Cricket: Stags set for T20 grand final

The Central Stags selectors have named a squad of 13 for the 2024/25 Dream11 Super Smash Grand Final, on Sunday at Wellington’s Cello Basin Reserve.

The Stags are the top qualifier for the season’s men’s decider, having finished top of the table with six wins from 10 rounds — two wins more than any of their competitors and taking direct entry to the big game after bumping out last summer’s champion, the Auckland Aces in a Napier thriller on Wednesday evening.

Captain Tom Bruce says the team is excited to play either Northern Brave or the Canterbury Kings in tomorrow afternoon’s trophy match (pending the result of this afternoon’s Elimination Final), after a strong season in which everyone in the Stags squad has contributed at various times.

Bruce himself has been one of them, leading from the front as one of the men’s competition’s top two run-scorers, currently only two runs behind Canterbury King Matt Boyle.

Bruce has 325 runs at an explosive strike rate of 164.14 and impressive 65.00 average.

“When you’re the captain, it does make you feel good if you’re contributing to the team with your major skill set — as first and foremost, I’m a batter in the team,” said Bruce on arrival in Wellington.

“It’s been really pleasing personally to be scoring runs at crucial times because T20 can be a pretty unforgiving game, and it’s been something I have been wanting to do over the last couple of years — to have that level of consistency.”

Bruce was the captain the last time the Stags won the Dream11 Super Smash, in 2018/19, but it’s been a wee while between drinks, with the team having finished fourth for the last few seasons

But Bruce says the memory of that 67-run victory — as well as the crushing nine-wicket loss in the previous year’s Grand Final — will still be useful tomorrow.

“I think until you’ve played one, it’s a hard feeling to describe. It certainly is a different kind of pressure.

“People would be lying if they said there are not nerves involved. There is always a bit of anxiety around finals time, it’s a different sort of pressure when you’re playing for silverware.
“A few guys in our team were there when we won this title in Hamilton, and lost it the year previously, and we’ve also experienced and had success in The Ford Trophy Finals since then so a few other players have been through that experience, too.

“The teams that come out on top are the ones that do the basics well, stick to what they have been doing throughout the season, and can manage the pressure and manage the expectations of the day.”

The Stags have several contributors — ranging from youngster Toby Findlay to Hawke’s Bay veteran Angus Schaw — for whom it will be a maiden Dream11 Super Smash Grand Final.

“It’s going to be exciting especially for our players who haven’t experienced that. 

“It’s going to be a new taste for them, and we’ve done in everything in our power and our preparation to have them as well prepared as possible for the day. There will be nerves, but it’s exciting, and it means people want to do well and part of that is managing the experience and process.”

Aggressive paceman Blair Tickner has emerged as the country’s top wicket-taker after the completion of the men’s regular season with 15 wickets, and Bruce said he was proud of his strikeman giving his all to the team, after a demanding year supporting wife Sarah as she went through leukemia treatment. 

“Ticks is a very resilient character,” said Bruce.

“He’s been through a fair bit, not only in the last year, but throughout his life. We love him in the Stags; we love the character that he is; the person he is, and he is able to be himself around us in the team environment.

“That just sees him thrive in our environment, and he loves it. He’s a Stag through and through, and it’s been really pleasing just to see him go about his work this year. 

“To be honest, he probably didn’t start off as well as he would have liked from an economy point of view, but he’s certainly got that control back — and we’ve just seen him gain in confidence in his bowling and execution of his skills, game on game on game.

“It’s been really awesome to see. This is a guy who has been around for a while, as well, and he’s still learning new things and still striving to get better.

“He’s one of the hardest workers that I’ve seen, and a freak of a talent, so I’m just thankful he’s on our side.”

Bruce has also been thankful the squad has gone through a busy regular season campaign with very few injuries, and not much in the way of weather disruptions until last week — when they had one foot in the Finals Weekend already.

“It’s always a pleasing thing when you’re not having to change too much within the team, whether through form or injuries,” he said, “so it’s been nice this season to have that continuity.

“I think I heard the other day that we’ve only played 14 players throughout the competition. In previous years, we’ve been up there in terms of turnover of players, so it’s been nice to be selecting guys simply because they are putting their hand up by performing. 

“That could be one reason we’ve been a bit more successful than in recent years. The guys are just constantly playing.”

Central has already tasted success at the Cello Basin Reserve once this season, relatively new players Will Clark and Angus Schaw having paired up to win a last-ball thriller in the away match against the Wellington Firebirds.

Bruce says that memory will help confidence in the big one.

“We’re familiar with the ground, we’ve had a lot of good games here against Wellington. 

“It’s different not playing the Firebirds at the Basin, obviously. Whether we play Northern Brave or the Canterbury Kings, it will bring a different challenge on the Basin with whatever bowlers or batters that they bring to the table, but we love playing at the Basin. 

“It’s one of the true cricketing grounds of New Zealand, so it’s nice to have had success here already this season, and it’s always a good surface and nice outfield so I know the guys are really looking forward to playing there again. 

“And I know the Firebirds aren’t in the finals, but hopefully we get a good crowd and they fizz up for the big occasion. We know we’ll have a few of our own supporters in the green but locals are free to adopt the Stags for the day and get out and support their second-favourite team!” 

The Grand Final begins at 4.25pm, with all the Grand Finalists to don RETRO uniforms for the final time this season. 

“The whole team has enjoyed connecting with our team’s legacy this summer, it’s been fun and entertaining,” said Bruce.

“The Stags had a great record through that late 1990s/early 2000s period, and really inspired the next generation of players and fans, so we’ll be looking to honour that legacy again tomorrow.”

Tickets available at www.supersmash.co.nz and live coverage on Sport Nation and TVNZ Duke and TVNZ+. 
DREAM11 SUPER SMASH

Men’s 2024/25  Grand Final

Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington 

4.25PM | 2 February 2025 v TBC

CENTRAL STAGS (13)

Tom Bruce — captain, Taranaki

Jack Boyle — Hawke’s Bay

Will Clark — Hawke’s Bay

Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper, Manawatū

Joey Field  — Hawke’s Bay

Toby Findlay — Hawke’s Bay

Curtis Heaphy  —  Manawatū

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

Brett Randell  —  Nelson

Angus Schaw — Hawke’s Bay

Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

Ray Toole  —  Manawatū

Will Young — Taranaki