Less than a week after lifting The Ford Trophy in their jubilee season, the Central Stags are back hunting another trophy.

The back half of the Plunket Shield championship begins this Saturday at Napier’s McLean Park with the exciting addition of a bolter in the first-class squad for the fifth round against the Wellington Firebirds.

Paceman Ben Frewin has earned his first call-up off the back of Taranaki’s outstanding Hawke Cup tenure in which he opened the bowling as a tall, wicket-taking right-armer.

He took 8/123 in the last successful defence, against a strong Hawke’s Bay side four weeks ago.

The previous summer, he enjoyed Hawke Cup hauls of 3/56 against Canterbury Country and 4/12 against Hawke’s Bay, again dismissing a number of first-class players.

He'd also helped kick off Taranaki’s year-long tenure with his previous best figures for Taranaki, 5/27 in 15 overs against Manawatū, to secure the 2025 Furlong Cup.

Frewin was bowled over when Central Stags Head Coach Greg Hay rang him with the Stags call-up news, just after he’d finished teaching for the day at Highlands Intermediate.

“We have our Year 7 camp this week so I had to leave in the middle of it and pack and get on early flight this morning, and I’m grateful to the school for allowing me to take leave,” he said.

“It's awesome to be able to come over, and represent Taranaki, and I'll definitely be thinking of the lads back home and playing for them if I get the opportunity.”

Frewin says recent performances in the Hawke Cup have boosted his confidence, after early progress as a CD age-group rep was derailed by significant injuries — including stress fractures in his back, and then a shoulder recontruction in his late teens.

“There have been other frustrating little leg injuries along the way so just getting to play against those first-class guys was pretty cool in itself.

“You see all these names on YouTube and on New Zealand Cricket and then to go out and play against them was really cool and to get their wickets was an added bonus.”

His haul against Hawke’s Bay holds a special place.

“Normally my role for Taranaki is a little more reduced than in that match, but with us having had only three seamers, it was good to be able to step up for the boys and bowl the most overs I've bowled in a game — and also get the result.

“Sometimes it can be down to luck as well and the boys took all their catches — and there were some good ones in there, so I’m very grateful.”

A product of New Plymouth Boys’ High School, the 24-year-old previously represented both CD Under 17 and CD Under 19 (alongside his brother Caleb) in 2018.

He was all set to head off to represent CD Under 19 again the following summer when his stress fractures were diagnosed — requiring a lengthy rest and rehabilitation period.

“It was obviously pretty gutting having to take a season off, but it had to be done, and it's probably allowed me to be where I am right now."

He went on to make his Central Districts A debut in 2021, playing three matches against Wellington A — a side containing a number of players now in the Firebirds squad for this weekend’s Plunket Shield.

“Ben’s journey to his first Stags selection has been much longer than we would have anticipated, following huge promise as an U19 cricketer,” said CD High Performance Manager, Dave Meiring.

“Unfortunately numerous injuries set him back through the years, but it’s testament to his resilience that he is now receiving his first squad selection.

“Ben has been performing well for Taranaki over the last two seasons in particular, an integral part of their Hawke Cup success and his eight wickets against Hawke’s Bay in particular was a standout performance.

“He’s also been involved in our Stags preseason so has been around the team as part of that next set of seam bowlers that exist below the contracted group, so it’s exciting to see him now get the opportunity to join the Stags for the first time.”

Frewin’s selection brings Taranaki’s Stags contingent to three, alongside Plunket Shield captain Tom Bruce and BLACKCAP Will Young — all in this weekend’s squad.

Blair Tickner and Ajaz Patel, who both missed The Ford Trophy Finals through injuries (ankle and calf, respectively) remain unavailable.

The Plunket Shield resumes with just nine points separating the top five teams, Central in fourth spot on 40 points. 

Their opponent is the only team without a win this summer and the Stags are fresh off soundly beating them in last week’s Ford Trophy Elimination Final.

 

Curtis Heaphy | PHOTOSPORT

The Stags have also already beaten the Firebirds in the Plunket Shield once this season, by eight wickets at the Basin, even after declaring their first innings 236 runs behind.

Curtis Heaphy (132) and Brad Schmulian (167 not out) put on a massive second innings partnership in the last innings to steer the Stags to the first of two outright victories so far in the eight-round competition.

Twenty points are available per round so a couple of outrights can make a quick difference to the leaderboard: the Stags won’t be playing to draw.

Bruce, Schmulian and Heaphy all average above 40.00 in their first-class cricket careers, while Test batsman Young averages above 40.00 for the Stags and sits just fractionally below in his overall first-class career.

Brad Schmulian | PHOTOSPORT

Schmulian and Heaphy scored two centuries apiece in The Ford Trophy campaign as well, and are among the Plunket Shield’s top four batsmen nationally, halfway through.

The Ford Trophy’s top wicket-taker nationally, allrounder Josh Clarkson is also the Stags’ top first-class wicket-taker to date, 13 victims placing him fourth equal nationally, and spinner Jayden Lennox’s outstanding dot-ball percentage creates constant pressure.

Admission to see the Stags play the Firebirds at McLean Park is free, the first ball scheduled for 10.30am each day with a free livestream and livescoring at www.cdcricket.co.nz

2025/26 PLUNKET SHIELD

ROUND FIVE

Central Stags v Wellington Firebirds

McLean Park, Napier

10.30am | Sat 28 February-Tues 3 March 2026 

FREE ADMISSION EVERY DAY

SQUAD

TOM Bruce - captain, Taranaki

JOSH Clarkson - Nelson

DANE Cleaver - wicketkeeper, Manawatū

TOBY Findlay - Hawke’s Bay

DEAN Foxcroft - Hawke’s Bay

BEN Frewin - uncapped, Taranaki

CURTIS Heaphy - Manawatū

JAYDEN Lennox - Hawke’s Bay

BRETT Randell - Nelson

BRAD Schmulian - Hawke's Bay

RAY Toole - Manawatū  

WILL Young - Taranaki

Head Coach: GREG Hay

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith 

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

Tyler Annand, Joey Field, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner

POINTS SNAPSHOT

Plunket Shield after 4/8 rounds:

(maximum 20 points per team per round)

49 Auckland Aces

48 Canterbury

47 Northern Districts

40 Central Stags

40 Otago

18 Wellington Firebirds

Article added: Friday 27 February 2026