Tomorrow's resumption of the first-class Plunket Shield sees our CENTRAL STAGS yet again in a good position to do some more trophy-hunting.

Already this season the Stags have won the national Dream11 Super Smash men's title, and put in a sterling rearguard effort to make The Ford Trophy finals, finishing in the top three of the competition.

Now that the white-ball summer is over, attention returns to the red-ball battles with four rounds remaining for 2024/25 in the eight-round championship.

Consistent contributor Brad Schmulian | MBUTCHER

The Stags are well placed to be able to catch current leader Canterbury, with a maximum of 20 points available per round, and the Stags (in third spot, in the top half of the table) just five points behind them.

Northern Districts is in second spot just a single point ahead of the Stags, meaning the lead could well change in the fifth round that begins at 10.30am tomorrow (Wednesday).

Central is away in Auckland to the Aces, playing many of the same faces they clashed with in The Ford Trophy Elimination Final on Friday - a Jimmy Neesham century denying the Stags a spot in this season's Ford Trophy Grand Final, won by Canterbury.

Most of the Stags regulars are back too, but missing is Blair Tickner who is not quite ready for the four-ball rigours just yet, after his return from a bicep tear.

Star spinner Ajaz Patel (above, Photosport) also remains unavailable as his return from a knee injury draws closer, creating opportunities for contracted youngster Tyler Annand, who made his debut earlier this season, and experienced spinner Angus Schaw to continue with the 12-strong Plunket Shield squad named for the Auckland fixture.

The Stags will spend most of this month on the road with away fixtures in Alexandra and Christchurch to follow, before returning for their last match of a big season, also against the Aces, in Palmerston North from 29 March to 1 April 2025.

Tyler Annand | MBUTCHER

Although the Stags finished The Ford Trophy without the silverware, there was an ocean of positives to take from the campaign - and as they say, two out of three ain't bad.

They would dearly love to add the history-laden Plunket Shield trophy that last resided in the CD cabinet two seasons ago, after the famous win in Nelson in the last match of 2022/23 - also against the Aucklanders.

The form is there. Stags young gun Curtis Heaphy finished as the top batsman nationally in The Ford Trophy, the only batter in the men's one-day comp to top 500 runs for the season, and with an average of 71. 

Tom Bruce (430 runs), Brad Schmulian (423) and Jack Boyle (411) weren't far behind, all in the top six run-scorers in the country.

Brett Randell took two bags and was just one wicket away from being the top Ford Trophy wicket-taker; Bruce predictably took more field catches than anyone - closely followed by Josh Clarkson and Heaphy; and wicketkeeper-batter Dane Cleaver - now just 11 victims away from equalling Bevan Griggs' Central List A record - finished as the top keeper with 14 dismissals. 

BRETT RANDELL will lead the attack | MBUTCHER

Everything but the chocolates in the oscillating Elimination Final knockout match.

So, despite a number of contracted players in the injury tent, the squad is rolling nicely into the four-day format and will be eager to put the disappointment of missing out in The Ford Trophy behind them.

Bruce resumes as Plunket Shield captain, with the toss scheduled for 10am tomorrow at Eden Park's Kennards Hire Community Oval and a free livestream and livescoring at www.cdcricket.co.nz

2024/25 | ROUND FIVE

Auckland Aces v Central Stags

10.30am Wed 5 - Saturday 8 March 2025

Kennard Hire Community Oval, Auckland

FREE LIVESTREAM

FREE ADMISSION

TOM Bruce - captain, Taranaki

TYLER Annand - Hawke's Bay

JACK Boyle - Hawke's Bay

WILL Clark - Hawke's Bay

JOSH Clarkson - Nelson

DANE Cleaver - wicketkeeper, Manawatū

CURTIS Heaphy - Manawatū

JAYDEN Lennox - Hawke's Bay

BRETT Randell - Nelson

ANGUS Schaw - Hawke's Bay

BRAD Schmulian - Hawke's Bay

RAY Toole - Manawatū

Head Coach: GLENN Pocknall

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith

 

Livescores and a free livestream here at 

www.cdcricket.co.nz

CENTRAL STAGS INSTAGRAM

 

 

Contracted Stags players unavailable for selection

 

Will Young - BLACKCAPS

Joey Field, Toby Findlay, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner - injuries

Article added: Tuesday 4 March 2025