Here's a brainteaser for you. What do Central Stags captain TOM BRUCE and West Indies rising star MATTHEW FORDE have in common?

Two things, actually. They'll both be playing for the Central Stags at the upcoming ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, and they both hold matching one-day fastest fifty records.

Bruce smashed the New Zealand List A record off 16 balls when the Stags won the 2016  Ford Trophy Final at Pukekura Park, and 23-year-old Forde recently became the joint holder of the world's ODI record with AB de Villiers, having plundered his 16-ball fifty for the Windies against Ireland last month.

Different format to the T20 showcase that awaits in Guyana, for sure, but we'll take it.

Tom Bruce hits a six | PHOTOSPORT

Bruce captains the Stags squad for the GSL, announced today.

Along with Forde, the strong line-up contains other big names added since the team's standout 2024/25 Dream11 Super Smash campaign.

Veteran allrounder DOUG BRACEWELL returns with an opportunity to play his first match for the Stags since March 2024, having been an overseas player for the Joburg Super Kings T20 franchise in the interim.

The Stags also welcome DEAN FOXCROFT to the GSL squad contracted for the tournament, with the twinkle-toed off-spinning allrounder poised to play his first match for the team since he transferred to the Otago Volts in 2019. 

Dean Foxcroft (with Dane Cleaver) in 2019 | PHOTOSPORT

 

Foxcroft said he was really looking forward to joining old friends in the green of the Stags jersey again.

"Just like Otago’s got a special place in my heart, CD’s also got a special place in my heart," he said. 

He debuted for the Stags in all formats back in 2018/19 when he was a young, uncontracted rookie on the up, going on to be named the Stags’ Ford Trophy player of the year before heading south.

Recently he impressed for New Zealand A in Bangladesh (conditions that may not be a world away from those the team can expect in Guyana) and both Foxcroft and Bracewell are capped BLACKCAPS, of course.

With WILL YOUNG, AJAZ PATEL, JOSH CLARKSON, BLAIR TICKNER, DANE CLEAVER, Bruce, and overseas player Forde all in the squad, it means nine of the 14-strong squad heading to Guyana pack International cricket experience.

Patel's exciting return marks his successful rehabilitation from a serious knee injury and surgery last summer that saw him miss all the fun as the Stags roared through their title-winning T20 campaign.

The premier spinner now headlines a potent quartet of slow options, with fellow left-armer and New Zealand A standout JAYDEN LENNOX, and the right-arm off-spinning allrounders Foxcroft and ANGUS SCHAW.

Ajaz Patel returns | PHOTOSPORT

Foxcroft brings proven class and heft with the bat, but also sports a T20 career best with the ball of 5/11 in the Super Smash, for the Volts.

This isn't his first rodeo. As a rookie in 2019, he top-scored in the Super Smash Grand Final to ensure the Stags won the trophy that year, and there is still a hill named after him on the Seddon Park embankment.

The prospect of Foxcoft recombining with the quality Young, and the explosive power of Bruce and Forde, will be exciting for the team as they head off to unchartered territory to compete against four other T20 squads from around the world for a lucrative prize pool.

BLACKCAP Will Young reverse sweeps for the Stags | PHOTOSPORT

Forde joins Clarkson as the only players in the squad to have experienced Guyanan conditions first-hand, the pair having played there in the Carribean Premier League.

Clarkson played for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots late last year, while Barbados-born-and-raised "Mustang" Forde has played for the St Lucia Kings since 2022, and brings valuable local intel.

Dangerous allrounder Josh Clarkson | PHOTOSPORT

The big right-armer has played 13 ODIs and six T20 Internationals for the West Indies, opening the attack. He impressed against the likes of England and Australia and, while his primary skillset is respectable right-arm pace, he hits a long ball, down the order - amply demonstrated by his boundary-strewn, world record-equalling half century.

Forde will be an exciting watch alongside the established firepower and experience in the Central pace bowling ranks. 

Blair Tickner is as lethal as he is entertaining | PHOTOSPORT

 

Tickner has stood up as the Stags' Player of the Year for the past two seasons, and has been putting in solid performances for Derbyshire in UK County cricket.

Two starts in Guyana would meanwhile see Bracewell register the 100th T20 of his extensive overall career. 

He is now the team's third highest all-time T20 wicket-taker with 75 victims, behind Tickner (111) and SETH RANCE who retired with 92.

His ability to lean back and smash the ball over the rope remains electrifying and Bracewell has the distinction of becoming the only player to head away with the Stags to both of their overseas T20 tournaments.

Doug Bracewell hits a six | PHOTOSPORT

 

He made his T20 debut in September 2010 as a youngster at the Champions League (in Durban, against the Chennai Super Kings) after the Stags had won the previous summer's HRV Cup.

Along with pedigree seasoned performers, the Stags also have an exciting crop of emerging stars with WILL CLARK, TOBY FINDLAY and CURTIS HEAPHY all playing significant roles in winning the latest Dream11 Super Smash national title.

Heaphy's class batting is supplemented by genuine wicketkeeping ability that makes him a ready-made reserve gloveman for Cleaver.

On the rise: Curtis Heaphy, Will Clark | PHOTOSPORT

 

Some of the GSL squad will travel from the UK where they have been playing over the off-season, while New Zealand-based players will assemble for two training camps before flying to Guyana - reuniting there as a group in early July. 

Pace bowler BRETT RANDELL was unavailable as he continues to mend from the broken collarbone that ended his 2024/25 season prematurely.

The Stags open their GSL account against the Dubai Capitals early on 11 July NZT (10 July local date), followed by matches with the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Hobart Hurricanes and defending champion the Rangpur Riders.

The action-packed round robin will determine which two teams make it through to the 19 July final (18 July in Guyana time).

 

 

ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League

Guyana National Stadium,

Providence, 10-18 July 2025

(11-19 July NZT)

PLAYER PROFILES

BOOK CAMP

Article added: Saturday 14 June 2025