At just 25, tomorrow's Ford Trophy Grand Final will be the fourth time Central Stags captain Will Young has led his men into a national domestic white-ball final, and the second time heading into a Ford Trophy Grand Final at their stunning New Plymouth home of Pukekura Park.
It was on this same ground that they defended their title in 2016, when the Taranaki batsman and former New Zealand Under-19 captain was in his first full season as skipper.
The Stags trained in sunny conditions this morning
So with all that big match pressure under his belt, we asked how important is the home Grand Final advantage to him?
Will Young: “It will be huge. We love playing at Pukekura Park. We’ve had a good record there in the past and the home crowd will get in behind us."
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A number of the squad is able to carry forward the experience of having won a Ford Trophy Grand Final here just two years ago. Is that a significant psychological or even technical edge?
“Absolutely. We know the dimensions of the ground and all the boys have had a lot of success here in the past. Obviously it’s our main home for the Stags in white-ball cricket and now that we’re back, having assembled today for training, all the boys are really pumped and looking forward to getting out there. It will be good to play the Auckland Aces again after having beaten them convincingly at the same ground just a week ago in The Ford Trophy Semi-Final.”
Big entertainer Blair Tickner is one of the season's leading wicket-takers. PHOTOSPORT
In that match you used only five bowlers: four demanding seamers in Adam Milne, Seth Rance, Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner and one spinner in Ajaz Patel. Is that the best attack you’ve had as captain?
“I think yes. You’ve got the pace and bounce of Milney and 'Ticks', and Seth and Dougie who can hit the strings and move the ball around. In terms of four ‘nasty fasties’, it’s a luxury for me to be able to call upon them at will, and Ben Wheeler who comes back to us from the BLACKCAPS for the Grand Final only adds strength to our attack. Ajaz as our primary spinner has bowled really well at Pukekura Park, as well.”
BLACKCAP George Worker is the master of laying a successful platform. MButcher/NZC
In the 2016 Ford Trophy Grand Final opener George Worker went big with a match-winning century. He’s been a consistent contributor in the last fortnight, but we’ve yet to see the big score in the back end of the competition this season. How’s he feeling?
“I think George will be kicking himself! The last five innings he’s got in and looked really good, and it’s unlike George to get out at the 40-50 runs mark — he normally kicks on when he gets to that stage. So he’ll be eyeing up a big one in the Grand Final, like he’s done in the past. And Jesse Ryder as well, he’s hitting his straps again at the right time and he certainly had his timing back in the Semi-Final at Pukekura Park which was awesome to see.”
Tickets to see Jesse Ryder in the Grand Final are just $15 for Adults and $30 for a family pass
What conditions are you anticipating?
“We’ll be playing on the same middle strip again at Pukekura Park on Saturday so hopefully the groundsmen have had a couple of good days of sunshine to prepare a quick wicket. You’d hate to it to be under covers for a few days and for it not to have the hours it needs, the rolling, and the sun to be on it. But it’s looking good here with the sun out at training in New Plymouth this morning. The outfield, too, we’d like it to be nice and quick, a good spectacle, plenty of runs scored.
Adam Milne is just one of four BLACKCAPS in the Central Stags' pace attack. MButcher/NZC
Is this effectively your chance to redeem yourselves with a full strength squad after the side imploded in the Burger King Super Smash Grand Final this summer? People will no doubt allude to that no matter what the result?
“And fair enough too. We played great T20 cricket to get to the Grand Final of the Burger King Super Smash and blew it, somewhat embarrassingly, but it’s great to have a second dig at it [a national white-ball title this summer] in The Ford Trophy. It’s a competition we’ve done really well in for the last three or four years so the boys are looking forward to it and hopefully we can get some silverware in the cabinet.”
One of the unsung soldiers in the side is Dane Cleaver who’s been the competition’s most successful wicketkeeper.
“Dane’s obviously been in good form behind the sticks, he’s moving really well and started the summer very strongly in front of them as well. He always seems to step up when we really need him, and he’s a great man to have in the group. And, again, much like Jesse, he’s hitting his straps at the right time.
Doug Bracewell is a useful man to have around in the bevy of allrounders. MButcher/NZC
Unlike last summer when the Stags had a lot of injuries and depth was possibly exposed in places, this season the problem has been who to leave out of the squad?
“I think the hallmark of why we’ve been successful in the white ball this season is obviously the big dogs are stepping up, but also, when they’ve been elevated to the BLACKCAPS, it proves we’ve got a bit of depth with the guys who have come in and done a great job. The likes of Clarkie [Josh Clarkson who scored his maiden List A century against the Aces this month], Bevan [Small, who was the nemesis of Ben Stokes earlier in the competition), ‘Smudger’ [opening batsman Ben Smith], Christian Leopard — these guys have come in and been an absolute asset to the group. So hats off to them but, you know, finals time at Pukekura Park this weekend, it’s time for the big guys to step up, to lead from example and to bring the trophy home.”
THE FORD TROPHY Grand Final
Central Stags v Auckland Aces
SATURDAY 24 February 11am
Gates open 10am
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
• LIVE on SKY •
GRAND FINAL SQUADS
CENTRAL STAGS
Will Young (c)
George Worker
Ben Smith
Jesse Ryder
Tom Bruce
Dane Cleaver (w)
Doug Bracewell
Josh Clarkson
Adam Milne
Ben Wheeler
Seth Rance
Ajaz Patel
Blair Tickner
AUCKLAND ACES
Craig Cachopa (c)
Finn Allen
Michael Barry
Jamie Brown
Mark Chapman
Lockie Ferguson
Donovan Grobbelaar
Ben Horne
Ben Lister
Tarun Nethula
Robbie O’Donnell
Glenn Phillips
Jeet Raval
Sean Solia
