Three former ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup players have been named in the 13-strong Central Stags squad for Round Eight’s pivotal, top-of-the-table Plunket Shield clash with the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve, starting tomorrow.
Nelson left-arm spinner Felix Murray (NZ U19 2016 & 2018, above), Napier’s Christian Leopard (NZ U19 2016) and Nelson’s Willem Ludick (South Africa U19 2016) have all been named for the fresh-look Stags, Murray and Ludick in line to make their Central Stags and first-class debut if selected in the playing XI. Leopard meanwhile stands to make his first first-class appearance since his debut as a teenager in November 2016.
Brad Schmulian, Navin Patel, Dane Cleaver and Blair Tickner also return to the squad, the latter pair back from injury and all four of that quartet having featured in November’s seven-wicket victory over the Firebirds in Nelson.
The Stags are the only side to have beaten the Firebirds in this season's competition, and also head into tomorrow’s big game as the only undefeated team despite trailing the Firebirds by 11 points.
The Stags are the only side to have beaten the Firebirds in this season's competition, and also head into tomorrow’s big game as the only undefeated team despite trailing the Firebirds by 11 points.
Competition front-runners the Firebirds have made two adjustments to their squad that defeated the Otago Volts in a thrilling finish to the previous round, bringing in Alex Ridley for Peter Younghusband, and Malcolm Nofal (below, PHOTOSPORT)— who has played 11 first-class matches for Gauteng in South Africa, but is yet to make his Plunket Shield debut — for the season's leading allrounder Logan van Beek, who was selected in this week's NZXI v England warm-up games.
Van Beek is the first-class season's most successful pace bowler with 33 wickets, two behind overall leader and off-spinner Ajaz Patel who is also absent from this round.
The Stags and Firebirds likewise can currently lay claim to the two top run-scorers in this season's Plunket Shield with Stags opener Greg Hay's 686 runs nudging him ahead of Firebirds counterpart Michael Papps on 682.
The Stags and Firebirds likewise can currently lay claim to the two top run-scorers in this season's Plunket Shield with Stags opener Greg Hay's 686 runs nudging him ahead of Firebirds counterpart Michael Papps on 682.
Greg Hay's chance to make it three centuries on the bounce must wait. PHOTOSPORT
However, only the prolific Papps will feature in this round, Hay also having been called into today's NZXI game. A maximum of 20 points is available per round, including bonus points, with a $75,000 prize awaiting the season's champion.
ACES STILL WITH A CHANCE
The third-placed Auckland Aces welcome back fast bowler Lockie Ferguson for what's shaping as a crunch game for the Aucklanders against Canterbury in Rangiora.
Cole McConchie will meanwhile return to captaincy duties for Canterbury, having filled that role earlier this season when Andrew Ellis was injured; Ellis remains in the squad.
The historic Plunket Shield is the final NZC domestic trophy on offer this season, just three rounds remaining to determine the 2017/18 national first-class champion. A new champion is guaranteed after defending title-holders Canterbury dropped out of contention in Round Seven, along with the Otago Volts.
The historic Plunket Shield is the final NZC domestic trophy on offer this season, just three rounds remaining to determine the 2017/18 national first-class champion. A new champion is guaranteed after defending title-holders Canterbury dropped out of contention in Round Seven, along with the Otago Volts.
- All four-day matches are free entry and begin at 10.30am (except Round 10 which will have a 10am start time)
- All matches are livescored at www.nzc.nz
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS v CENTRAL STAGS at BASIN RESERVE, WELLINGTON
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Current ranking: 1
12 named: Michael Bracewell (c), Hamish Bennett, Fraser Colson, Devon Conway (wk), Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Malcolm Nofal (potential Plunket Shield debut), Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Alex Ridley, Luke Woodcock
CENTRAL STAGS
Current ranking: 2
13 named: Will Young (c), Ben Smith, Brad Schmulian, Jesse Ryder, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver, Willem Ludick (potential debut), Adam Milne, Christian Leopard, Bevan Small, Navin Patel. Felix Murray (potential debut), Blair Tickner
CANTERBURY v AUCKLAND ACES at MAINPOWER OVAL, RANGIORA
CANTERBURY
Current ranking: 6
12 named: Cole McConchie (c), Chad Bowes, Leo Carter, Ken McClure, Michael Pollard, Andrew Ellis, Cam Fletcher (wk), Tim Johnston, Will Williams, Theo van Woerkom, Andrew Hazeldine, Blake Coburn
AUCKLAND ACES
Current ranking: 3
12 named: Michael Guptill-Bunce (c), Finn Allen, Michael Barry, Craig Cachopa, Ben Horne, Lockie Ferguson, Danru Ferns, Stuart Meaker (overseas player), Matt McEwan, Robbie O'Donnell, Aniket Parikh, Sean Solia
NORTHERN DISTRICTS v OTAGO VOLTS at COBHAM OVAL, WHANGAREI
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Current ranking: 4
12 named: Daniel Flynn (c), Bharat Popli, Henry Cooper, Corey Anderson, Brett Hampton, Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Ish Sodhi, Peter Bocock (wk, potential first-class debut), Joe Walker, Jimmy Baker, Zak Gibson
OTAGO VOLTS
Current ranking: 5
12 named: Rob Nicol (c), Matt Bacon, Neil Broom, Mark Craig, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon, Hamish Rutherford, Josh Tasman-Jones
