Star CENTRAL STAGS allrounder DOUG BRACEWELL has earned a well deserved Test squad recall, joining his Stags and Hawke's Bay teammate BLAIR TICKNER and WILL YOUNG in the BLACKCAPS squad for the second Dulux Test against Sri Lanka to be played at the Cello Basin Reserve from Friday.

The BLACKCAPS are currently engaged in a gripping first Dulux Test at Hagley Oval, where Stags batsman Young has been carrying the drinks.

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He will be released from the Test Squad after play today (Day Three, Sunday) in Christchurch in order to represent the Central Stags in the upcoming round of the Plunket Shield in Rangiora, before rejoining the Test squad just ahead of Wellington.

Round seven of the Plunket Shield starts tomorrow against Canterbury - a key clash for the Stags who, with a match in hand, can still haul in the current first-class leader with a strong finish over their last three matches. Canterbury only has two matches remaining, and holds a 20-point lead.

Bracewell will join the BLACKCAPS team when the Test squad assembles in Wellington.

A veteran of 27 Test matches, 72 Test wickets and two bags (including his famous 6/40 and nine for the match in Hobart, 2011), his last Test match appearance was in South Africa in 2016.

The BLACKCAPS camp today confirmed he would have been named as an injury replacement in the Test squad during the earlier England Test series, but was ruled out due to the minor groin strain he sustained during the Stags' Ford Trophy campaign - with the Stags still to play this summer's Ford Trophy Grand FInal as the top qualifier.

Despite no cricket for a month due to Cyclone Gabrielle, Bracewell has since made a successful playing return, featuring for the Stags in the latest round of the Plunket Shield with a devastating quick Day Four half century that helped to give his side a shot at winning a hard-fought match.

Ageless Bracewell is also the Stags' top first-class wicket-taker this season by some distance, and second equal nationally in the 2022/23 Plunket Shield championship.

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said the changes were about giving Young some valuable match time, as well as bringing in a different set of bowling skills via Bracewell.

“We think it’s important for Will to keep getting cricket under his belt," he said.

“With the timing of this round and the next Test, we thought it was a good opportunity to get [Young back] on the park and have time in first-class match conditions.

“Doug is a skilful bowler who has been in strong form for the Central Stags across the formats this season.

“We believe his skills will complement the rest of the bowlers we have in the group going into the next Test.”

The BLACKCAPS Test Squad will head to Wellington on Tuesday. The full Central Stags squad to play Canterbury will be named later today.

Article added: Saturday 11 March 2023