The CENTRAL STAGS have a couple of squad changes heading into tomorrow's Plunket Shield fixture against Canterbury in Rangiora.

As announced earlier today, allrounder DOUG BRACEWELL is heading off to join the BLACKCAPS squad for the second Dulux Test in Wellington this week, while batsman WILL YOUNG returns from the BLACKCAPS to the Central Stags in order to get some game time in the middle this week.

Will Young | PHOTOSPORT

Currently running the drinks for the BLACKCAPS at Hagley Oval, it's a short journey for Young to transfer across to Rangiora this evening to meet up with the Stags, and he will head back to the Test camp in Wellington following the end of the Plunket Shield round on Thursday.

Having carried the drinks in the enthralling round six match in Mt Maunganui, Stags left-arm spinner JAYDEN LENNOX drops out of the Rangiora squad, AJAZ PATEL continuing to occupy the premier spin spot, and pace allrounders WILL CLARK and BEVAN SMALL coming in for Lennox and Bracewell while CURTIS HEAPHY makes room for Young.

Bevan Small in action against Canterbury in 2011/12 | PHOTOSPORT

Back this season after a lengthy lay-off for two knee surgeries and a veteran of 20 Plunket Shield matches, Small has already made his Stags and T20 comeback in the Dream11 Super Smash this summer - and would have been in the frame for the one-day Ford Trophy Grand Final squad in Queenstown had that Final proceeded as scheduled, before Cyclone Gabrielle (new details for this summer's Ford Trophy Final are still to be advised).

Small's last first-class appearance was at the Cello Basin Reserve in March 2018, in a remarkable match in which he batted under pressure in the last session to salvage a draw.

Small, at nine in the order, batted in the lengthening shadows, surrounded by a net of close fielders, with last man and debutant FELIX MURRAY for 68 minutes as they successfully defended the last wicket against a frustrated Firebirds attack.

A fine Stags save at the Basin | MButcher

This week's rematch with Canterbury follows a hard-fought draw in Nelson at the start of the season.

Canterbury has since gone on to accrue a 20-point lead at the top of the championship table, with a maximum of 20 points available per match (including eight points available to both teams in each match, for meeting first innings targets).

Will Clark returns to the squad | MButcher

For most of the teams, just 40 points are left up for grabs.

However, both the Central Stags and Auckland Aces have a match in hand, owing to the scheduled fifth round encounter in Napier that was called off due to Cyclone Gabrielle.

That means the Stags can potentially garner 60 points from the remainder of their season, with this week's head-to-head contest shaping as a key opportunity to gain ground on Canterbury and stop them pulling away at the top of the ladder.

If you're not in Rangiora, follow the Plunket Shield match with our free livestream and livescoring here at www.cdcricket.co.nz from 10.30am each day.

The toss takes place at 10am on Monday.

Round Seven • 2022/23*

CENTRAL STAGS v CANTERBURY

Mainpower Oval, Rangiora

10.30am • Monday 13 to Thursday 16 March 2023

* Round 5 match still to be confirmed

SQUAD

GREG Hay (c) — Nelson

TOM Bruce — Taranaki

WILL CLARK — Hawke’s Bay

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson

DANE Cleaver (w) — Manawatu

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay

BRETT Randell

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

BEVAN Small — Manawatu

BEN Smith — Whanganui

RAY Toole — Manawatu

WILL Young — Taranaki

Head Coach: ALDIN Smith

___

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

BLAIR Tickner — Hawke's Bay (BLACKCAPS Test squad)

DOUG Bracewell — Hawke's Bay (BLACKCAPS Test squad)

SETH Rance — Wairarapa (shoulder surgery)

LIAM Dudding — Hawke's Bay (forearm injury)

JOEY Field — Hawke's Bay (shoulder injury)

Follow the campaign with hashtags:

#plunketshield #lovethestags

Article added: Sunday 12 March 2023