BLACKCAPS maestro Ross Taylor will join uncapped New Zealand U19 allrounder Joey Field in the first Central Stags squad of the 2019/20 season, with a squad of 12 announced today.

The national champions begin their latest defence of the Plunket Shield on Monday, meeting the Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval as the New Zealand first-class summer gets underway.

Looking to bring home a rare third consecutive New Zealand championship — something Auckland alone has achieved in the past 100 years, Taylor’s availability is timely for the Stags who will be without the services of a number of regular performers.Will Young (working his way back from a labrum repair — shoulder), Tom Bruce (minor knee surgery), Adam Milne (off season ankle surgery), Doug Bracewell, Bevan Small (both with knee injuries) and Kieran Noema-Barnett (side) all sit on the injury bench for now.

With the retirement of left-armer Ryan McCone, and pace bowlers Liam Dudding and Nav Patel both unavailable for the season, uncapped 18-year-old Joey Field is named in a Central Stags squad for the first time.

Field’s selection is a nod to the future said coach Aldin Smith, ahead of his own first match in charge of the Stags team.“Joey’s a promising right-arm pace bowling allrounder from Hawke’s Bay who has six one-day caps for New Zealand Under 19,” said Smith.

“He’s been training alongside members of our senior squad in the build-up to the season and now circumstances present an excellent opportunity to introduce him to the professional environment of first-class cricket.

“I’m certain he will relish the opportunity to share a dressing room with Ross Taylor and all the boys and be fired up to learn from the best.”

Taylor said he is very much looking forward to the linking back up with his domestic colleagues in the opening clash — against last season’s third-placegetters.

“I always really enjoy any opportunities I have to play for the Stags and think it’s great for the BLACKCAPS to be playing Plunket Shield in this window ahead of England’s tour.

“We’ve had a chance to recharge our batteries after a big year of white ball and now there’s no better preparation for a Test series than to be out there playing hard fought red-ball cricket. I’m really looking forward to it, and hopefully we get some nice Auckland weather during the week.”

Taylor’s previous first-class appearance for the Stags was in last season’s first round in Nelson, contributing a knock of 75 straight off the bat to the Stags’ opening outright win against Canterbury.

The Stags begin this summer’s three-peat campaign with two big away matches, heading to Northern Districts’ Bay Oval (Mount Maunganui) for the second round after this week’s opening clash with the Aces.

The first free-admission home game for the team will be at Nelson’s Saxton Oval in the third round, where they will seek another win over Canterbury from 8 November 2019.

CENTRAL STAGS SQUAD | PLUNKET SHIELD | ROUND ONE OF EIGHT

10.30am, Monday 21 - Thursday 24 October 2019

Auckland Aces v Central Stags

Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland

Free admission

GREG HAY— captain, Nelson

GEORGE WORKER— Manawatū

DANE CLEAVER— wicketkeeper, Manawatū

JOSEPH FIELD — Hawke’s Bay

WILLEM LUDICK — Nelson

AJAZ PATEL — Hawke’s Bay

SETH RANCE — Wairarapa

BRAD SCHMULIAN — Hawke’s Bay

BEN SMITH — Whanganui

ROSS TAYLOR — BLACKCAPS

BLAIR TICKNER — Hawke’s Bay

BEN WHEELER— Marlborough

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Plunket Shield matches are live-scored with video highlights at www.nzc.nz or download the free NZC app

Article added: Sunday 20 October 2019