Cricket: Bruce to captain Stags

Hawke's Bay's Doug Bracewell (left) and Seth Rance will be missing from the Central Districts cricket team this week because of New Zealand A commitments. Photo/File

Taranaki batsman Tom Bruce will captain the Central Stags cricket team for the first time tomorrow after the New Zealand A selectors came knocking on the Stags' dressing room door yet again this season.

Bruce takes over the helm from Hawke's Bay allrounder Doug Bracewell who has been called up for the New Zealand A squad to play India A in Mount Maunganui from Friday.

Stags coach Ben Smith said Bracewell had led the youthful Stags side, featuring six players aged 21 or under, from the front, with both bat and ball.

"We will miss Doug's all-round competitiveness, but we also are delighted he is pushing hard once again for higher honours after his unfortunate and career-threatening knee injury three years ago."

Bruce, meanwhile, will be making his first Central Stags appearance of the season after having returned from the New Zealand A tour of UAE against Pakistan A. Bruce is expecting a baptism of fire with a first-up challenge against Ford Trophy leaders the Wellington Firebirds in Lincoln, a side the Stags will play twice in the next six days as all six teams gather in Canterbury for a tournament-style shakedown that may well determine this year's qualifiers.

Bruce said he is honoured to lead a team so close to his heart.

"I can't wait to get back into the Stags environment," he said. "The remaining Ford Trophy games are all vital fixtures and hopefully I can put in some good performances to help the side make the top three.

"Captaining the Stags for the first time will be an immensely proud moment and one I'm really looking forward to."

Bruce becomes the fourth player to captain the side this year, with Plunket Shield winning skipper Will Young having stepped down in April. Greg Hay was then appointed Plunket Shield captain for this season, while Bracewell was named the Ford Trophy captain.

A captain is yet to be named for the Stags' upcoming Burger King Super Smash campaign, but for now the team's focus is tightly on the one-day format.

Having come from behind to make the Ford Trophy Grand Final last summer, Bruce's youthful squad is readying to make another late charge — having risen from last spot to fourth on the table courtesy of Saturday's record 170-run win against arch rivals and defending champions the Auckland Aces.

Recent white-ball Black Cap Bruce is one of three changes to the Central Stags squad which has been expanded from 12 to 13 for the action-packed week in Lincoln.

Manawatū allrounder Bevan Small makes a return while Hawke's Bay pace bowler Liam Dudding joins the squad for the first time this season, in the absence of Bracewell and Black Cap Seth Rance who have both been seconded to Bay Oval to play India A.

Central Stags George Worker, Young, wicketkeeper-batsman Dane Cleaver (NZ A game one only) and Blair Tickner have also been named in the NZ A squad for the home series, while Black Caps Ross Taylor, Ajaz Patel and Adam Milne are likewise otherwise engaged.

The second fixture in the rapid-fire festival will then see a fascinating rematch between the Stags and the Aces on Friday. Both allrounder Ben Wheeler (4-24 off seven overs) and veteran opener Greg Hay (85) achieved List A (domestic one-day) career best performances in Saturday's landslide win.

The final match of the regular season before the Elimination and Grand Finals will see the Stags return to Pukekura Park.

The Central Stags squad for this week's fixtures in Lincoln:
Tom Bruce (captain, Taranaki), Josh Clarkson (Nelson), Ma'ara Ave (wicketkeeper, Marlborough), Liam Dudding (Hawke's Bay), Dean Foxcroft (Hawke's Bay), Greg Hay (Nelson), Christian Leopard (Hawke's Bay), Willie Ludick (Nelson), Ryan McCone (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Felix Murray (Nelson), Navin Patel (Manawatū), Bevan Small (Manawatū), Ben Wheeler (Marlborough).