Shield fever returns as business end begins

Posted Friday, 24 February, 2023 in Domestic News

At 10.30am tomorrow, play resumes in the Plunket Shield first-class championship, with the first two fixtures of the 2023 calendar year.

Defending champions the Auckland Aces and the high-flying Central Stags had also been set to play in the original round five schedule, but with their Napier match up in the air due to the after-effects of Cyclone Gabrielle, only the Otago Volts, current leaders Canterbury, the Wellington Firebirds and Northern Districts will be in action over the next four days.

The Stags' match was called off on Thursday | PHOTOSPORT

The Wellington Firebirds will mint a new captain tomorrow at Dunedin's University of Otago Oval with Nick Kelly set to call heads or tails for the first time.

NICK KELLY | MButcher

His side heads into battle sitting in third spot, just one point behind the Stags on the table.

With Central becalmed for now (a decision on whether to reschedule or abandon the match, and the allocations of points, is pending), it's a big opportunity for the Firebirds to take a psychological edge with them as they look to move higher up the table.

The Aces will sit out this weekend | PHOTOSPORT

The Firebirds have key allrounder Nathan Smith back from injury and looking to play his first Plunket Shield match since April 2022, and have also selected young Wellington Under 19 run machine Muhammad Abbas in the Firebirds squad for the first time.

All teams are conscious of not being left behind in the race for the silverware as the back half of the campaign begins.

With a maximum of eight first innings points and 12 points for an outright available per round to each team, a 30-point gap can quickly become tough to haul in.

Otago Volts keeper-batsman MAX CHU | MButcher

Canterbury sits at the top of the table on 52 points, and like the Stags and Firebirds, the team has netted two outright wins from their first four fixtures at the start of the summer.

The Stags are on 46, Firebirds 45, Northern Districts 33, Aces 32 and Volts looking to match their hot white-ball form with a first revival from the bottom of the table on 31.

Canterbury paceman FRASER SHEAT | MButcher

Canterbury has named a strong squad and has had a winning habit this season, making it to both the Dream11 Super Smash Grand Final (claimed by Northern Brave) and to the yet-to-be-played Ford Trophy Grand Final in white ball.

ND, the Aces and Volts all have one victory under their belt, so things can still change quickly over the next couple of weeks if a team gathers some momentum.

ND's Henry Cooper | PHOTOSPORT

Northern Districts will host Canterbury at Hamilton's Seddon Park, with BLACKCAP Mitch Santner ready to stride out in his first Plunket Shield match of the summer.

BLACKCAPS leggie Ish Sodhi comes in for Canterbury to make his maiden red-ball appearance for his new team, ironically at his old home ground against his former side.

The toss in both matches is set for 10am with the first ball at 10.30am and free admission. If you can't get to a game, follow the action with the free livestreams on NZC YouTube or here at nzc.nz or on the NZC app.

CANTERBURY

Cole McConchie (captain)

Chad Bowes

Leo Carter

Cam Fletcher (w) • UPDATE: Rhys Mariu replaced Fletcher in the squad (illness)

Zak Foulkes

Mitch Hay

Angus McKenzie

Ed Nuttall

Will O'Rourke

Fraser Sheat

Henry Shipley