Fresh off a seven-wicket win to open the season, there will be just one enforced change to the Central Stags line-up to play the Auckland Aces from 10.30am tomorrow at Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland.

Pace bowler and BLACKCAP Blair Tickner suffered a hamstring injury while bowling in the first-round win against ND, and joins Ajaz Patel (calf), Adam Milne (hamstring) and Ben Wheeler (knee) in the injury tent this week.

Having taken a squad of 13 to Hamilton, the Stags will take an otherwise unchanged 12 to Auckland to meet the early Plunket Shield leaders, including uncapped NZ Under 19 allrounder Joey Field; with a chance of usurping the lead from their hosts.

100th FIRST-CLASS MATCH FOR GEORGE WORKER | PHOTOSPORT

The match will mark opening batsman George Worker’s 100th first-class appearance. Coming off a first-up score of 96 in a 177-run opening stand in Hamilton, Worker would have marked his 100th appearance at home in the final round of 2019/20 but for the COVID-19 cancellation on the final two matches.

Central Stags cap number 252, Worker debuted in this format in December 2007, scoring 71 in his maiden innings in the green.

The left-hander has since amassed 3,487 runs at 30.85 for the Central Stags, including 18 Plunket Shield centuries, as well as 1,295 runs (two centuries) during a youthful sabbatical to Canterbury (after which he returned to CD), and 203 runs in six first-class appearances for New Zealand A.

Worker is a triple Plunket Shield champion, twice with the Central Stags and once with Canterbury; and is a two-time winner of the Central Stags Player of the Year Award.

All Plunket Shield fixtures are free admission &

live-scored with video highlights at 

https://scoring.nzc.nz/centraldistricts

Points after Round One

Auckland Aces — 18

Canterbury — 16

Central Stags — 15

Wellington Firebirds — 4

Otago Volts — 3

Northern Districts — 2

ROUND TWO

CENTRAL STAGS v AUCKLAND ACES

Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland

10.30am, 28-31 October 2020

Greg Hay (captain) — Nelson

Doug Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

Tom Bruce — Taranaki

Dane Cleaver — Manawatū

Joey Field (uncapped) — Hawke’s Bay

Christian Leopard — Hawke’s Bay

Seth Rance — Wairarapa

Brad Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

Ross Taylor — BLACKCAPS

Ray Toole — Manawatū

George Worker — Manawatū

Will Young — BLACKCAPS

Coach: Aldin Smith

Live match centre: https://scoring.nzc.nz/centraldistricts

#PlunketShield #LoveTheStags

Download season schedules: 

http://www.cdcricket.co.nz/Fanzone-1/Events-whats-on

Article added: Tuesday 27 October 2020