The Central Stags have named two left-armers in their pace attack for the first away match of their Ford Trophy season in Dunedin tomorrow.

Allrounder Ben Wheeler is set to make his first appearance this summer in his return from off-season spinal fusion surgery, and joins fellow left-armer Ryan McCone in the pace department. 

The Marlborough 26-year-old has represented the BLACKCAPS 12 times and is looking forward to a fresh, pain-free start to an injury-interrupted career.

Stags captain Doug Bracewell says the side is keen to get momentum back as they hit the road for the next three rounds of the competition, in Dunedin, Hamilton and Auckland, before a tournament-style shakedown in Lincoln.

Bracewell led his side to a useful win in the opening round in Nelson against the Otago Volts — the same team the Stags will meet tomorrow. However, the last week has seen a loss against Canterbury followed by an abandonment in Nelson, leaving the Stags in fourth spot, hungry for action and a win to push back up the table.

After having twiddled his thumbs at Saxton Oval alongside the rest of the squad, former South Africa Under-19 World Cup captain Dean Foxcroft is again in line to make his Central Stags and List A debut tomorrow, should Dunedin’s weather play ball.

Showers are forecast but the 20-year-old right-hand batsman from Hawke’s Bay will be hoping to see action this time alongside fellow 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup players Willem Ludick (21), Felix Murray (20), Josh Clarkson (21) and Christian Leopard (21).

Central Stags squad | Ford Trophy | Round Four v Otago Volts

Doug Bracewell — captain, Hawke’s Bay, List A caps: 37 + 16 for NZ + 12 for NZA

Josh Clarkson — Nelson, List A caps: 20

Ma’ara Ave — wicketkeeper, Marlborough, List A caps: 2

Dean Foxcroft — Hawke’s Bay, List A caps: 0

Greg Hay — Nelson, List A caps: 21 + 1 for NZA

Christian Leopard — Hawke’s Bay, List A caps: 4

Willie Ludick — Nelson, List A caps: 2

Ryan McCone — Horowhenua-Kapiti, List A caps: 3 + 32 for Canterbury

Felix Murray — Nelson, List A caps: 2

Bevan Small — Manawatu, List A caps: 32

Ben Smith — Wanganui, List A caps: 41

Ben Wheeler — Marlborough, List A caps: 21 + 7 for NZ

Round Four Ford Trophy

Otago Volts vCentral Stags

11am Sunday 4 Nov 2018

University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

Livescoring: visit nzc.nz

Twitter and Instagram updates: @CentralStags

Official hashtags: #FordTrophy #LoveTheStags

Article added: Saturday 03 November 2018