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The Central Stags are poised to mark a special milestone for their best player when they hit New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park for the first time this season in the opening Ford Trophy one day against the Otago Volts.
Ross Taylor’s record-breaking BLACKCAPS career has meant he has been available for the Stags only sporadically throughout his international career, and on Sunday he is finally set to receive his 50th Ford Trophy cap at his favorite format – at the same venue where he smashed New Zealand’s fastest Ford Trophy century for the Stags last summer, off just 49 balls.
Taylor also has his sights on his 200th Ford Trophy run tomorrow, in a career total of 11,356 List A runs overall.
He leads a strong team including the owner of the fastest Ford Trophy half-ton in history, Taranaki’s own Tom Bruce, as well as a host of other capped BLACKCAPS in Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner, Will Young, Doug Bracewell, Seth Rance and Dane Cleaver.
The squad features just one change with left-arm paceman Ray Toole coming in for his potential first white-ball appearance of the summer. Pace opener Brett Randell will miss this weekend’s match with a family wedding to attend.
The Stags beat the Otago Volts by nine wickets in their first-round match in Dunedin this season and are looking forward to the rematch, with the toss set for 10.30am and sunny weather in the forecast with free admission at their home ground in New Plymouth. .
Meanwhile, Central Stags and BLACKCAPS legend Mark Greatbatch is the latest name to be announced for a special event on December 15 in New Plymouth, where Taylor will be joined by Stags legend Jamie How, comedian Ben Hurley and a suite of surprise guests for a dinner event at The Devon Hotel.
Bookings are essential and available at cdcricket.co.nz with ‘aftermatch entertainment’ following the day’s free admission Ford Trophy match against Auckland Aces at Pukekura Park, a rematch of last season’s Grand Final.
Third Round, 2022/23
CENTRAL STAGS v OTAGO VOLTS
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
11am • Sunday 4 December 2022
VIEW THE FULL SEASON SCHEDULE
CENTRAL STAGS SQUAD
Will Young (c) – Taranaki
Doug Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay
Tom Bruce – Taranaki
Josh Clarkson – Nelson
Dane Cleaver (w) — Manawatu
Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay
Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay
Seth Rance — Wairarapa
Brad Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay
Ross Taylor — Wairarapa/Manawatu
Ray Tool — Manawatu
Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay
Head Coach: Rob Walter
Contracted players not available for selection:
Greg Hay — Nelson (injury)
Ben Smith — Whanganui (injury)
Joey Feld — Hawke’s Bay (injury)
Brett Randell — personal reasons
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