The waiting is nearly over. The whites are pressed and ready and, for the country's best cricketers fighting to become BLACKCAPS, summer is here at last.
- Round ONE: Monday 23 October to Thursday 26 October 2017
- All four-day matches begin at 10.30am
- All matches are FREE ENTRY
- All matches are live-scored at nzc.nz
- Video scorecards feature LIVE video highlights
- Official hashtag: #PlunketShield
Who’s your team for 2017/18?
CAPTAINCY NEWS
An extraordinary feature of this season’s opening Plunket Shield round is that no fewer than five of the six teams are beginning the season under a different captain. The Central Stags, led by Will Young, are the only side to enter the new season under the same man to have helmed them through 2016/17.
- Auckland Aces: Michael Guptill-Bunce will make his captaincy debut following the off-season departure of Rob Nicol to the Otago Volts
- Otago Volts: Rob Nicol will make his Volts debut as their new captain, taking over from Brad Wilson (who remains in the team)
- Wellington Firebirds: Michael Bracewell, who transferred from the Otago Volts to the capital ahead of this season, make his Firebirds debut as their captain, taking over from Michael Papps (who remains in the team)
- Canterbury: With Andrew Ellis out with a broken hand, Cole McConchie steps up for his Canterbury captaincy debut
- Northern Districts: Daniel Flynn is no stranger to the ND captaincy, but the former BLACKCAP steps back into the role after returning from a protracted absence last summer due to a hip injury.
Northern Districts v Central Stags at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Loyalty is a strong feature of both these squads, pride on the line immediately this season at Bay of Plenty’s cricketing HQ. After what could well be a weather-dampened start to the match, the forecast fines up across the week to leave plenty of time to seek a solid start to the new season.
Stags spinner Ajaz Patel (above) enters 2017/18 as the top Plunket Shield wicket-taker for two consecutive seasons, tweakers having dominated red-ball cricket last summer. The Stags are without the usual batting and back-up spin of George Worker and Tom Bruce (both away on BLACKCAPS duty in India), but have brought in in-form, uncapped batting allrounder Brad Schmulian (below) who represented Hawke’s Bay at this ground in the Hawke Cup last season, and offers a leg-spin option.
Notable returns from season-ending injuries last summer include Daniel Flynn and Anton Devcich (ND) and Doug Bracewell and Bevan Small (Stags), while evergreen paceman Brent Arnel will appear in his first match for ND in four years, having previously played 56 first-class games for the team before four prolific seasons opening the attack for the Wellington Firebirds (below).
Northern Districts: Daniel Flynn (c), Brent Arnel, James Baker, Dean Brownlie, Anton Devcich, Zak Gibson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Bharat Popli, Brett Randell, Tim Seifert, Joe Walker, BJ Watling. Coach: James Pamment
Daryl Mitchell (shoulder) and Henry Cooper (hamstring) unavailable for selection
Central Stags: Will Young (c), Doug Bracewell, Dane Cleaver (wk), Greg Hay, Ajaz Patel, Navin Patel, Seth Rance, Mitch Renwick, Brad Schmulian (uncapped), Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner. Coach: Heinrich Malan
Jesse Ryder (knee), Liam Dudding (wrist), Josh Clarkson (fractured ulna), Ben Wheeler (hamstring niggle) and Ryan McCone (back) unavailable for selection. If selected in the playing XI, Brad Schmulian, a former Auckland Club Cricketer of the Year, will be on Central Stags and first-class debut
Wellington Firebirds v Auckland Aces at Basin Reserve, Wellington
They came within a shy at the stumps of claiming the title last year, but the Aces’ 2017/18 campaign will be a fresh start under new captain Michael Guptill-Bunce, with former captain Rob Nicol having departed for Otago.
Bustling Matt McEwan will be trying to one-up his ex-teammates after switching teams, while the Firebirds have also lost Michael Pollard to Canterbury, but have gained a new captain in Michael Bracewell from the Volts, as well as allrounder Logan van Beek from Canterbury.
Productive Michael Papps (left) clocks up his 20th summer, Luke Woodcock his 17th
Last summer’s red-ball skipper and 10k runs veteran Michael Papps will still be strapping on the pads for the Firebirds as he enters his 20th first-class season in New Zealand, while Jeetan Patel (below) returns from yet another standout County season with Warwickshire to clock in for his 19th season with the Firebirds, and Luke Woodcock steps up for season number 17.
The return of devastating batsman Craig Cachopa from forays abroad is a big boost for the Aces in a side evenly sprinkled with youth and experience. The weather is expected to be a mixed bag across the week with, surprise, a few fresh winds at the newly renovated Basin.
