The big hits are set to keep coming in the domestic summer this weekend as the fight for the one-day Ford Trophy roars back into action — five of the six teams with a score to settle.
The week’s heatwave is set to continue for the three Round Four matches in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin tomorrow with batsmen salivating at the prospect of well baked decks as attention turns back to the national 50-over title race following the conclusion of the Burger King Super Smash last Saturday.
Jimmy Neesham makes his return for the Volts in Dunedin. PHOTOSPORT
The Central Stags have already been thrown a curve ball after having been set to welcome back vastly experienced Ross Taylor for a rare Ford Trophy appearance in tomorrow’s round — until Taylor’s BLACKCAPS recall today in place of the injured Colin Munro.
With plenty of batting depth in the Stags’ squad, pace bowler Ryan McCone has been called up to the twelve in Taylor’s stead for tomorrow’s match at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland east.
Top wicket-taker in the Burger King Super Smash, Stag Blair Tickner. PHOTOSPORT
The Stags currently hold a slender one-point advantage over the Aces, Otago Volts and Northern Districts on The Ford Trophy points table and captain Will Young says his players are fired up to perform after a nightmarish Burger King Super Smash Grand Final — in which his team crumbled to its lowest ever total in the national T20 competition.
“We were obviously disappointed to lose the Burger King Super Smash Grand Final, and in that fashion.
“However, we’ve had a few days at home to reflect and rejuvenate. We’ve put the loss behind us and now we’re only excited to play quality cricket in the remaining two competitions. Having started so well in both of them, our summer’s far from over.”
BLACKCAP Seth Rance is back for Central. PHOTOSPORT
The Stags have won The Ford Trophy twice in the last three seasons, but it’s Canterbury that is out to defend the title this summer.
Missing influential allrounder Andrew Ellis but reinforced with BLACKCAPS Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Matt Henry and Todd Astle, the red and blacks will be keen to start anew to get lift-off from the bottom of this season’s table, after having gone winless from the three pre-Christmas rounds in the eight-match round robin.
Todd Astle consistently delivers the goods for Canterbury. PHOTOSPORT
At the conclusion of eight rounds, the top four teams will progress to a Finals Series ahead of the televised February 24 Grand Final.
Full schedule
Northern Districts captain Dean Brownlie is meanwhile looking to continue his side’s winning form from the Burger King Super Smash into the Ford Trophy.
“The T20 win was such a great achievement for us, and the key now is to continue that momentum into the 50-over game,” he says.
ND veteran batsman Daniel Flynn is rested for this match as part of ongoing management of his hip while young paceman Zak Gibson returns from a side strain.
Successful Burger King Super Smash coach Gareth Hopkins (above) will take over as the team’s head coach for Rounds Four to Six while Graeme Aldridge completes his coaching role with the New Zealand Under 19 side in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
The Auckland Aces have meanwhile sprung a couple of surprises in their squad to play the Stags, with two uncapped players named today.
ROUND FOUR
All matches at 11am Saturday 27 Jan 2018
Auckland Aces v Central Stags
Colin Maiden Park, Auckland
ACES: Craig Cachopa ©, Michael Barry, Graeme Beghin (North Shore Cricket Club right-hand top order batsman, potential Aces debut), Jamie Brown (Howick Pakuranga right-arm quick, potential Aces debut), Mark Chapman, Donovan Grobbelaar, Ben Lister, Tarun Nethula, Aniket Parikh, Glenn Phillips, Jeet Raval, Sean Solia
STAGS: Will Young ©, Ben Smith, George Worker, Jesse Ryder, Dane Cleaver (w), Josh Clarkson, Adam Milne, Bevan Small, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Blair Tickner, Ryan McCone
Wellington Firebirds v Northern Districts
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Firebirds: Hamish Marshall ©, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Malcolm Nofal, Ollie Newton, Alex Ridley (Onslow right-hander, potential Firebirds debut), Matt Taylor, Logan van Beek, Luke Woodcock, Peter Younghusband
Northern Districts: Dean Brownlie ©, Brent Arnel, Anton Devcich, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Nick Kelly, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Brett Randell, Tim Seifert, Joe (Josef) Walker, BJ Watling
Otago Volts v Canterbury
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Volts (13 named): Rob Nicol ©, Hamish Rutherford, Shawn Hicks, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Rippon, Christi Viljoen, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Jack Hunter, Michael Rae
Canterbury: Cole McConchie ©, Todd Astle, Chad Bowes, Cameron Fletcher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ed Nuttall, Michael Pollard, Will Williams
