Elliott out of Super Smash
Stokes belts 93 for Kings
Wellington will be without the services of Grant Elliott throughout the Twenty20 Super Smash as he takes time off cricket.
Instead, the former Black Caps all-rounder and Wellington stalwart will spend the summer with his family. The Firebirds open their campaign against the Northern Knights in Hamilton tonight.
Elliott was expected to be a key cog of the defending Super Smash champion Firebirds squad in 2017, returning from Twenty20 stints in England and Pakistan.
‘‘We’re not expecting Grant Elliott to play at all for us in this competition,’’ Firebirds coach Bruce Edgar said. ‘‘He’s been trying to please everyone for a long time. Now he’s planning to spend the time with his family.
‘‘He’s been bouncing from one tournament to another, so he’s decided to take a break.’’
Elliott averages 23.65 with the bat, hitting at a strikerate of 129, and 24.83 with the ball at an economy of 8.08 in Twenty20 cricket.
While those figures will be missed, Edgar is pleased with the talent he has to call on. Change in format, change in fortune for Ben Stokes.
The suspended English cricket star amassed just 36 runs in three Ford Trophy 50-over innings for Canterbury, but demonstrated his class in their Twenty20 Super Smash opener yesterday.
He belted 93 off 47 balls to lead the Kings to a 134-run thumping of the Otago Volts inChristchurch.