The Central Stags and Auckland Aces have assembled in Queenstown ahead of a star-studded 2022 Ford Trophy Grand Final, live on Spark Sport from 11am NZT tomorrow.
Both finalists have additions to their squad that contested the last round of the competition on Thursday, with BLACKCAP Blair Tickner released from the Test squad in Christchurch to rejoin the Stags while the Aces have called back left-armer Ben Lister and allrounder Sean Solia.
Six of the Aces and six of the Stags are current or recent BLACKCAPS: Martin Guptill, George Worker, Mark Chapman, Will Somerville, Lockie Ferguson and Glenn Phillips heading the bill for the Aces while Tickner, Ross Taylor, Adam Milne, Doug Bracewell, Seth Rance and Tom Bruce front for the Stags.
Clean-striking left-hander Worker heads in against his former team as The Ford Trophy's top run-scorer this season, packing a phenomenal 607 runs from just nine innings, including his record four centuries in a season, at an average 75.87.
To put that in perspective, the next highest run-maker from any side is his fellow Ace Chapman with a mere 373 runs at 41.44.
Taylor heads in as the Stags' form batsman with his 274 runs from five innings at 68.50 providing important ballast for the team after they lost the aggressive Dane Cleaver to a hamstring injury and Will Young, who scored a century against the Aces in the campaign before departing for BLACKCAPS Test duty.
Otago Volt Matt Bacon holds the position of top wicket-taker this season for now, having made a key impact for the Volts in the absence of injured Michael Rae.
Still in the frame to overtake him are two of the five bowlers with 11 wickets each, swing bowler Rance and spin bowler Somerville, while quick Lockie Ferguson has 10 from five matches, at a very tidy average of 17.30.
The Final again sets up a head-to-head battle between the country's two fastest bowlers with Adam Milne having taken eight wickets from his five games at 16.37.
Milne, who has also spent this week being picked up by Stephen Fleming's Chennai Super Kings for this year’s IPL and being retained for the UK’s The Hundred, says it's exciting to be going up against a strong Auckland Aces squad again tomorrow.
The match will be live-scored at cdcricket.co.nz from 11am NZT with the toss scheduled for 10.30am. The match is behind closed gates while the country grapples with the spread of COVID-19.
“There’s very good batting and bowling talent in that side, and an exciting batting line-up for them. But we’ve got a number of class bowlers, so hopefully, come tomorrow, we can do the job.”
The Ford Trophy Final will be Milne's first match in Queenstown since the BLACKCAPS beat the West Indies there in 2014 (when he was just 21) in a remarkable game, while several players in both squads haven’t played at John Davies Oval before at any level.
“I probably only bowled a couple of overs in that BLACKCAPS ODI that day, and that’s the only other time I’ve played here," said Milne.
"It’s such an amazing, beautiful place to come to and play cricket, so hopefully we can put on a show with bat and ball, as well as with the surroundings.”
Milne says that he’s been pleased with elements of his own game during the campaign but sets his bar high and is “always chasing perfection in an imperfect game. I’m always looking to improve with my next performance.”
Milne added that Ross Taylor’s presence through the back half of the Stags’ campaign had been a great learning opportunity for the younger players in the squad who have soaked up his approach to the game and tactical wisdom.
“He’s a world class batter, and to have his experience in the game and knowledge on the park in The Ford Trophy, it’s a real asset.
"The young guys being able to mix with him and learn from him, and to have him playing, it’s exciting for this comp.”
