In central New Zealand the Central Districts Stags is a first class cricket team. This is made up of 8 individual district associations called as Wanganui, Wairarapa, Taranaki, Nelson, Marlborough, Manawatu, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Hawke’s Bay. The area of the Central Districts that is renowned for the cricketing reasons comprises of two areas of the South Island, three areas of the North Island and some region of the Wellington area.

The home ground of the Central Districts Stags is called as McLean Park which has a capacity of 30000. The debut of this team took place at Wellington in 1950. Currently this team takes part in the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Championship first class competition.

The Central Districts Stags have been victorious in the State Shield once in the eighties and twice after the millennium. In the Shell Trophy / State Championship they have won the cup once in the eighties, twice in the nineties and once after the millennium. The team has lifted the Plunket Shield Trophy once in the fifties, twice in the sixties and once in the seventies.

4 grounds have been allocated to this team for playing purpose. These are Trafalgar Park in Nelson, Fitzherbert Park in Palmerston North, Pukekura Park in New Plymouth and McLean Park in Napier.

Some of the former notable players of the Central Districts Stags are as follows – Martin Crowe, Ian Smith, Bryan Yuile, Craig Spearman, Ian Smith, Mark Greatbatch, Jock Edwards, Bevan Congdon, Harry Cave, Tony Blain and Don Beard.

The 2006-07 squad of the Central Districts Stags was comprised of the following players – Jamie How was the skipper along with Bevan Griggs, Campbell Furlong, Brendon Diamanti, Geoff Barnett, Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram, Michael Mason and Peter Ingram.

Major achievements

The Central Districts Stags have won the State Shield thrice, the Shell Trophy / State Championship 4 times and the Plunket Shield 4 times.