Central Stags captain Tom Bruce is wasting no time returning to Super Smash duty after a successful stint in UAE with ILT20 champion the Desert Vipers.

Last season’s NZC Super Smash men’s player of the year and victorious captain is tearing in from the tarmac to the toss as one of three changes to the Stags ahead of tomorrow’s fifth-round game against the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin.

Bruce will join the team on game-day and returns to a squad that has won just one match — against tomorrow’s quarry, whom they beat in Palmerston North — from four matches, after a hectic start to their 2025/26 campaign.

The vastly experienced, aggressive skipper is set to become his team’s second most capped T20 player if he takes the field as expected tomorrow to play his 97th T20 for the team.

That pushes him ahead of Will Young and Josh Clarkson, who along with Jayden Lennox are heading in the opposite direction to the airport for the BLACKCAPS’ imminent ODI Series in India.

Tall top order batter Mason Hughes also comes into the Stags twelve on the back of an outstanding Chapple Cup for champion Manawatū.

Mason Hughes impressed in last month's T20 Chapple Cup

Image | MBUTCHER

The 27-year-old, left-handed clean striker was contracted to the Stags last season, but frustratingly sat out the bulk of the summer with injury.

Now he’s in the frame to play his first Super Smash match since January 2022, with two T20 caps under his belt, while Hawke’s Bay 21-year-old right-hander Sam Cassidy also joins this season’s squad for the first time, having debuted in the Super Smash last summer, also with two caps to his name.

Two caps, yet to bat in the Super Smash: Sam Cassidy | PHOTOSPORT

The barnstorming Central Hinds have also tweaked their squad as they look to stay on their toes ahead of their rematch with the Blaze — who, under Melie Kerr, edged them in the opening round.

The Hinds selectors have brought in pace bowler Jess Ogden for Claudia Green, and leg-spinner Georgia Atkinson for off-spinner Lizzy Cohr as they look for three wins on the bounce.

Georgia Atkinson and Jess Ogden

A 75-match veteran in T20s, Atkinson was unavailable for the first round of the season due to a family commitment, rookie and Wairarapa teammate Cohr gaining her first opportunity.

The Hinds have gone from strength to strength after back-to-back wins over the Canterbury Magicians — impressing with the bat, and picking up bonus points in both matches.

Hinds on a roll | MBUTCHER

The team set a new Hinds T20 record total of 191/5 three days ago on a belter at Saxton Oval — the sixth highest total by any team in the history of the women’s Super Smash, in a match believed to have seen the most runs scored overall in a New Zealand domestic women's T20.

The taste of success has coincided with milestones for captain Hannah Rowe who in Christchurch became the first player to reach 100 T20 caps for the Hinds, and just the second overall for Central, alongside Dane Cleaver.

Rowe is the team's top wicket-taker with five so far this season, while explosive duo Flora Devonshire (100 runs at SR 175.43) and import Bryony Smith (88 at SR 176) are both in the top six run-scorers in the women's division nationally.

Finalists two summers ago, the Hinds now sit just four points behind the Blaze on the ladder, equal with the Sparks on 10 points in the top three and eyeing up the top spot. 

Flora Devonshire | MBUTCHER

The Stags meanwhile sit equal last on the men’s table (with Northern Brave also on four points) as they reach the halfway mark of the regular season, after twin losses to the Canterbury Kings, and a loss to the Volts in Alexandra before that.

The unbeaten Kings are on top with 12 points from just three matches, while the Firebirds are just two points ahead of the Stags ahead of the Basin matchday.

Ajaz Patel is currently the top wicket-taker in the overall men’s competition with seven victims, and Dane Cleaver the top run-scorer with 145 runs after his boundary-fest against the Firebirds in Palmerston North.

The team is looking to rediscover the touch that secured them a strong opening round win in that match, with the Hinds on from 12.40pm tomorrow and the Stags from 4.25pm in two big encounters.

Both matches are streamed free-to-air in NZ on TVNZ+ and Duke, with the Central teams then heading up to Hamilton as well as hosting three home doubleheaders at Napier’s McLean Park later this month.

Tickets for the McLean Park triple treat — with the Stags playing under lights on each matchday — are available at www.cdcricket.co.nz

Hawke's Bay, Friday 23 January

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2025/26 SUPER SMASH — presented by KFC

ROUND FIVE OF 10

Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington

6 January 2026

12.40pm | Central Hinds v Wellington Blaze

4.25pm | Central Stags v Wellington Firebirds

CENTRAL HINDS

Hannah Rowe — captain, Manawatū

Georgia Atkinson, Wairarapa

Flora Devonshire — Hawke’s Bay

Kate Gaging — wicketkeeper, Nelson

Ashtuti Kumar — Manawatū

Emma McLeod — Wairarapa

Rosemary Mair — vice-captain, Hawke’s Bay

Jess Ogden — Manawatū

Cate Pedersen — Hawke’s Bay

Grace Scrivens — overseas player

Bryony Smith —overseas player

Kerry Tomlinson — Taranaki

Head Coach: Deepak Joon

Assistant Coach: Greg Hay

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

Ocean Bartlett (concussion)

CENTRAL STAGS

Tom Bruce — captain, Taranaki

Sam Cassidy — Hawke’s Bay

Will Clark — Hawke’s Bay

Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper, Manawatū

Toby Findlay — Hawke’s Bay

Dean Foxcroft — Hawke’s Bay

Curtis Heaphy — Manawatū

Mason Hughes — Manawatū

Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay

Brett Randell — Nelson

Angus Schaw — Hawke’s Bay

Ray Toole — Manawatū

Head Coach: Ben F. Smith

Assistant Coach: Kieran Noema-Barnett

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

Joey Field (injury), Blair Tickner (injury)

HOME EVENTS COMING UP

13 January 2026, McLean Park, Napier

2.10pm: Central Hinds v Northern Brave women

5.55pm: Central Stags v Northern Brave men (under lights)

16 January 2026, McLean Park, Napier 

2.10pm: Central Hinds v Auckland Hearts

5.55pm: Central Stags v Auckland Aces (under lights)

24 January 2026, McLean Park, Napier 

2.10pm: Central Hinds v Sparks

5.55pm: Central Stags v Volts (under lights)*

Tickets at www.cdcricket.co.nz

Full schedule at www.supersmash.co.nz

Article added: Tuesday 6 January 2026