JAYDEN LENNOX is about to expand his captaincy portfolio as the 30-year-old left-arm spinner takes over as Super Smash captain for the Central Stags.

With regular captain Tom Bruce away playing for the Desert Vipers in an overseas T20 franchise league, Lennox steps up for the defending champions after having led The Ford Trophy one-day team for the past two seasons.

The Stags and Central Hinds kick off their Super Smash season on 27 December at home in Palmerston North, and also have a home doubleheader day just after New Year’s at their South Island venue, Nelson’s Saxton Oval, before three home doubleheaders that follow at Napier’s McLean Park - all tickets are on sale at cdcricket.co.nz 

Lennox says this summer’s Super Smash is an exciting opportunity, both personally and for the team as a whole.

“I’m really looking forward to leading a really experienced group of boys who have had some serious success in the last 24 months, in particular,” he says.

Jayden Lennox | PHOTOSPORT

“Looking back to what we've learned over the winter at the T20 Guyana Global Super League, and from last season’s successful Super Smash campaign, it's obviously a really exciting proposition for me as I grow in my leadership role.”

Lennox says captaining in The Ford Trophy has helped to prepare him for another white-ball role.

“It’s meant I’ve got a pretty good connection with most of the bowling group already on the field, and we've got a good understanding of what that looks like between myself and them.

“Obviously as senior players and leaders, Tom [Bruce] and Dane Cleaver have helped a lot with that as well, so it's been good to have them with me. I can't wait to get started on the 27th in Palmerston North.”

JAYDEN LENNOX

T20 career for Central Stags

41 matches (38 Super Smash, 4 Global Super League)

52 wickets at 18.25 | Best bowling 4/15

Central Stags T20 10th wicket partnership record: 

42 runs with Blair Tickner, Seddon Park, 2023/24

2022/23 Super Smash:

Top wicket-taker nationally

with 16 wickets at 15.93 average and 12.56 strike rate

Super Smash head coach Ben Smith returns this week to the team’s head base at Mitre 10 Park, Hastings from the United Kingdom, with the T20 preparations set to step up a gear following the Stags’ upcoming trip to Dunedin for the weekend’s fourth round of the Plunket Shield against Otago, the last first-class match before Christmas.

The Stags are fresh off a 295-run Plunket Shield victory over a strong Canterbury side in their latest match in Napier, trouncing the same team they defeated in last summer’s Super Smash Grand Final at the Cello Basin Reserve.

This season is already guaranteed to be a special one for the Stags and Hinds as CD Cricket celebrates its 75th jubilee.

 

GET TICKETS

Tickets are on sale to the main event on 23 January 2026, The CD 75th Jubilee Long Lunch, hosted by Ben Hurley with guest speakers including Mark Greatbatch, Tony Blain and Emily Travers, at www.cdcricket.co.nz 

The Long Lunch celebration takes place in Hawke's Bay, the day before Saturday’s final home Super Smash doubleheader.

2025/26 Super Smash • Key Info:

• Opening Match: Boxing Day – Northern Brave v Auckland Hearts/Aces at Seddon Park, Hamilton
• Competition Period: 26 December 2025 – 26 January 2026 (double round robin)
• Finals Weekend: 30 & 31 January, 2026 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
• Total Matches: 64 games across 32 days
• Broadcast partners: TVNZ+, TVNZ Duke January and Sport Nation
• Tickets: https://cdcricket.flicket.co.nz/
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Article added: Tuesday 9 December 2025