The CENTRAL STAGS have arrived in sunny New Plymouth, ready to kick off a new summer of cricket.

It’s the first time in almost three decades that NZC's one-day Ford Trophy competition is opening the domestic calendar, and the Stags will host last season’s beaten finalists, the Auckland Aces, from 10.30am on Sunday, at Pukekura Park.

The first of two consecutive rounds on their Taranaki home turf, the second round is slated for Wednesday with arch rivals Northern Districts heading to the Stags’ lair for that one.

Both matches are FREE admission, and supporters will get to see most of their favourite, familiar Stags faces across the two games after the first squad of the season was unveiled today.

Taranaki’s TOM BRUCE is back from a trip to the USA where he blasted quick runs in some preseason T20 league cricket, after playing County and white-ball cricket for Lancashire earlier in the off-season.

And, newly contracted BLACKCAP JOSH CLARKSON is in the squad, and will be keen to remind the BLACKCAPS selectors all about his all-round prowess in the one-day format, with white-ball series and selections coming up.

Sunday’s match will be spinner JAYDEN LENNOX’s first toss as the new Ford Trophy captain, and he has key performers from last summer at his disposal.

They include 2024 Stags and Ford Trophy Player of the Year BLAIR TICKNER; BRAD SCHMULIAN who plundered 354 runs and his first two tons as the team's leading run-scorer last season, and rising stars CURTIS HEAPHY and WILL CLARK who each scored their maiden half centuries in this format last summer, contributing five fifties between them.

If selected in the playing XI, it will also be pace bowler BRETT RANDELL's first match for the Stags in almost a year, after an unjust run of injuries. He did, however, get to represent England county Somerset in two first-class matches last month, fighting fit.

But after having lifted the 2023 Ford Trophy silverware in convincing fashion, last year’s follow-up season did not go to plan for the team on the table.

Head Coach GLENN POCKNALL says the team is hungry to get back to their best as a unit.

"Everyone is excited to get going, after a busy preseason programme.

"The squad has been training well, and lifted themselves over the last week, ready to hit the ground running against a strong Auckland Aces side."

The Aces have brought some guns to New Plymouth, spearheaded by BLACKCAPS Jimmy Neesham and Lockie Ferguson. Ben Lister and Finn Allen have meanwhile remained in Auckland with injuries.

The toss on Sunday is scheduled for 10am, and the Central Stags’ Ford Trophy and Plunket Shield matches will all be livescored and livestreamed for free viewing at www.cdcricket.co.nz again this summer.

NZC have appointed CD's John Dempsey and ND's Greg Pennell as umpires for the game on Sunday, with Auckland's Gary Troup as Match Referee.

2024/25 | ROUND ONE

Central Stags v Auckland Aces

10.30am Sunday, 20 October

Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

The same squad for ROUND TWO

Central Stags v Northern Districts

10.30am Wednesday, 23 October

JAYDEN Lennox - captaincy debut, Hawke's Bay

JACK Boyle - Hawke's Bay

TOM Bruce - Taranaki

WILL Clark - Hawke's Bay

JOSH Clarkson - Nelson

DANE Cleaver - wicketkeeper, Manawatū

CURTIS Heaphy - Manawatū

BRETT Randell

ANGUS Schaw - Hawke's Bay

BRAD Schmulian - Hawke's Bay

BLAIR Tickner - Hawke's Bay

RAY Toole - Manawatū

Head Coach: GLENN Pocknall

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith

FREE LIVESTREAM
FREE ADMISSION

CENTRAL STAGS INSTAGRAM

SEAN Solia - captain

ADI Ashok

LOUIS Delport

LOCKIE Ferguson

DANRU Ferns

CAM Fletcher - wicketkeeper

BEVON-JOHN Jacobs

SIMON Keene

JOCK McKenzie

JIMMY Neesham

WILL O’Donnell

MICHAEL Sclanders

 

Contracted Stags players unavailable for selection

 

Ajaz Patel, Will Young (BLACKCAPS Test in India)

Joey Field (injury - leg)

Toby Findlay (injury - hand)

Article added: Saturday 19 October 2024