BAYLEY WIGGINS is poised to make his first first-class appearance tomorrow since November 2022 as the Stags head to Wellington for round two of the 2025/26 Plunket Shield. 

The clinical Hawke's Bay wicketkeeper-batter comes into the squad with BLACKCAPS Will Young and Blair Tickner, who return from a successful ODI Series against the West Indies, and Curtis Heaphy - back from a hamstring that he tweaked during The Ford Trophy.

The quartet replaces regular keeper Dane Cleaver who is on paternity leave; and Jayden Lennox, Oscar Mabin and Taylor Bettelheim from last week's round one match in Palmerston North - the latter pair is now in Taupō representing Central Districts A at the annual T20 A tournament.

A player who can bat anywhere in the order, and with 10 first-class matches behind him, 27-year-old Wiggins is one of just nine players to have scored a first-class century on Stags debut which he achieved against Canterbury at Hagley Oval in October 2021: a scintillating knock of 133 off 138 balls.

PHOTOSPORT

Stags and Hawke's Bay teammate Brad Schmulian also shares that claim to fame (he struck the national record 203) and, although he's away with CD A in Taupō for this one, contracted Stag Angus Schaw is another among the current players to have tonned up in his first match in the baggy green cap.

The Stags welcome back their two BLACKCAPS in a timely window before the upcoming Test Series against the Windies, the Central campaign needing a boost after an opening-round loss to the Auckland Aces that netted Central just four of the 20 maximum available points.

Armed with two handy, swinging allrounders, the Aces won the toss and won the match by an innings inside three days in Palmerston North while the Stags' highlight was a second-innings top knock of 62 from debutant opener Bettelheim. 

The Stags play the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin with both sides coming off hard landings in the first round, keen to chalk up a first victory for the season.

The toss is set for 10am tomorrow and first ball at 10.30am, livescored and livestreamed every day here at www.cdcricket.co.nz with Nelson and CD umpire John Dempsey poised to stand in his 50th first-class fixture.

The Central Stags will wear armbands tomorrow in memory of CDCA Life Member and Stags Alumnus Ali Jordan who passed away on the weekend.

Meanwhile in Taupō, Taranaki's Jordie Gard leads the strong CD A Men's squad into their annual T20 tourney, with matches against Otago A and Wellington A this morning, and Northern Districts A from 2pm tomorrow afternoon.

The Central Hinds will also be action this weekend as the one-day national Hallyburton Johnstone Shield returns to Palmerston North for the first time this season, with rounds three and four on Saturday and Sunday respectively - both are free admission.

The matches against traditionally strong Wellington Blaze are always special ones for the Hinds, with the annual Viv Stephens Memorial Trophy - currently held by the Central Hinds - going on the line for their first encounter on Saturday.

Both games begin at 10.30am, and will be livestreamed here at www.cdcricket.co.nz; the squad will be announced on Friday.

2025/26 PLUNKET SHIELD

ROUND TWO

Central Stags v Wellington Firebirds

10.30am | Wednesday 26-Saturday 29 November 2025

Cello Basin Reserve • Wellington

FREE ADMISSION   

TOM Bruce, captain - Taranaki 

TYLER Annand - Hawke's Bay

WILL Clark - Hawke's Bay

JOSH Clarkson - Nelson

DEAN Foxcroft - Hawke’s Bay

CURTIS Heaphy - Manawatū

AJAZ Patel - Hawke's Bay

BRAD Schmulian - Hawke's Bay

BLAIR Tickner - Hawke's Bay

RAY Toole - Manawatū  

BAYLEY WIGGINS - wicketkeeper, Hawke's Bay

WILL Young - Taranaki

Head Coach: GREG Hay

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith 

 

 

CENTRAL DISTRICTS A MEN

Taupō T20 A Tournament

Tuesday 25-Wednesday 26 November 2025

Owen Delany Park • Taupō

FREE ADMISSION   

JORDAN Gard, captain - Taranaki 

TAYLOR Bettelheim - Hawke's Bay

LIAM Carr - Taranaki 

JACOB Cotter - Hawke's Bay

JAKE Jonas - Wairarapa

KOJI Hardgrave-Abe - wicketkeeper, Hawke’s Bay

JACK Harris - Manawatū  

BAYLEY Latter - Hawke’s Bay

OSCAR Mabin - Whanganui

FRED Mowat - Hawke's Bay

SAMUEL Payne - Wairarapa

ANGUS Schaw - Hawke's Bay

Head Coach: CHAD Law

Contracted players unavailable for selection

Injured or return to play protocol:

Doug Bracewell, Joey Field, Brett Randell, Toby Findlay

Paternity leave: Dane Cleaver

Article added: Tuesday 25 November 2025