Cricket: Taranaki squad named for upcoming season

Taranaki Cricket

Another huge season is looming for Whitaker Civil Engineering Taranaki, currently holders of the Furlong Cup, the Central Districts champions, and Hawke Cup, the provincial champions of New Zealand.

The group have sucked in a big deep breath, rested up, and are now into pre-season training. The first round of Furlong Cup games is on the 6/7 December – 14 weeks of hard work away.

Selector/coach Chris Coombe has named the following squad:

Jordan Gard (c) (NPOB); Ryan Watson (VC) (NPMU); Bailey Wisnewski (Inglewood); Ben Frewin (NPOB); Callum Stuart (NPOB); Davis Mills (NPOB); Jack Parker (NPOB); Jacob Leuthart-Richards (NPMU); John Beale (Stratford); Liam Carr (NPOB); Liam Muggeridge (Stratford); Lucas Vassiliou (NPOB); Mattie Thomas (NPOB); Michael Blanks (NPMU); Robson Chapman (NPMU); Rupert Young (NPOB); Trent McGrath (Hawera United); Josh Borrell (NPOB).

Development players: Taene Nelly (NPBHS); Asher Ryan (FDMC); Josh Gard (NPOB)

Central Districts and Black Caps contracted players: Will Young (NPOB); Tom Bruce (Stratford)

The two big changes from last season are the unavailability of the colossus Dean Robinson and last season’s skipper Sam Fastier.

There is plenty of experience and success on board to lead the charge in the form of batsmen Rupert Young who scored a mammoth 640 runs last season at an average just shy of 50, Trent McGrath whose 438 runs were scored at an average of 54.75, and Liam Muggeridge were scored 521 at an average of 40.

All three notched centuries, with Leuthart-Richards and Wisnewski having best scores of 95 and 97.

The little left-armed magician Liam Carr topped the wickets tally with 34; newly announced team skipper Jordan Gard whipped out 32, the always menacing Ryan Watson grabbed 27 and the freakish Ben Frewin dismissed 21 batsmen at the miserly average of 16.04.

Theirs will be a big job again and with games coming thick and fast in December and January it is likely that quicks John Beale, Callum Stuart and Lucas Vassiliou will have plenty of opportunity to display their wares.

It was Beale who jump-started last season with 6-31 against a powerful Hawkes Bay side and sent Taranaki on their successful way. He was hampered by injuries as the season progressed but with a winter of training now stored away, he will be looking for bigger and better.

Young left-arm quick Vassiliou showed a rare maturity in his two Chapple Cup games in Palmerston North last season, and with batting skill to boot, he is one to keep an eye on.

Callum Stuart has played 15 games previously going back as far as the 2013-14 and will be expected to be racing in and hitting the track with pace. His is both an interesting and exciting inclusion.

Another all-rounder Robson Chapman has had eight games since debuting in 2021/22 with his consistent club form, and glimpses of real ability at the crease in his few games, earning him a call-up. It is now in his hands.

All-rounder Mattie Thomas, who had a relatively quiet season, but made crucial contributions at key times, now sits on 93 games, and will be hoping to become only the sixth Taranaki centurion by the seasons end. This will ensure his high standards are maintained.

Opening batsman Josh Borrell, with two Taranaki centuries already notched on his belt, will be hoping for an injury-free season and heaps of runs at the top of the order. The mental barrier of 100 runs is now behind him and it’s time to push on. This is shaping to be a big year for Borrell who returns after a winter in the UK.

Two players who have fine-tuned their talents in the cricketing mecca of England are back and looking to kick on. Michael Blanks, a determined top order batsman with a ton of stickability, already has 38 caps in Taranaki colours, and will be out to grab a top order spot. His hopes will be resting on scoring a heap of runs in club cricket from the kick-off.

Davis Mills, small in stature, but big in heart, headed overseas following a huge club season in 2022/23, and now with a couple of English summers behind him he will be after improving those Taranaki stats which he has put together in his 34 games.

Another exciting inclusion is uncapped young batter Jack Parker, who impressed in club cricket last season with his x-factor and explosive hitting capabilities. His arrival adds real spark and firepower to the squad’s batting lineup.

The return of Blanks and Mills and inclusion of Parker adds to the depth and quality of the squad.

In addition, having Tom Bruce back in the region brings further excitement and experience, with the possibility of appearances depending on Central Stags commitments.

Likewise, the inclusion of Will Young is a huge boost – while his Black Caps contract will limit his availability , the prospect of seeing him in Taranaki colours is an exciting one nonetheless.

For those who didn’t make it the first few club games are where to stamp your mark.