Central Stags strike weapon Blair Tickner is excited to be getting back on the park this Friday evening at McLean Park.

The big entertainer has been out of action since dislocating his shoulder while playing for the BLACKCAPS last month, after having celebrated his international recall with two man of the match performances.

Tickner has been named in the Stags twelve for the team's big match against the Auckland Aces in Napier, under lights, with the first ball set for 5.55pm this Friday.

Look who's back | PHOTOSPORT

The Central Hinds squad is meanwhile unchanged for their afternoon clash with the Auckland Hearts - with both teams in the top three of the women's Super Smash and the Hinds coming off four great wins on the trot.

Spinner Ashtuti Kumar is coming off an outstanding T20 career best 4/13 in the latest victory over Northern Brave, while pace star Rosemary Mair chimed in with 4/11 in a strong effort with the ball.

Last season's top wicket-taker and Central Stags Player of the Year, Tickner comes into the Stags' twelve for his first T20 in the campaign at the expense of left-armer Ray Toole, in an otherwise unchanged group heading into the seventh of 10 rounds.

Bringing fresh energy and a hunger to get back to doing what he does best - celebrating wickets; Tickner creates a fantastic match-up against two of the big batting names selected in Aces' squad for the match, Martin Guptill and Bevon Jacobs.

One name missing from the Aces' squad, however, will be dangerous keeper-batter Cam Fletcher due to the upcoming birth of his child.

Both teams will be chasing crucial points, as the business end of the competition kicks in.

The Aces will be playing their eighth of the 10 rounds, and are currently top of the table with 20 points - four points ahead of the Brave, albeit having played one more match than most of their rivals.

The Stags, with two wins from six games, are meanwhile in the bottom half of the table, and are looking for a big finish from their last four games to boost their chances of finishing in the top trio of teams that head to the Finals weekend at the end of this month.

The Stags also have away matches to come against the Aces in Auckland and the Brave in Hamilton, as well as their third home match in Napier against the Volts on Saturday 24 January (also under lights).

Tickets for all home matches are available at www.cdcricket.co.nz now.

2025/26 SUPER SMASH — presented by KFC

ROUND SEVEN OF 10

McLean Park, Napier

16 January 2026

1.10pm | Central Hinds v Auckland Hearts

5.55pm | Central Stags v Auckland Aces

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

Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper, Manawatū

Joey Field — Hawke’s Bay

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

Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

Head Coach: Ben F. Smith

Assistant Coach: Kieran Noema-Barnett

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

Will Young, Josh Clarkson, Jayden Lennox (BLACKCAPS ODI series in India)

ALSO COMING UP

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: Thursday 15 January 2026