- 50 NOT OUT -
Today is the opening day of the men’s Domestic white-ball summer and, with a busy programme of cricket already underway in New Zealand for 2020/21, it’s an exciting opportunity for a raft of fresh faces looking to make their debut in The Ford Trophy.
Today marks the 50th season of NZ domestic one-day cricket. Originally a knock-out competition. Fascinating to note players in early years who are not usually associated with one-day cricket: Roger Harris, Artie Dick, Barry Sinclair, Graham Dowling, Gren Alabaster #FordTrophy
— Francis Payne (@FPayne100) November 28, 2020
The BLACKCAPS and New Zealand A squads are both in action against the West Indies red ball/white ball teams so that means significant selection reshuffles at Domestic level.
Canterbury v Wellington Firebirds livestream
Northern Districts v Auckland Aces livestream
One of the stars for New Zealand Under 19 at last season’s ICC Under 19 World Cup, allrounder Joey Field stands to add to his first-class debut at the start of this season after having been announced in the Stags’ List A squad for the first time, while paceman Liam Dudding returns to the squad for the first time in almost two years after a stint living across the Tasman.
Wet weather has been following the Stags squad around, however, with the first round match under a raincloud today.
A debut on cards for Joey Field | Image: Margot Butcher
In Whangarei, defending champions the Auckland Aces have named a raft of potential debutants with the newly contracted Ryan Harrison (picking up the Aces season contract vacated by Colin Munro, who is also named in the squad), Ollie Pringle and Ross ter Braak all in line for Ford Trophy debuts, while Brad Rodden is poised to make his first Aces appearance after three games for the Otago Volts in 2014/15.
Ollie Pringle made his Plunket Shield debut this season | PHOTOSPORT
The Wellington Firebirds have selected Troy Johnson who has played a handful of games in the other two formats; as well as his older brother Brett Johnson, a legspinner who played his first couple of Ford Trophy games at the end of February this year.
Troy Johnson has previously played Super Smash for the Firebirds | PHOTOSPORT
Uncapped Adam Leonard, son of former Central Stags pace bowler David Leonard, comes in to the squad for the first time, as does another promising youngster in James Hartshorn.
With Logan van Beek and Ollie Newton unavailable due to injury, it’s a real new look to the capital’s one-day squadron while Lance Dry handles the coaching reins in the absence of Glenn Pocknall who is away coaching the New Zealand A squad in Queenstown.
New skipper for Canterbury: Leo Carter with Firebirds captain Michael Bracewell in Rangiora | PHOTOSPORT
Canterbury has a new captain in Leo Carter, the man who turned heads worldwide with his six sixes off an over last year, while vastly experienced Anton Devcich is taking over the armband for Northern Districts while Joe Carter is away in Queenstown.
Carter likewise steps in for regular skipper Cole McConchie who is captaining NZ A side, with Sean Davey in the white-ball set-up for the first time and in to make his List A debut for Canterbury.
Fresh Ford Trophy face Jake Gibson | MARGOT BUTCHER
Jeet Raval has played plenty of List A cricket - 53 games - but appears in the Northern Districts Ford Trophy squad for the first time of course after moving from the Aces, and will be up against his former team.
The useful Jake Gibson (a cousin of Zak Gibson) meanwhile comes in for just his third game.
For the Otago Volts in New Plymouth, young ex-Stag pace bowler Jarrod McKay stands to make a List A debut against his former side, while Angus McKenzie will be keen on adding to his previous two matches.
Angus McKenzie | PHOTOSPORT
The team is still without the considerable services of Dean Foxcroft, who remains in South Africa and unable to return to New Zealand due to pandemic border restrictions.
All free admission matches are due to start at 11am today — at Whangarei’s Cobham Oval, Canterbury’s Hagley Oval in Christchurch and New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park, although rainy weather may blight chances of the latter.
In a new twist this season, all teams play each other twice in the space of three days at each venue, on a Sunday followed by a Tuesday.
The season spans 10 rounds - bracketed around Dream11 Super Smash - with the top sides progressing to a 2v3 Elimination Final and then the winner of that match joining the top qualifier in the Grand Final two days later on 5 March 2021.
All matches are live-scored at scoring.nzc.nz and on the NZC App
ROUND ONE 11AM • Sunday 29 November 2020
ROUND TWO 11AM • Tuesday 1 December 2020
CANTERBURY v WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
CANTERBURY
Leo Carter — captaincy debut , Todd Astle , Chad Bowes , Jack Boyle , Sean Davey , Cam Fletcher (w), Matt Henry , Tom Latham , Henry Nicholls, Edward Nuttall , Fraser Sheat , Theo van Woerkom , Will Williams
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Michael Bracewell (c),
Jakob Bhula,
Fraser Colson,
Andrew Fletcher,
Jamie Gibson,
James Hartshorn,
Adam Leonard,
Lauchie Johns (w)
, Brett Johnson
, Troy Johnson,
Iain McPeake
, Michael Snedden
, Peter Younghusband
AUCKLAND ACES v NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Cobham Oval, Whangarei
AUCKLAND ACES
Robbie O’Donnell (c), Graeme Beghin, Danru Ferns, Ryan Harrison, Ben Horne (w), Ben Lister, Colin Munro, Will O'Donnell, Ollie Pringle, Brad Rodden, Will Somerville, Ross ter Braak
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Anton Devcich (c), Dean Brownlie, Katene Clarke, Jake Gibson, Brett Hampton, Bharat Popli, Brett Randall, Jeet Raval, Anurag Verma, Neil Wagner, Joe Walker, BJ Watling (w)
CENTRAL STAGS v OTAGO VOLTS
Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
CENTRAL STAGS
Tom Bruce (c), Josh Clarkson, Liam Dudding, Joey Field, Jayden Lennox, Christian Leopard, Seth Rance, Brad Schmulian, Ben Smith, Ray Toole, Bayley Wiggins (w), George Worker
OTAGO VOLTS
Hamish Rutherford (c), Matt Bacon, Neil Broom, Jacob Duffy, Josh Finnie, Nick Kelly, Anaru Kitchen, Jarrod McKay, Angus McKenzie, Travis Muller, Dale Phillips, Mitch Renwick (w), Michael Rippon
