-ball Plunket Shield.

"Anytime there is a change in schedule from season to season, I think it's good as it gives us all a chance to have to look at how we plan and prepare, with a new lens," he said.

“Most of our playing group are now back together and in training at our Hawke’s Bay base, refreshed and excited for the big summer ahead."

 

 

NZC Head of Cricket Operations RICHARD BREWER said the coming season has a new and exciting feel to it.

"Anytime you make a few decent changes to the season schedules, it certainly freshens things up", he said.

"We consulted with the [men's] players, coaches and turf managers around starting the men's season with white-ball cricket instead of the Plunket Shield.

"The change will see slightly different pitch conditions for the two competitions, which will bring new challenges for both batters and bowlers.

"The red-ball now aligns with the Test programme which is an added bonus [from a player preparation point of view]."

Likewise, six of the 10 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield rounds lead up to the WHITE FERNS' Rose Bowl ODI Series with Australia, allowing players to put their hand up for selection.

• THE FORD TROPHY — full schedule
• HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD — full schedule
• PLUNKET SHIELD — full schedule

• Livescores + free livestreams for all matches at www.cdcricket.co.nz 
• All matches start at 10.30am NZT

Learn more here

Article added: Friday 20 September 2024

Author: Margot Butcher

All images: Photosport | Published under licence or ©️Margot Butcher