Feast of summer cricket at McLean Park

The Central Stags in triumphant mood winning the Super Smash Twenty20 final last summer. Photo / Margot Butcher

Many of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers will be in Napier for the Central Districts 75th anniversary during the summer.

NZ Cricket has announced schedules comprising 17 days of cricket, including a day-night 50-over men’s international between the Black Caps and West Indies on November 19.

The 16 days of Central Districts matches include three men’s and women’s Twenty20 double-headers, with the men’s Stags being defending champions.

The third on January 24, will have what the Central Districts Cricket Association says will be scores of “CD alumni” as guests, in town for the Jubilee Long Luncheon the previous day.

The park will also get four daytime Stags matches: a Ford Trophy limited-overs match and three four-day Plunket Shield matches.

A similar-sized programme was staged at the Park last year, including games either side of a Super Rugby match.

Central Districts is one of the six major associations of NZ cricket, incorporating minor associations Hawke’s Bay, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Manawatu, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Whanganui, Marlborough and Nelson.

As well as CD’s own jubilee, the season also marks the 100th season of the Plunket Shield.

The one-day competition now known as the Ford Trophy began in 1971-1972, while the Twenty20, now known as Dream11 Super Smash, started 20 years ago, with Central’s first match played at McLean Park on January 22, 2006.

As Super Smash champions, the Stags represented NZ in the Global Super League in Guyana.

Schedule for major cricket matches this summer at McLean Park, Napier:

International:

November 19 (Wed): One-Day International limited overs - Black Caps v West Indies, 2pm.

Domestic (Central Districts):

Dream11 Super Smash (men and women’s double-headers):

January 13 (Tues): Hinds v Northern Brave, 2.10pm; Stags v Northern Brave, 6.20pm.

January 16 (Fri): Hinds v Auckland Hearts, 2.10pm; Stags v Auckland Aces, 6.20pm.

January 24 (Sat): Hinds v Otago Sparks, 2.10pm; Stags v Otago Volts, 6.20pm.

Ford Trophy (men’s one-day limited overs):

February 7 (Sat): Stags v Auckland Aces, 10.30am.

Plunket Shield (men’s four-days):

December 5-8 (Fri-Mon): Stags v Canterbury, 10.30am.

February 28-March 3 (Sat-Tues): Stags v Wellington Firebirds, 10.30am.

March 9-12 (Mon-Thurs): Stags v Northern Districts, 10.30am.

Doug Laing has been a reporter for 52 years, more than 40 of them in Hawke’s Bay, at the Central Hawke’s Bay Press, the Napier Daily Telegraph and, Hawke’s Bay Today. He has covered most aspects of general news and sport.