AJAZ PATEL AMPED FOR LINCOLN
Spinner AJAZ PATEL says three matches in the next five days will be pivotal for the Central Stags’ Ford Trophy campaign this summer.
The 10-round (plus Finals) Ford Trophy campaign reaches its season midpoint in a hurry this week, all six teams converging on Canterbury for the centralised rounds — with Canterbury hosting its matches at home at Hagley Oval, and the other teams staying and playing at NZC’s High Performance Centre out at Lincoln.
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The Stags have once again been scheduled to play all three of their centralised rounds in Lincoln, and will meet Northern Districts there twice — on Monday and Friday, for an entrée and dessert, with the Wellington Firebirds as the main course in between, on Wednesday.
Left-arm maestro Patel missed last season’s introductory centralised rounds in the one-day national championship whilst he was on national duty, but says the team is mentally prepared to tackle the high intensity week with a positive mindset.
“It’s an important week for us because although our batsmen had an outstanding first innings in Palmy before the rain, and we had our moments in Auckland, we’re still hungry for that first win and it’s a great chance to really get our campaign on a roll.”
The three rounds are the last in the List A one-day format before the team switches uniforms for their Dream 11 Super Smash title defence, which begins in Napier under lights on Friday 13 December against last summer’s beaten finalists, the Knights.
Playing the same team three times in the space of four matches won’t be an issue, says Patel.
“The Knights (or ND as they’re called in this one-day format) and the Stags are traditional rivals. We’re neighbours, we’re the two 'districts' associations and we seem to keep meeting each other in a lot of Grand Finals.
“It’s always a good contest and we enjoy any win we take off them. It’s started well this summer with an exicting outright win over them in the Plunket Shield and we’ll hopefully continue that trend over the coming weeks.”
The Stags have named a squad of 13 for tomorrow’s Round 3 encounter — retaining the 12 from Thursday’s away match against the Auckland Aces and adding veteran allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett to the squad. The Stags will train this afternoon at Lincoln from 3pm-5pm.
The centralised rounds begin at 11am, Monday 25 November with the Stags playing ND on Bert Sutcliffe Oval in round three. All matches are free admission and live-scored with video highlights at www.nzc.nz
The business end of The Ford Trophy will resume following the conclusion of the Dream 11 Super Smash T20s which fills the holiday season window, with round six of the one-dayers beginning on 26 January 2020.
The Central Stags’ Super Smash season opener under lights at McLean Park on Friday 13 December will be free admission.
CENTRAL STAGS
Round Three v Northern Districts
11am Monday 25 November 2019
Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
Tom Bruce – captain — Taranaki
Josh Clarkson — Nelson
Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper — Manawatū
Christian Leopard — Hawke’s Bay
Willem Ludick — Nelson
Kieran Noema-Barnett — Hawke’s Bay
Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay
Seth Rance — Wairarapa
Ben Smith — Whanganui
Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay
Ray Toole — Manawatū
Ryan Watson — Taranaki
George Worker — Manawatū
Coach — Aldin Smith
Unavailable for selection
Ross Taylor — BLACKCAPS
Not considered due to injury
Ben Wheeler — Marlborough — groin
Doug Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay — recovering from minor keyhole knee surgery
Adam Milne — Manawatū — progressing back from minor ankle surgery
Bevan Small — Manawatū — knee
Joey Field — Hawke’s Bay — side strain
Will Young — Taranaki — progressing back from shoulder labrum repair
- All Central Stags news
- 2019/20 Ford Trophy Schedule (regular season)
- Follow Central Stags match updates on Twitter Instagram and Facebook with hashtags #LoveTheStags #FordTrophy
- Video highlights at www.nzc.nz or download the free NZC app
Article added: Sunday 24 November 2019
