Two up-and-coming Nelson cricketers are in line to make their Central Stags and first-class debut tomorrow when the Stags begin their key clash against the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve in round eight of 10 in the national Plunket Shield.

Allrounder Willem Ludick, who represented South Africa Under-19 at the 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, and leg-spinner Felix Murray, who represented New Zealand Under-19 at the same tournament and again at this summer’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, have both been named in a squad of 13 for the top-of-the-table clash.

Ludick, who will turn 21 on the final day of the four-day match, is coming off an unbeaten century in each innings for Central Districts A at Pukekura Park in yesterday’s 112-run victory over Northern Districts A. It was the right-arm allrounder’s fourth century for the A team this summer, including a Twenty20 century on debut against ND A in Taupo in November’s quadrangular North Island T20 tournament.

For 19-year-old left-arm spinner Murray, it is just the second time he has been named in a Central Stags squad in any format after having been included in the squad for one Ford Trophy match last season, but omitted from the playing XI.

Murray’s opportunity arises with regular spinner and top Plunket Shield wicket-taker Ajaz Patel having been called into the NZXI playing England in two warm-games in Hamilton this week, where regulars Seth Rance, Doug Bracewell and the Plunket Shield’s most prolific batsman this season Greg Hay (also of Nelson) are also on duty.

In other changes from the squad that came within a whisker of an innings victory over the Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval earlier this week — before Cyclone Hola saved their hosts’ skins with a draw, allrounder Ben Wheeler and opening batsman George Worker (hamstring) are both out with injury. Worker had earlier this week been named in the NZXI squad, opening partner Hay now taking his place against England after having scored 686 runs, including three centuries, from seven rounds of Plunket Shield this season.

Joining Ludick and Murray in the round eight squad is 20-year-old Napier allrounder Christian Leopard, another player to have represented New Zealand in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. Nippy right-arm allrounder Leopard made his first-class debut as a teenager in his sole Plunket Shield appearance to date; a drawn match against the Otago Volts in Dunedin in November 2016. Leopard has also represented the Central Stags in the Burger King Super Smash and The Ford Trophy this summer.

Hawke’s Bay’s Brad Schmulian, who scored a staggering double century on debut in the first Plunket Shield match of the season, returns to the batting line-up, Manawatu seamer Navin Patel comes back into the squad for the first time since November while wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver and paceman Blair Tickner make a timely return from their respective back and side strain injuries.

All four of that quartet featured in November’s seven-wicket victory over the Firebirds in Nelson — the match in which Tickner claimed a rare first-class hat-trick. The Stags remain the only side to have beaten the Firebirds in New Zealand’s historic first-class competition this season, and head into tomorrow’s big game as the only undefeated team, despite trailing the Firebirds by 11 points. A maximum of 20 points is available per round, including bonus points.

Points table

Not considered for this round was Ryan McCone (unavailable) and Liam Dudding (wrist surgery).

Central Stags squad | Plunket Shield Round Eight, 17-20 March 2018

Will Young (c)                    Taranaki

Tom Bruce                         Taranaki

Dane Cleaver (w)              Manawatu

Christian Leopard              Hawke’s Bay

Willem Ludick                    Nelson

Adam Milne                       Manawatu

Felix Murray                      Nelson

Navin Patel                        Manawatu

Jesse Ryder                      Hawke’s Bay

Brad Schmulian                 Hawke’s Bay

Bevan Small                      Manawatu

Ben Smith                          Wanganui

Blair Tickner                      Hawke’s Bay

Round Eight Plunket Shield

Wellington Firebirds v Central Stags

10.30am Saturday 17 March— Tuesday 20 March 2018

Basin Reserve, Wellington

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