Ben Sears

The Ford Trophy 2025-26: Complete Schedule, Teams, Live Streaming & All You Need to Know

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 21:50:36 GMT

The 2025/26 Ford Trophy marks the 55th edition of New Zealand’s premier 50-over cricket competition. It starts on 25th October and will run until the final on 22nd February, with matches played at various grounds across the country. The tournament gives young and upcoming players a chance to show their talent in front of national selectors. Six teams will take part: Auckland Aces, Northern Districts, Central Stags, Wellington Firebirds, Canterbury, and Otago Volts.

The Ford Trophy 2025-26: Match Details

Category	Details
Series	The Ford Trophy 2025-26
Duration	25 October 2025 – 22 February 2026
Format	32 ODIs

The Ford Trophy 2025-26: Schedule

Date	Match No.	Teams	Venue
Sat, 25 Oct 2025	1	Auckland Aces vs Northern Districts	Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Sat, 25 Oct 2025	2	Central Stags vs Wellington Firebirds	Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Sat, 25 Oct 2025	3	Canterbury vs Otago Volts	Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Thu, 30 Oct 2025	4	Auckland Aces vs Otago Volts	Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Thu, 30 Oct 2025	5	Central Stags vs Northern Districts	Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Thu, 30 Oct 2025	6	Wellington Firebirds vs Canterbury	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Mon, 3 Nov 2025	7	Otago Volts vs Central Stags	University Oval, Dunedin
Mon, 3 Nov 2025	8	Northern Districts vs Wellington Firebirds	Seddon Park, Hamilton
Mon, 3 Nov 2025	9	Canterbury vs Auckland Aces	Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Sat, 8 Nov 2025	10	Northern Districts vs Canterbury	Seddon Park, Hamilton
Sat, 8 Nov 2025	11	Wellington Firebirds vs Otago Volts	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Sat, 8 Nov 2025	12	Auckland Aces vs Central Stags	Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Wed, 12 Nov 2025	13	Canterbury vs Central Stags	Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
Wed, 12 Nov 2025	14	Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Wed, 12 Nov 2025	15	Northern Districts vs Otago Volts	Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Wed, 4 Feb 2026	16	Auckland Aces vs Canterbury	Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Wed, 4 Feb 2026	17	Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Wed, 4 Feb 2026	18	Otago Volts vs Northern Districts	University Oval, Dunedin
Sat, 7 Feb 2026	19	Central Stags vs Auckland Aces	McLean Park, Napier
Sat, 7 Feb 2026	20	Canterbury vs Northern Districts	Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
Sat, 7 Feb 2026	21	Otago Volts vs Wellington Firebirds	University Oval, Dunedin
Tue, 10 Feb 2026	22	Auckland Aces vs Wellington Firebirds	Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland
Tue, 10 Feb 2026	23	Northern Districts vs Central Stags	Seddon Park, Hamilton
Tue, 10 Feb 2026	24	Otago Volts vs Canterbury	Queens Park, Invercargill
Fri, 13 Feb 2026	25	Northern Districts vs Auckland Aces	Cobham Oval, Whangarei
Fri, 13 Feb 2026	26	Central Stags vs Otago Volts	Saxton Oval, Nelson
Fri, 13 Feb 2026	27	Canterbury vs Wellington Firebirds	Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Tue, 17 Feb 2026	28	Central Stags vs Canterbury	Saxton Oval, Nelson
Tue, 17 Feb 2026	29	Wellington Firebirds vs Northern Districts	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Tue, 17 Feb 2026	30	Otago Volts vs Auckland Aces	Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown
Fri, 20 Feb 2026	Eliminator	2nd Placed Team vs 3rd Placed Team	Basin Reserve, Wellington
Sun, 22 Feb 2026	Final	1st Placed Team vs Winner of Eliminator	Basin Reserve, Wellington

The Ford Trophy 2025-26: Full Sqauds

Auckland Aces: Bevon Jacobs, Dale Phillips, Harrish Kannan, Lachlan Stackpole, Mark Chapman, Rohit Gulati, Sean Solia, Siddhesh Dixit, Simon Keene, Cam Fletcher (WK), Adithya Ashok, Angus Olliver, Ben Lister, Jock McKenzie, Jordan Sussex, Matthew Gibson, Samrath Singh.

Northern Districts: Bharat Popli, Henry Cooper, Jeet Raval, Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Robert O'Donnell, Brett Hampton, Daryl Mitchell, Fergus Lellman, Kristian Clarke, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Pringle, Ben Pomare (WK), Xavier Bell (WK), Joshua Brown, Matthew Fisher, Zak Gibson.

Central Stags: Tom Bruce, Will Young, Brad Schmulian, Doug Bracewell, Joey Field, Josh Clarkson, William Clark, Curtis Heaphy (WK), Dane Cleaver (WK), Ajaz Patel, Angus Schaw, Blair Tickner, Brett Randell, Jayden Lennox, Ray Toole, Toby Findlay.

