Milne makes return from injury
Black Caps fast bowler Adam Milne is set to play his first top-level cricket match in three months after he was included in the Central Stags’ Twenty20 squad.
Milne was named in the Stags 12 for today’s final T20 Super Smash regular season match against Auckland Aces at Eden Park’s Outer Oval.
A hamstring injury delayed Milne’s return to domestic cricket, having not played since the T20 international against Pakistan in Dubai on November 2.
Milne, 26, was a first choice for the Black Caps at the 2015 Cricket World Cup alongside Trent Boult and Tim Southee, before injury ruled him out of the semifinal against South Africa and the final defeat to Australia.
The national selectors were keen to see him in action ahead of this year’s tournament in the UK and his reappearance will be welcomed.
But whether the injury-plagued Milne has left his run too late to prove he can stand up to the rigours of a big 50-over tournament is the big question.
‘‘It’s been a frustrating season and I’ve been itching to get out there,’’ Milne said.
‘‘It’s been good to see the boys doing so well and playing some good cricket but it’s never quite the same when you’re not out there and contributing.
‘‘The body’s feeling good and nice and strong so I just need to get out there and get some game time in the legs and hopefully perform well.’’
Milne is a Black Caps contracted player and was seen bowling in the nets with the team in Wellington in the past week.
Fully fit he would be a strong chance of making the Black Caps’ World Cup XV, but hasn’t played an ODI since October 2017.
In 40 ODIs Milne has 41 wickets at an average of 38.6 and economy rate of 5.3. His T20 international performances have been better, snaring 25 wickets from 21 matches at an average of 21.6 and ER of 7.4.
He played 12 games for Kent in the England T20 Blast over the New Zealand winter, taking 13 wickets at 22.8 and an ER of 7.1.
‘‘I really enjoyed my time at Kent and I played some good cricket over there. It’s always hard when you have a break due to injury and you’ve got to find that in-game form.
‘‘Hopefully with Twenty20 being a bit shorter I can just run in and be aggressive from the word go.’’
Milne’s only appearance for the Stags this season was their Plunket Shield match against Auckland on October 17, when he bowled 26 overs and took match figures of 4-67 in his side’s victory.
The Stags and Aces are likely to meet again next Friday in the second versus third playoff, with the winner of today’s match earning hosting rights.
Along with Milne, the Stags have recent Black Caps Tom Bruce, George Worker, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance and Ben Wheeler in their ranks but are without Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner in the New Zealand T20 squad to face India.
The Knights lead by four points and look almost certain to earn automatic entry to the final, although the Aces could pinch top spot on net run rate if they have a big win over the Stags and the Knights suffer a heavy loss to the Volts at Mount Maunganui tonight.
❚ Canterbury Kings v Wellington Firebirds, Hagley Oval, 4pm
❚ Auckland Aces v Central Stags, Eden Park Outer Oval, 4pm
❚ Knights v Otago Volts, Bay Oval, 7.10pm
Men’s Twenty20 Super Smash, final round today:
Standings
(after nine of 10 rounds): Knights 28 points, Aces 24, Stags 22, Firebirds 14, Volts 12, Kings 8.
How the finals work:
❚ Top qualifier earns direct entry and hosting rights to the final next Sunday.
❚ Second host third on Friday in the elimination final for the other place in the decider.