BLACKCAPS and Wellington wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell will captain the Firebirds in their Plunket Shield opener against Northern Districts at the Cello Basin Reserve tomorrow.

Blundell will lead a largely inexperienced squad for tomorrow's match with a host of first-choice regulars unavailable.

Bowlers Nathan Smith (back injury), Ben Sears (abdominal injruy), Ollie Newton (birth of second son) Logan Van Beek and Adam Milne (T20 World Cup) are all unavailable, so Eastern Suburbs' Adam Leonard and Onslow's Dave Hancock join the bowling stocks and are in-line for their first-class debuts.

Young batsman Nick Greenwood and Devan Vishvaka are both also included in an extended squad.

Play gets underway from 10:30am tomorrow at the Cello Basin Reserve. Live scoring and streaming is available at nzc.nz 

WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS | PLUNKET SHIELD ROUND ONE V NORTHERN DISTRICTS

Tom Blundell (wk) (c) (Karori)
Luke Georgeson (Eastern Suburbs)
Nick Greenwood (Taita District)
Dave Hancock* (Onslow)
James Hartshorn (Karori)
Troy Johnson (Hutt District)
Nick Kelly (Johnsonville)
Adam Leonard* (Eastern Suburbs)
Iain McPeake (Hutt District)
Rachin Ravindra (Hutt District)
Tim Robinson (Onslow)
Michael Snedden (Karori)
Devan Vishvaka (Johnsonville)

*Potential first-class debut

Coaches: Bruce Edgar, BJ Watling

Players unavailable for selection:
Finn Allen (T20 World Cup)
Jakob Bhula (illness)
Michael Bracewell (T20 World Cup)
Devon Conway (T20 World Cup)
Adam Milne (T20 World Cup)
Ollie Newton (unavailable due to the birth of his second son)
Ben Sears (abdominal injury)
Nathan Smith (back injury)
Logan Van Beek (T20 World Cup)

Article added: Monday 17 October 2022