Auckland Aces: Michael Guptill-Bunce (c), Michael Barry, Craig Cachopa, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Donovan Grobbelaar, Ben Horne, Matt McEwan, Tarun Nethula, Robbie O’Donnell, Jeet Raval, Raja Sandhu. Coach: Mark O’Donnell
If selected in the playing XI, Matt McEwan (ex-Wellington Firebirds) will be on Auckland Aces debut; last summer’s breakout star Sean Solia unavailable after injury on the NZA tour of India
Wellington Firebirds: Michael Bracewell (c), Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Fraser Colson, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Jeetan Patel, Michael Papps, Matt Taylor, Logan van Beek, Luke Woodcock. Coach: Bruce Edgar
If selected in the playing XI, captain Michael Bracewell and Logan van Beek (ex-Canterbury) will be on Wellington Firebirds debut and 29-year-old left-hander Ollie Newton will be on first-class debut
Last summer's nearly men, the Auckland Aces
Otago Volts v Canterbury at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
The Otago Volts are fielding a sharp first-up squad against a team that seems to have lost half its number to injury before the season has even started.
Former Aces leader Rob Nicol takes over from last season's leading Plunket Shield run-scorer Brad Wilson as Volts skipper, slotting in after the retirement of spinning allrounder Sam Wells. Former BLACKCAP Mark Craig is also back to add clout to the spin attack and the inclusion of Hamish Rutherford, Jimmy Neesham. Neil Broom and Neil Wagner surely makes this the team to beat.
Always a threat: BLACKCAP Neil Wagner. PHOTOSPORT
Defending champions Canterbury have a whole new look after the retirement of former skipper and war-horse Peter Fulton. The influential (and now injured) Todd Astle was already away with the BLACKCAPS in India, but the red-and-blacks have also been hit hard by injury at home in the build-up to the season.
Just two days out, a concussion question mark remained over batsman Ken McClure, since ruled out. Fast bowler Ed Nuttall is out with a back stress fracture, as is colleague Kyle Jamieson (right foot). Newly contracted young South Canterbury seamer Nathan McNicol, who is yet to play at first-class level, suffered a tear in his pectoral tendon during a warm-up fixture in Alexandra.
Cole McConchie will step up as new Canterbury captain. PHOTOSPORT
Henry Shipley’s hammy was 50/50 and captain Andrew Ellis broke a carpal bone in his left hand at the start of the month, elevating Cole McConchie to the captaincy role. Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Matt Henry are all meanwhile on BLACKCAPS duty, leaving the Canterbury cupboard threadbare.
The youngish twelve to play the Volts was confirmed only after Northern Districts' final training, as in a rare move ND will now loan allrounder Brett Hampton to Canterbury for his opening round or two.
The weekend’s Southern heatwave is due to be replaced by cooler, showery weather for the week.
Otago Volts: Rob Nicol (c), Neil Broom, Mark Craig, Derek de Boorder (wk), Jacob Duffy, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Rae, Hamish Rutherford, Nathan Smith, Brad Wilson, Neil Wagner. Coach: Rob Walter
Canterbury: Cole McConchie (c), Chad Bowes, Jack Boyle, Michael Davidson, Leo Carter, Michael Pollard, Cameron Fletcher, Tim Johnston, Will Williams, Blake Coburn, Fraser Sheat, Brett Hampton. Coach: Gary Stead
If selected in the starting XI, Michael Pollard will be on Canterbury debut, as will be loan player Brett Hampton, with Fraser Sheat and Blake Coburn in line for a first-class debut.
DID YOU KNOW…
The Plunket Shield is not only New Zealand Cricket’s oldest trophy, but one of its most beautiful. The ornate mounted silver shield was completed in early 1907 and was toured through the country by Lord Plunket — the 12th Governor of New Zealand — before being taken to the New Zealand Cricket Council for a decision as to which team deserved the honour of being deemed the inaugural holder. Much to Auckland’s dismay, Canterbury was chosen. However, Auckland would win the Shield for 1907/08, 1908/09 and 1909/10 seasons before Canterbury managed to get it back off them.
The Plunket family crest and motto, Maori tiki figures, intricate reliefs of a cricketer, a set of stumps and bails, a beautifully detailed cabbage tree and a ponga (tree fern) all decorate the silver façade that was originally mounted on a cedar backing. By the 1930s, a larger timber backing had been commissioned — and today’s shield features further expansions crafted in the 1970s.
In its early years, the competition was decided by a series of challenge matches between the five leading provincial sides at that time: Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and — briefly — Hawke’s Bay. In 1921/22, the competition moved to a round robin format. The country’s current six Major Association sides — Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, Central Districts (which joined the first-class ranks in 1950/51) and Northern Districts (b. 1956/57) are the modern contestants for the coveted silverware.
Title Leaderboard
Auckland Aces — 28
Canterbury — 25
Wellington Firebirds — 22
Otago Volts — 13
Central Stags — 9
Northern Districts — 8
