A special occasion awaits Central Stags fast bowler ADAM MILNE who is set to play his first Domestic T20 match at his home ground of Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North tomorrow 27 DEC in a star-studded Dream11 Super Smash showdown between the BLACKCAPS' fastest men!

*** 27 DEC UPDATE: ADAM MILNE out with knee niggle in training, Ben Smith and Joey Field called in to revised squad of 13. Doug Bracewell to undergo fitness test on ankle on Match Day morning ***

The event is the first Dream11 Super Smash doubleheader to come to Palmerston North, and it's the first time the Stags will have played a T20 in the city since February 2009 — before Milne began his career.

PHOTOSPORT

Our 37-year-old evergreen batsman GREG HAY is the only survivor from that match and Hay heads into tomorrow’s clash in the T20 form of his life as the only player nationally in the men’s league to have scored two half centuries already this season, including a career best in the last match in Napier where he batted throughout the innings.

PHOTOSPORT

Strikeman Milne debuted in the T20 format for the Central Stags as a quick teen a decade ago and, after 135 T20s in New Zealand and around the world, is looking forward to an exciting clash tomorrow against the Auckland Aces — a squad that includes Marty Guptill, George Worker and fellow BLACKCAPS speedster Lockie Ferguson whom Milne replaced at the recent ICC T20 World Cup.

Milne heads into the doubleheader with 150 T20 wickets to his name, including 45 for the Stags from 41 appearances.

BLACKCAPS spinner AJAZ PATEL joins the Stags squad for the first time this season after returning from India — where he famously became just the third cricketer in history to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.

The match against the Auckland Aces is scheduled for 2.40pm, with our Central Hinds up first and looking for their first win in the campaign against the Auckland Hearts from 11.10am.

The Hinds have named 13 players for tomorrow’s game with teenage Manawatu all-rounder ASHTUTI KUMAR and Nelson's KATE GAGING coming into the squad for Cate Pedersen and Kerry Tomlinson.

After strong presales for the hotly anticipated match, spectators are strongly encouraged to arrive in plenty of time, and to download tickets from cdcricket.co.nz before heading along to the ground.

Entry is on Manawaroa Street only and the gate will open at 10.30am. Vaccine Pass is required for entry for all spectators aged more than 12 years and three months.

v Auckland Hearts

Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

11.10am • Monday 27 December 2021

Jess Watkin – captain — Manawatu

Natalie Dodd — vice-captain, wicketkeeper — Taranaki

Georgia Atkinson — Manawatu

Ocean Bartlett — Wairarapa

Emily Cunningham — Taranaki

Kate Gaging — Nelson

Claudia Green — Nelson

Mikaela Greig — Manawatu

Melissa Hansen — Wairarapa

Ashtuti Kumar — Manawatu

Rosemary Mair — Hawke’s Bay

Monique Rees — Wairarapa

Hannah Rowe — Manawatu

Coach — Jamie Watkins

v Auckland Aces

Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

2.40pm Monday 27 December 2021

Tom Bruce — captain — Taranaki

Doug Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

Josh Clarkson — Nelson

Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper — Manawatu

Greg Hay — Nelson

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

Christian Leopard — Hawke’s Bay

Adam Milne — Manawatu

Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay

Seth Rance — Wairarapa

Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

Bayley Wiggins — Hawke’s Bay

Coach — Rob Walter

Unavailable Contracted Players

Ross Taylor — BLACKCAPS Test squad

Will Young — BLACKCAPS Test squad

Ben Wheeler — Elbow

Joey Field — NZXI v Bangladesh

Your ticket gains entry to both matches on the day!

Livescores: here at cdcricket.co.nz

Follow our latest updates on our social media channels with

#LOVETHESTAGS #CENTRALHINDS #SUPERSMASHNZ

PHOTOSPORT

Article added: Sunday 26 December 2021