CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News
NEW STAG: Taranaki's Dean Robinson at practice with the Central Districts Stags at Pukekura Park yesterday afternoon, with former New Zealand cricketer Mike Shrimpton looking on from behind the stumps.
Dean Robinson has been rewarded for his solid form with the bat this summer with a Central Districts Stags call-up to prepare for a four-day national domestic cricket match starting at Pukekura Park tomorrow.
The Taranaki opening batsman will make his first-class debut if he makes the playing 11 named on match morning for the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury.
Robinson, 20, was "pretty stoked" with his call-up and said the thought of playing his first first-class game at Pukekura Park made it more special.
"It's a nice place to play and every time I get the chance to play there, it's special. And the possibility I'll be playing my first game there for the Stags is pretty awesome."
After leaving New Plymouth Boys' High School at the end of his seventh form year, Robinson has spent the past two northern hemisphere summers playing cricket in England.
In 2008 he played for New Zealand in the world under-19 tournament in the United Kingdom.
Robinson's name has been in the frame for the step up to the top national domestic level, following his string of solid performances for Yarrows Taranaki and CD A.
Central Districts head selector Scott Briasco said Robinson thoroughly deserved his call-up to top national domestic level.
"Dean's played well for Taranaki right through the season, played well for the CD As and in the Chapple Cup for Taranaki. He just carried on with his good form right through."
Robinson has enrolled at Massey University this year to study towards a business degree, majoring in sports management.
His decision to get his life organised outside of cricket was a prudent one, according to Briasco.
"He's come through the national under-19 system and another year on from that he's made an effort not only to consolidate his game, but he's also made a decision to look after his life outside of cricket and is going to university.
Robinson scored a total of 262 runs at an average of 44, with a highest score of 94, for Yarrows Taranaki in its Hawke Cup campaign this summer and 161 in three Chapple Cup one-dayers.
He said performing for Taranaki and getting the opportunity to play for CD A were highlights of the current season.
"Now hopefully getting the opportunity to maybe play for the Stags is steady progress, so hopefully that continues."
Robinson played in a CD Stags pre-season trial match last November and returned from Palmerston North yesterday to join the squad in a practice session at Pukekura Park.
His technique with the bat came under the surveillance of ex-New Zealand and Central Districts batting legend Mike Shrimpton, who is in New Plymouth to assist the CD side in its preparation for the match.
Central Districts has dropped a bowler, Jeremy Kuru, from the 12 named to play Otago in the most recent Plunket Shield round to make room for Robinson.
Briasco said the selectors wanted to bring in a specialist opener which meant regular opener George Worker would drop down the order if Robinson was named in the playing team.
