Milne leapfrogs into the Stags

ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News

DEBUT: Central's Adam Milne bowling on debut.

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Manawatu youngster Adam Milne's call-up to the Central Districts team yesterday meant he leapfrogged New Zealand under-19 World Cup players.

Milne entered day two of the CD Stags' four-dayer against Canterbury yesterday when pace bowler Mike Mason was called to join the Black Caps in Auckland.

Milne, 18, had been expected to be third off the rank behind Manawatu's Bevan Small and Marlborough's Ben Wheeler, both from the World Cup squad.

However, Small had stiffness in his back and didn't bowl in Manawatu's third day of the Hawke Cup defence against Marlborough.

"All of the under-19 World Cup players look tired, jaded, to me," said CD selector Scott Briasco. "Adam has impressed a lot of people."

Briasco was also impressed with how Milne reacted to missing the World Cup squad.

Milne was in the New Zealand under-19 squad this season but missed out on selection for the World Cup team, a surprise in many circles.

Since then he has bounced back and taken a bundle of wickets for the hot Manawatu Hawke Cup team, in front of CD selectors Scott Briasco and Gary Cunningham.

Briasco listed a string of young players who will be the future of CD – Milne, Small, Manawatu's Dane Cleaver, Taranaki batsman Dean Robinson, Hawke's Bay seamer Doug Bracewell and Wanganui's Ben Smith.

"There is a lot of exciting young talent coming on.

"The key is how we manage our whole squad to keep them in CD."

He said it has been great that CD teams, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Marlborough, had been involved in Hawke Cup defences this summer.

Meanwhile, the call for Mason came only at 5.30pm on Thursday, by which time Briasco had driven through Palmerston North to New Plymouth.

Had Briasco known earlier, he could have collected Milne. Ultimately, Manawatu's Ian Sandbrook had to drive Milne to New Plymouth.

Milne was drafted into the CD playing side on day two, something permitted when a player such as Mason has been taken out and promoted to higher duties.

Briasco said Milne's selection was obvious.

He and Mason were line-and-length bowlers and were fit. Milne had shown for Manawatu he could bowl long spells.

"Fortunately we were replacing like for like," Briasco said.

Mason replaced another Manawatu man, Jacob Oram, who is out for a month with his patella injury.

For Mason, 35, it is yet another recall to the New Zealand team.

"It is good for Mase to get an opportunity," Briasco said. "He's been bowling very well for us this year so it is good recognition for him."

He gets his chance with Iain O'Brien retired and Andy McKay broken down.

"To me, if a guy is playing the game, you pick the best guy regardless of how old he is.

"It's all very well to look to the future, but we're talking about Australia now.

"He's experienced and wouldn't be overawed."

- © Fairfax NZ News