DOUG BRACEWELL has returned from the BLACKCAPS to play for the CENTRAL STAGS in tomorrow's free admission Ford Trophy national final, set to start against Canterbury at McLean Park at 11am.

It's the first national Final in Napier for 22 years, and top qualifier the Stags are fired up for their second Grand Final in as many years - the first of two New Zealand titles they will contest over the next eight days!

The one-dayer is free admission to support the Hawke's Bay public and cricket community after a tough month, with donations will be collected at the gate for the official Hawke's Bay Disaster Relief Fund. You can also donate anytime online HERE

Gates open at 10am, there will be SPOT PRIZES for our amazing supporters - bring a banner, and you can also jump on TradeMe to bid for Central Stags legend ROSS TAYLOR's autographed Central Stags batting helmet and a Ford Trophy team-autographed playing shirt to support the team's fundraising for flood relief.

Back from injury, Hawke's Bay paceman LIAM DUDDING comes back into the squad for the first time this year, while the country's top wicket-taker in The Ford Trophy, BRETT RANDELL, will unfortunately miss the big game while he recovers from a concussion sustained in last week's outstanding Plunket Shield win in Palmerston North.

Experienced 33-match allrounder BEVAN SMALL has also been named in the squad. If named in the starting XI, Small will play his first one-dayer for the team since November 2018 in Dunedin - and first home Ford Trophy match at McLean Park since 2015, after his inspiring comeback from two knee surgeries.

Captain TOM BRUCE leads from the front and heads in as the leading fielder in the competition, his safe hands having pouched nine catches in a competition his side has excelled in over his career.

Batsman BEN SMITH has the highest score by any player this season nationally with his smashing 145 in the win against Northern Districts in Hamilton, while Hawke's Bay's BRAD SCHMULIAN is the second highest run-scorer overall in this year's competition with 383 runs at a 42.56 average, including four half centuries and a best of 93. He is poised to overtake Otago Volts captain Hamish Rutherford (408 runs) with another good knock tomorrow.

Canterbury took the long route to tomorrow's Final by beating the Otago Volts in the 2v3 Elimination Final in February. Should weather prevent a result, the Stags' higher standing on the table means they will claim the trophy for 2022/23, but AJAZ PATEL says the team is looking forward to playing and earning the title on the field.

“We always get up before games with Canterbury. It’s a classic rivalry, for sure,” said Patel.

“They’re a good side who have played some very good cricket this summer, and as a team we are looking forward to that challenge.”

Although the cyclone-rescheduled Final is being played on a work day, Patel is hoping that, with free entry all day, the Hawke's Bay public can come down to watch at lunch or after work, or all day if they have the opportunity, to see a treat of a match.

"It’s quite special to have the final in Napier. And playing at home is a benefit for us, not for Canterbury.

"McLean Park is a ground that I love playing at, and after the cylone and all the devastation that’s happened here in Hawke’s Bay, it’s really cool to be able to play here and hopefully get a decent crowd along so that we can really bring some joy to a lot of faces.

BID HERE

“As a professional sportsperson, you’re also an entertainer, and it’s important we put on a show, put on a nice day out for people and their family and their friends.”

Patel has already lifted this one-day trophy once with the team in his career, “but it would be nice to stamp our mark and do it again. Obviously the likes of Josh Clarkson and Tom Bruce are playing very good cricket this season and we’ve got Doug Bracewell back from the BLACKCAPS for us as well.

"I'm really looking forward to what should be a very exciting Final."

Tomorrow's free match is livestreamed here at www.cdcricket.co.nz with expert live commentary, with the toss at 10.30am and first ball at 11am. Seating in the Harris Stand is open or bring a picnic for the grass banks.

Spectators are encouraged to bring food and drink with them - there will also be a coffee cart on site, but no alcohol is allowed into the ground. For the full spectator FAQ, please visit Fanzone on our website at www.cdcricket.co.nz

2022/23 FORD TROPHY GRAND FINAL

CENTRAL STAGS v CANTERBURY

FREE ADMISSION

McLean Park, Napier

11am • Tuesday 28 March 2023

FREE LIVESTREAM WITH EXPERT LIVE COMMENTARY

FROM CURRENT & FORMER STAGS!

SQUAD

TOM Bruce — captain, Taranaki

JACK Boyle — Hawke’s Bay

WILL Clark — Hawke’s Bay

DOUG Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson

DANE Cleaver — wicketkeeper, Manawatu

LIAM Dudding — Hawke’s Bay

JAYDEN Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

BEVAN Small — Manawatu

BEN Smith — Whanganui

RAY Toole — Manawatu

Head Coach: ALDIN Smith

Unavailable contracted players

 

Blair Tickner (BLACKCAPS)

Will Young (BLACKCAPS)

Joey Field (shoulder injury)

Seth Rance (shoulder injury)

Brett Randell (concussion standown)

 

 

Article added: 27 March 2023