Wellington Firebirds: Jesse Tashkoff, Muhammad Abbas, Nick Kelly, Oscar Jackson, Sam Mycock, Samuel Morgan, Tim Robinson, Logan van Beek, Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Nick Greenwood, Peter Younghusband, Rachin Ravindra, Callum McLachlan (WK), Gareth Severin (WK), Tom Blundell (WK), Amogh Paranjpe, Ben Sears, James Hartshorn, Liam Dudding, Michael Snedden, Yahya Zeb.

Canterbury: Chad Bowes, Jesse Frew, Leo Carter, Matthew Boyle, Rhys Mariu, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley, Michael Rippon, Angus McKenzie, Cameron Paul, Fraser Sheat, Ish Sodhi, Matt Rowe, Michael Rae, Scott Janett, Sean Davey.

Otago Volts: Jack Boyle, Jacob Cumming, Jamal Todd, Llew Johnson, Thorn Parkes, Troy Johnson, Ben Lockrose, Luke Georgeson, Matthew Bacon, Zac Cumming, Max Chu (WK), Andrew Hazeldine, Danru Ferns, Jake Gibson, Jarrod McKay, Mason Clarke.

ALSO READ: Punjab Kings makes shocking move ahead of IPL 2026, officially announce new coach name

The Ford Trophy 2025-26: Live streaming details

Feature	Details
Live Streaming	New Zealand Cricket YouTube Channel
Channel	NZC YouTube

Injury Blow for New Zealand: Ben Sears Out of Champions Trophy 2025, Jacob Duffy Steps In

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 13:36:52 GMT

New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears has been excluded from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a hamstring injury. Jacob Duffy, who is a member of the New Zealand squad for the current tri-series in Pakistan, has been appointed as Sears' cover for the eight-country tournament.

Following a New Zealand Cricket announcement, Sears had suffered left hamstring pain at the first practice session in Karachi. He then had a scan which showed he had a slight tear and required at least two weeks' rehab. In view of this, Sears would only have been ready for New Zealand's last group match against India on March 2, hence the decision to replace him throughout the tournament.

Ben Sears has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy.

- Jacob Duffy has replaced him! pic.twitter.com/y5aemlsRKr
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 14, 2025

New Zealand head coach on a very Disappointment :

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead expressed disappointment over Sears missing out. “We’re all really feeling for Ben,” said Stead.

ALSO SEE : ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025: Prize Money, Format & Host Cities

“It’s always tough being ruled out of a major event at such a late stage, and it’s especially tough in Ben’s case, given it would have been his first major ICC event.

“The timeframes for Ben to be fit to play again meant he would likely miss the majority of the group stage, and given the short nature of the tournament, we felt it was appropriate to bring in a player who is fully fit and ready to go.

“Ben is a player with huge potential, and given the short rehabilitation timeframe, we’re sure he’ll be fit and raring to go for the home series against Pakistan back in New Zealand.

Stead added that Duffy is a strong replacement for Sears.

"Jacob showed with his performances in the recent home series against Sri Lanka that he is more than capable at the international level.

“He’s been part of the squad for the ODI Tri-Series, so he’s fully acclimatised, and he’s got plenty of experience in these conditions and is fit and ready to go.

“He’s another player who will be experiencing his first senior ICC event, so it will be an exciting few weeks ahead for him.”

Why Joe Root and Ben Stokes face a likely ban from the 2027 IPL season

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:54:02 GMT

England Test captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes has marked himself unavailable for the mega auction for a second straight season in a row. The decision comes as the star all-rounder wants to prolong his red-ball career over franchise cricket. As per current IPL regulations, any overseas player opting out of the mega auction will automatically be ineligible for selection in the next year's IPL season.

Such has been the case with Ben Stokes. As per the player registration list unveiled by the BCCI, there has been no mention of Stokes' name in that list which effectively keeps him out of action till 2027.

What are these stringent measures introduced now by BCCI?

Traditionally, the BCCI offered a lot of flexibility to the overseas players to omit mega auctions and rather make inroads via mini auctions which would often result in hefty contracts. Stokes, in particular, benefitted the most from this practice. After skipping the 2022 IPL mega auction, Stokes made an entry in the 2023 IPL season and by doing so attracted a whopping contract worth Rs. 16.25 crore bid from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the mini-auction.

But as the current situation stands, such leeway is now being taken away by the governing authority. This move has been put in place to discourage overseas players from entering the mini-auction at potentially higher bids. Moreover, the screws have been further tightened by the BCCI which will now hand a two-year ban to any player who withdraws after being picked up in the auction. These measures have been reinstated in a bid to foster consistency and dependability within the franchises.

What does the future hold for Stokes & Root?

