The Central Hinds will play one-day cricket at McLean Park for the first time in 19 years after NZC’s new season Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Ford Trophy schedules were today released.

The Hinds last graced the Napier ground in this format in the 2007/08 national final, and captain Hannah Rowe says the team of today is looking forward to a new experience together when they gather to host the Auckland Hearts for two matches over Waitangi weekend 2027.

It's a bumper home season draw for the team who will get to host eight of their 10 regular season one-dayers in all, as a result of a busy international match schedule in other Major Association areas.

Said Rowe, “We’re stoked to have so many home games across CD this summer and bringing ‘HBJ’ cricket back to McLean Park is an awesome part of that.”

Heading into her 16th domestic season with the team, it’s a ground the allrounder knows well: she was in the team that played the first women’s Super Smash T20 game at McLean in December 2019, and as a WHITE FERN she’s played in three ODIs and in the only women’s T20 International hosted on the premier Napier turf.

 

 

 

“It will be cool to start making more of a Hinds connection with the ground now, this season,” she says, “and it’ll be exciting to host Auckland and show off all Hawke’s Bay has got to offer.”

The national one-day schedule also takes the Hinds to their Palmerston North and New Plymouth home grounds across Central’s sweeping region, while reigning Ford Trophy title-holders the Central Stags will host two games at each of their Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth home venues in a chocker summer.

The Stags kick off the season under returning coach Heinrich Malan on 28 October with their opening one-dayer at Nelson’s Saxton Oval, against Northern Districts.

The team has home advantage for six of their 10 Ford Trophy regular season games — typically they would host five.

 

 

The finals of the men’s Ford Trophy and the women’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield will meanwhile be at Wellington’s Cello Basin Reserve once again this summer.

Given a strong turnout of CD supporters last year, and the outstanding performance to beat Canterbury in a high-scoring Grand Final, there will be plenty of good, fresh memories to draw on should the Stags book in a repeat tilt there.

Ford Trophy captain Jayden Lennox, who this year broke into the BLACKCAPS white-ball squad, is determined his side will once again be in that Finals frame.

“I’m already very excited to get back out on the park this summer,” said Lennox.

“Off the back of a successful campaign last season, we’ll be aiming to play a brand that wins the trophy again.

 

 

"The schedule looks a little bit different for us this season — typically we’ve started off in New Plymouth.

"It’ll be really nice to head down to Nelson and Saxton Oval to kick things off in October, with a couple of good crowds early in the campaign.”

The Hinds have also performed strongly in one-day competition over recent seasons, the youthful squad producing some of its biggest totals and chases.

 

 

 

 

They would dearly love to raise the national shield again after the last successful tilt in 2019 — when the Hinds defeated the Hearts at Pukekura Park.

All one-day matches are live-scored and live-streamed here at cdcricket.co.nz, and are free admission both at home and away (including all finals).

The men’s four-day Plunket Shield, and men’s and women’s Super Smash schedules will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

2026/27 FORD TROPHY

HOME GAMES

10.30am

 

At Saxton Oval, Nelson

Wed 28 Oct 2026 • Round 1 v Northern Districts

Wed 4 Nov 2026 • Round 3 v Auckland Aces

 

At McLean Park, Napier

Sun 8 Nov 2026 • Round 4 v Canterbury

(2026 Grand Final rematch)

Thurs 12 Nov 2026 • Round 5 v Wellington Firebirds

(2026 Elimination Final rematch)

 

At Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

Wed 3 Feb 2027 • Round 6 v Canterbury

(2026 Grand Final rematch)

Sun 7 Feb 2027 • Round 7 v Otago Volts

 

At the Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington

Elimination Final — Friday 19 February 2027

Grand Final — Sunday 21 February 2027

 

Full home and away schedule
 

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2026/27 HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD

HOME GAMES

10.30am

 

At Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Sat 14 Nov 2026 • Round 1 v Northern Districts

Sun 15 Nov 2026 • Round 2 v Northern Districts

Sat 12 Dec 2026 • Round 5 v Canterbury Magicians

Sun 13 Dec 2026 • Round 6 v Canterbury Magicians

 

At Pukekura Park, New Plymouth

Sat 28 Nov 2026 • Round 3 v Otago Sparks

Sun 29 Nov 2026 • Round 4 v Otago Sparks

 

At McLean Park, Napier

Sat 6 Feb 2027 • Waitangi Day • Round 7 v Auckland Hearts

Sun 7 Feb 2027 • Round 8 v Auckland Hearts

 

At the Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington

National Final — Saturday 20 February 2027

 

Full home and away schedule
 

 

 

 

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Article added: Monday 17 August 2026