No fewer than four players are in line to make their one-day List A debut for the Central Stags when The Ford Trophy begins this Sunday.

Brad Schmulian, Ryan Watson, Ray Toole and Jayden Lennox have all been named in the twelve for the opening white-ball clash of the season, at home against Canterbury at Palmerston North’s Fitzherbert Park.

While Schmulian and left-arm paceman Toole have played Plunket Shield cricket for the Stags, and Watson has carried the drinks previously in both competitions, it’s a maiden Stags call-up of any type for 24-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner Lennox who comes in for his Hawke’s Bay teammate Ajaz Patel, with Patel having been seconded to Whangarei earlier this week on New Zealand A duty.

When the two sides met at the same ground two seasons ago, the match was a thriller — the Stags chasing down 287 on a belter with one ball to spare. Only five players from that 2017/18 side will head to Fitzherbert Park this Sunday for the rematch at one of the Stags’ happy hunting grounds.

That match was also Christian Leopard’s one-day debut, and his teammates will be hoping his recent CD A form carries over into Sunday — after having belted one-day knocks of 168* and 96 on consecutive days in CD A’s midweek matches against Northern Districts A in Taupo.

The Stags will once again be captained by Tom Bruce who took over Ford Trophy captaincy duties from incumbent one-day skipper Doug Bracewell last season, following Bracewell’s call-up to national representation.

Ahead of his first white-ball match in charge, Stags coach Aldin Smith said while the squad has been hit by injuries to regular players early in the season, it was exciting to see players step up to make their debuts.

“While any injury is unfortunate, it does create opportunities for young players to show what they’ve got.

“Ray Toole impressed when we gave him an opportunity in the last two Plunket Shield matches. To have another young left-armer coming through is exciting. He’s done well, and impressed again in the CD A one-day game against ND A this week with three wickets.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do at Ford Trophy level, in what will be a hometown debut if he is in the playing XI tomorrow.”

Hawke’s Bay’s Jayden Lennox was called into the Central Districts high performance squad earlier this year while playing in Darwin over the off-season, but Smith says the emerging spinner has been on the radar for a while.

“Jayden’s been impressive for CD A, and also in the previous season was involved in our camps. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do in the Stags environment and likewise for Brad Schmulian and Ryan Watson — both are very familiar with our environment and experienced, ready to step up in this format as required after having been on the cusp last season.”

Said Lennox, “I was on my way to coaching on Thursday afternoon when I got the call from Aldin and, while I was hopeful, you never really know, so it was exciting to hear it for real.

“I’ve been working with Aldin on some technical changes and some slight adjustments to my bowling action that have been working well, so I’m excited for the opportunity and looking forward to contributing if I get the chance tomorrow at Fitzherbert Park.”

CENTRAL STAGS

Round One FORD TROPHY v Canterbury

Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

11am Sunday 17 November - tickets at gate from 10am: $15A | $5 J | $30 Family

Tom Bruce – captain — Taranaki

Josh Clarkson — Nelson

Dane Cleaver — wk —Manawatu

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay — potential debut

Christian Leopard — Hawke’s Bay

Willem Ludick — Nelson

Seth Rance — Wairarapa

Brad Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay — potential debut

Ben Smith — Whanganui

Ray Toole — Manawatu — potential debut

Ryan Watson — Taranaki — potential debut

George Worker — Manawatu 

Unavailable for selection

Ross Taylor — BLACKCAPS

Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner — NZA v England

Not considered due to injury

Ben Wheeler — groin

Doug Bracewell — recovering from minor keyhole knee surgery

Adam Milne — progressing back from minor ankle surgery

Bevan Small — knee

Joey Field — side strain

Will Young — progressing back from shoulder labrum repair

Article added: Saturday 16 November 2019