Both Stokes and Root will miss out on the upcoming IPL season and will continue to wait on the sidelines till the year 2027. Stokes has been a key asset in the IPL marketplace with his ongoing valuation expected to range between Rs 15-20 crore. Root, on the other hand, was picked for his base price of Rs. 1 crore at the 2023 IPL auction and played three matches for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 10 runs and bowling two overs without picking a wicket. The English duo will have to enter through a likely mini-auction format as per the current regulations.

See also: WPL 2025 retention names revealed; T20 WC winner released

New Zealand Pacer Ben Sears ruled out of India Tour

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:21:27 GMT

The New Zealand Pacer, Ben Sears has been ruled out of the India test series due to a knee injury. Pacer Jacob Duffy, who is uncapped in Tests has been named as Sears' replacement and will fly to India on Wednesday morning.

Ben Sears experienced pain in his left knee while training during the recent Test series in Sri Lanka and underwent scans in New Zealand last week. According to a New Zealand Cricket Statement, "His departure to India was delayed after scans revealed a tear to his meniscus and the first available medical consultation was sought in the hope that he might have been cleared."

However, following the medical advice, the decision was made to rule him out of the series. A plan on the best course of treatment and rehabilitation for the injury will be advised in due course.

Jacob Duffy who is Otago's leading wicket-taker has featured in 6 ODIs and 14 T20Is for New Zealand. He currently has 299 first-class wickets to his name.

Head Coach Gary Stead on Ben Sears

“We’re obviously disappointed for Ben who made a strong start to his Test career during the home summer and offers a genuine pace option,” said Stead. “It remains to be seen how long we’ll be without him for, but we’re hopeful his road to a full recovery will be a short one."

Gary Stead on Jacob Duffy said, "It’s an exciting opportunity for Jacob who has been around Test the squad before. With three Tests ahead of us he has every chance of making his Test debut. Jacob's recent experience playing for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship certainly pushed his place. His performances in white-ball cricket for the BLACKCAPS have always been impressive and we’re confident he'll be able to contribute if called upon.”

Rain Threat Over Bangalore Test

New Zealand will begin their India Tour with the first test being played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru starting on 16 October. But the weather threatens the rain playing spoilsport during the first test. As the whole week's weather forecast isn't looking good. India's morning training session was washed out. New Zealand completed their training session in the indoor facility of Chinnaswamy premises. The second test will be played in Pune from 24 October and the Final test in Mumbai starting on 1 November on the eve of Diwali.

Ben Sears ready for Test debut in Christchurch

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:10:00 GMT

New Zealand captain Tim Southee has confirmed that Wellington seamer Ben Sears will make his Test debut in the second Test against Australia, which is all set to start on Friday (March 8) in Christchurch. The 26-year-old speedster will come in to replace Will O’Rourke, who was ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury in New Zealand’s 172-run defeat in the opening Test as well.

“He’s got something about him” – Tim Southee on Ben Sears

“Offers real pace. We saw him clock 150 (kmh) earlier in the summer in a T20 against Bangladesh, so excited to see what he’s got at test level,” Tim Southee said on the eve of the Test. “He’s a tall fella. He’s got pace, he’s got something about him. Obviously the job Will O’Rourke did in the couple of test matches he played… again another tall guy with a bit of pace and skill about him, so excited to see what Ben has got.”

However, Southee didn’t confirm whether this will be the only change for them as well. Notably, New Zealand decided to play an extra seamer in Scott Kuggeleijn on a green-looking track in Wellington and dropped left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. The decision backfired as the pitch helped Nathan Lyon, who became the first spinner since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006 to claim a 10-wicket match haul in New Zealand.

ALSO READ: Irfan Pathan questions Pat Cummins’ appointment as SRH captain for IPL 2024

While conditions at the Hagley Oval have helped the pace bowlers, Kuggeleijn wasn’t helpful enough at Wellington and took 2 for 87 in the first innings. Meanwhile, New Zealand captain, Tim Southee who will become the first pace bowler to feature in 100 games in each of the three international formats this week, has claimed just four wickets from his three Tests this year which came at an average of 80.25.

“You always want to be performing at your best and I think there’s no hiding from the fact that the currency we deal in as a bowler is wickets, and the last three Test matches I haven’t got the wickets I would have liked,” he said.

“I still feel like there’s more to it” – Tim Southee

“I still feel like there’s more to it. There’s roles within that as well. I have probably not been where I should be as the most experienced bowler of the side. But like everyone, each week you’re trying to get better. Each week you’re trying to go out and put your best foot forward. Prepare as well as you can to give yourself the best chance and that’s the same over the last couple of days. I’ve done that.”

“I’ve felt okay at times. Sometimes you feel good and you don’t get the wickets. Sometimes you feel not so good and you actually pick up a few wickets. So I think it’s just about trusting your game. Trusting what you do. But there’s no hiding from the fact that the last couple of Test matches have been disappointing. I know that. I’d always like more wickets. And hopefully, there’s some to come,” he concluded.