JOSH CLARKSON is one of four Central Stags selected for New Zealand A's upcoming tour to Queensland against Australia A.

TOM BRUCE returns as New Zealand A captain for a tour that will open on 28 August with two first-class matches (including a pink-ball game), followed by three one-dayers - with games at Brisbane's Allan Border Field as well as Mackay, further up the balmy Coral Sea coast.

Clarkson, a former NZ U19 World Cup player, has earned his maiden New Zealand A selection off the back of an outstanding 2022/23 summer, having played a leading role in helping the Stags win both the 2022/23 Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy national trophies.
 

JOSH CLARKSON | PHOTOSPORT

Clarkson scored a memorable, match-winning century in the Ford Trophy Grand Final as he brought home the win against Canterbury with his unbeaten 111*, and just two weeks earlier produced a mature first-class knock of 119, followed by a blistering second innings unbeaten 44* to bring home a pivotal win, against the same team.

It was the first time in years that Canterbury had been beaten in Rangiora.

Well known for his ability to smash the ball out of the park, he also contributed at key times with his pace bowling, and ended the season with a first-class batting average above 50.

An overdue debut in store for BRETT RANDELL | PHOTOSPORT

Paceman BRETT RANDELL - who was picked for his first New Zealand series in April, but never got to play due to concussion - will also be poised for his New Zealand A debut, while left-arm Test spinner AJAZ PATEL will stay for the first-class leg of the reciprocal tour only.

Former Central Stag DEAN FOXCROFT, fresh off his BLACKCAPS debut, has also been selected for the tour, and along with Adi Ashok will join the team for the second match.

The series represents another exciting opportunity against Australia A on their own turf, and the hosts will be determined to reassert themselves after having suffered at the hands of New Zealand A on this side of the Tasman in April. Australia has named formidable A squads stacked with internationals for the series, with the likes of Todd Murphy, Matt Renshaw, Josh Phillipe and Cameron Bancroft confirmed.

Bruce was also captain of New Zealand A on the previous occasion when the teams played two first-class fixtures in Lincoln.

NZ A won the first match by three wickets, with key contributions from Bruce in both innings, and took the series 1-0 when the second game ended in a draw.

The tour begins next week | PHOTOSPORT

Despite missing the business end of that tour with his concussion, Randell was the country's equal top Ford Trophy wicket-taker last season with 18 victims, including a five-wicket bag. He also pocketed 20 first-class wickets in the Plunket Shield with his industry and accuracy.

Tom Bruce has already enjoyed success against Australia A | PHOTOSPORT

Bruce meanwhile backed up his prodigious 2021/22 Stags form with another standout season with the bat, as well as captaining the Stags in both formats - deputising for the injured Greg Hay through the first half of the winning first-class championship campaign.

The Stags' Player of the Year scored 705 runs from seven games at a 70.50 average, including two big centuries, with a high score of 169. In the one-day arena, he averaged almost 50. He had co-captained the New Zealand A team on its 2022 tour of India, leading into the season and is looking forward to dusting himself off for another big summer of cricket.

Patel needs no introduction as one of the country's leading slow bowlers, and will relish the opportunity to get some quality first-class game time ahead - while the BLACKCAPS are away focusing on the shortest format of the game, with the World Cup just around the corner in October.

Ajaz Patel | PHOTOSPORT

DANE CLEAVER and WILL YOUNG have been in action in the UAE on the current BLACKCAPS tour, while BLAIR TICKNER was also selected for UAE but then withdrew due to the late arrival of his newborn baby.

The Central Stags' season begins on 20 October (Labour Weekend) with the first round of the Plunket Shield defence in Auckland.

The team's first home four-dayer starts at Nelson's Saxton Oval the following week from 28 October, with all Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy matches free admission to our loyal CD public this summer.

Dream11 Super Smash schedules are still to be announced.

NEW ZEALAND A TOUR OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

First-class matches

v

Australia A

Mon 28-Thu 31 Aug • Allan Border Field, Brisbane • 11.30am NZT (9.30am local)

Mon 4 Sep-Thu 7 Sep • Harrup Park, Mackay • 4pm NZT (2pm local - pink-ball match)

One-Day matches

v

Australia A

Sun 10 Sep • Harrup Park, Mackay • 11.30am NZT

Wed 13 Sep • Allan Border Field, Brisbane • 3.20pm NZT (day/nighter)

Fri 15 Sep • Allan Border Field, Brisbane • 11.30 am NZT

New Zealand A SQUAD

Tom Bruce – captain, Central Stags

Josh Clarkson – Central Stags - uncapped

Ajaz Patel – Central Stags*

Brett Randell – Central Stags - uncapped

Muhammad Abbas - Wellington Firebirds*

Adithya Ashok - Auckland Aces - from Match Two

Leo Carter - Canterbury - uncapped

Henry Cooper - Northern Districts*

Jacob Duffy - Otago Volts

Dean Foxcroft - Otago Volts - from Match Two

Cam Fletcher - Auckland Aces

Mitch Hay - Canterbury

Nick Kelly - Wellington Firebirds - uncapped

Scott Kuggeleijn - Northern Districts

Will O'Rourke - Canterbury

Michael Rae - Canterbury**

Tim Seifert - Northern Districts**

Sean Solia - Auckland Aces

* first-class matches only

** one-day matches only

Coach • Brendon Donkers - Canterbury

Assistant Coaches - Bob Carter, Graeme Aldridge - NZC

Article added: Saturday 19 August 2023