Fast bowler Adam Milne is poised to play his first Burger King Super Smash match of the 2018/19 season just as the Central Stags gear up for their biggest games of the competition.

Milne’s timely return from a hamstring injury puts him in the frame for this Saturday’s crunch clash with the Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval after the 26-year-old BLACKCAP was named as one of three changes in the squad today.

While the Central Stags are already guaranteed a spot in the top three playoffs, alongside the Aces and defending champions the Knights, the Stags must win this Saturday’s away match if they are to then host the 2v3 Elimination Final at Pukekura Park next Friday 15 February.

The winner of the Elimination Final will meet the yet-to-be-determined top qualifier in this season’s Burger King Super Smash Grand Final — and home advantage in the sudden-death 2v3 match at a full Pukekura Park would be a bonus, says Milne.

Milne is one of three changes to the Central Stags squad that beat the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve this week, with wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Cleaver returning from a back niggle for stand-in Bayley Wiggins and allrounder Willem Ludick coming back in after competing in the Zone 3 Hawke Cup Final between Nelson and Marlborough at the weekend. Ludick and Milne replace Blair Tickner and Doug Bracewell who have departed for the BLACKCAPS T20s against India.

After a strong 2017/18 and 2018 off-season, Milne has made only one other appearance for the Stags in the current season — which was also against the Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval, in the second round of the first-class Plunket Shield. He has been a regular presence at trainings over recent weeks, however, and says he is chomping at the bit to get back into the thick of the action.

The Stags will train at the Colin Maiden Park tomorrow between 2pm and 4pm ahead of the non-televised Round 10 match on Saturday (match commentary available on Radio Sport).

Burger King Super Smash tickets are available at Ticketek.

CENTRAL STAGS

Tom Bruce (c) — Taranaki

Josh Clarkson — Nelson

Dane Cleaver (w) — Manawatū

Dean Foxcroft — Hawke’s Bay

Willem Ludick — Nelson

Adam Milne — Manawatū

Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay

Seth Rance — Wairarapa

Bevan Small — Manawatū

Ben Wheeler — Marlborough

George Worker — Manawatū

Will Young — Taranaki

Head Coach — Heinrich Malan

Article added: Thursday 07 February 2019