Deanna Doughty will captain the Admark Wellington Blaze for the first time in their Hallyburton Johnstone Shield season opener against the Auckland Hearts at the Basin Reserve this weekend.

Doughty, this year’s vice-captain, will lead the Blaze this weekend in the absence of full-time Hallyburton Johnstone Shield captain Leigh Kasperek who is unavailable for the season opener due to injury.

Doughty topped the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield wicket-taking charts with 21 wickets last year and will lead a Blaze squad that blends youth with experience as they look to claim their first one-day title in 15 years.

Maneka Singh and Natasha Codyre will make their Blaze debuts if they are selected to play, while former WHITE FERN Liz Green-Perry, who handed over the captaincy reins to Kasperek over the winter, will add to her 131 domestic women’s one-day appearances.

Pathway graduates Xara Jetly and Beth Molony could also feature and Thamsyn Newton will add stability to the Blaze middle-order.

As well as Kasperek, the Blaze are without their four other leading WHITE FERNS –Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Rachel Priest and Maddy Green are all taking part in the Women’s Big Bash.

Blaze head coach Ivan Tissera said he was looking forward to putting the pre-season’s plans into action over the weekend.

“There is a good mix of youth and experience in the squad and we’ve had a great pre-season programme so we’re all excited to start the season at the Basin Reserve on Saturday,” he said.

“It’s been a really long pre-season that has brought huge improvements and it’s now important that we focus and get the season off to a positive start over the weekend.”

Tissera also praised Doughty’s leadership leading up to the start of the new season.

“Deanna has been an outstanding domestic player for a number of years and has led by example this pre-season, so we’re really looking forward to seeing her lead the team out tomorrow.”

The Blaze last met the Hearts in the final round of last year’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield campaign – the Hearts won the crucial first match of the weekend to secure their place in last year’s final.

Both matches get underway at 10.30am at the Basin Reserve, spectator entry is free.

Wellington Blaze squad | Hallyburton Johnstone Shield | Round One & Two

Deanna Doughty (c)

Rebecca Burns

Whetu Campbell

Natasha Codyre

Allex Evans

Xara Jetly

Jess Kerr

Caitlin King

Jess McFadyen

Beth Molony

Thamsyn Newton

Liz Green-Perry

Maneka Singh

Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Round One & Two

Wellington Blaze v Auckland Hearts

November 16 2019, 10.30am and

November 17 2019, 10.30am

Basin Reserve, Wellington

Live scoring: visit nzc.nz

Article added: Friday 15 November 2019