Eden Park’s Kennards Hire Community Oval will host the opening of the 2023/24 Super Smash tomorrow as the Auckland ACES & HEARTS battle it out with rivals Canterbury Kings & Magicians.

The ACES have named a squad fill to the brim with experience as Martin Guptill returns to play his first Super Smash match since 2021/22.

At the Auckland Super Smash launch event on Friday, Guptill talked about his deep connection to Auckland Cricket and expressed excitement about turning out for them again.

“I just love playing for Auckland. To be playing alongside these guys after helping them develop through the years is pretty special,” said Guptill.

Joining him is James Neesham, who celebrated his return to Auckland last week with a 40-ball 81 in the ACES’ Ford Trophy match against Wellington, and Finn Allen, who played one Super Smash match for the ACES in 2017.

Allen has been released from the BLACKCAPS vs. Bangladesh ODI squad in order to turn out for his domestic side.

On the other end of the experience spectrum is uncapped Parnell left-arm orthodox Nikith Perera, who covers for the absence of Adithya Ashok, who is currently in the BLACKCAPS vs. Bangladesh ODI squad.

Last season the ACES won their first fixture of the season against the Kings at Hagley Oval, however the Kings went on to lose the final to the Northern Brave men while the ACES finished in 6^th place.

Former ACES wicketkeeper Ben Horne was the hero in that match but in a strange twist of fate, his replacement Cam Fletcher kept wicket for the Kings. This match will mark his Super Smash debut for the city of his birth.

This match marks the beginning of the Super Smash with the first ball at 12:30pm and is screening live on TVNZ+ and Duke.

Unavailable due to injury: Lockie Ferguson (returning to fitness), Simon Keene (ankle), Yahya Zeb (shoulder). Unavailable due to international commitments: Mark Chapman, Adithya Ashok.

Auckland ACES vs. Canterbury Kings
Kennards Hire Community Oval
19 December, 2023
12:30pm start

FH Allen
LJ Delport
DK Ferns
CD Fletcher (wk)
MJ Guptill
RD Harrison
BG Lister
JJ McKenzie
JDS Neesham
RR O’Donnell (c)
NS Perera
SM Solia


The HEARTS will take on defending champions the Canterbury Magicians after the ACES vs. Kings match, a reversal of the usual order of Super Smash matches.

The Auckland side has named a young squad full of fresh faces but likewise packed with exciting talent.

Super Smash debuts are possible for Cate Pederson and Olivia Anderson, who represented Auckland in last weekend’s back-to-back Hallyburton Johnstone Shield matches against Wellington Blaze.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Elizabeth Buchanan is a lock-in to follow up her solitary Super Smash appearance for the HEARTS last season with regular keeper Izzy Gaze away with the WHITEFERNS.

Maddy Green, Molly Penfold and Fran Jonas are also with the WHITEFERNS, giving Prue Catton the chance to step in again as captain.

In a good day for Parnell spinners, Rishika Jaswal is in line to make her Super Smash debut in the absence of Jonas. 

The first ball is at 4:30pm and is also screened live on TVNZ+ and Duke.

Tickets are available from aucklandcricket.flicket.co.nz or can be purchased on the day at Eden Park.

Unavailable due to injury: Brooke Halliday & Amberly Parr. Unavailable due to international commitments: Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Fran Jonas, Molly Penfold.
 

Auckland HEARTS vs. Canterbury Magicians
Kennards Hire Community Oval
19 December, 2023
4:30pm start

OG Anderson
BG Armstrong
AS Browning
SE Bowden
EJ Buchanan (wk) 
P Catton (c)
AT Hucker
BG Illing
R Jaswal
CS Pedersen
JO Penfold
S Shahri