Cricket: Stags out to dull Volts' charge

PASSION: New CD skipper Kruger van Wyk leads by example. PHOTO/Getty Images

Endless hours hours in the nets and out on open-wicket sessions before any cricket season is a given.

But all that attention to detail with monotonous regularity is eventually put through the spin-dry cycle in the public eye.

Consequently, Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags have adopted the motto, "Practice execution means game reality", to ensure the drills flow on to the field of expectations this summer in helping develop a template of success.

"Obviously, we've done hard work into winter but, at the end of the day, it's fair to say we have to take what we practise into a game situation," says CD coach Heinrich Malan as they open their campaign against the Otago Volts in Napier in the Plunket Shield competition from tomorrow.

"How we play, the method of taking wickets and scoring runs in closing a game will be the proof in the pudding," says Malan before the four-dayer begins at Nelson Park on the heels of a two-day practice match and three twenty20 games.

CD are coming off a forgettable last summer where they finished last among the six major associations in domestic cricket in the white-ball formats and second last, as defending champions, in the shield.

"The red ball now and at the end of the year is a big part of our focus," says the South African coach in his second season at the helm of the Stags.

The Georgie Pie Super Bash T20 and Ford Trophy one-dayers are the glamour formats so CD will put in place a structure to capture that excitement.

The experiment with overseas imports in the past few seasons has failed.

Under the new regime of Neil "Pods" Hood, CD will not be going down that path this summer.

"We're backing our 16 contracted players to get the job done for us this season," says Malan, who has opted for veteran wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk as his captain this summer.

Previous captain Kieran Noema-Barnett is an anomaly as a "home-grown import".

The Sharpies Driving Range Taradale CC all-rounder is eyeing a career in England's county cricket after signing a three-year contract to play for the John Bracewell-coached Gloucestershire.

"Barney's released from his contract here to be seen as a local in the UK so he'll only be paid his match fees.

"In a sense, he's taking a financial hit ... but he was the captain of our side only this year and he's as local as all of us," Malan says.

In some respects, there's nothing terribly exciting about CD this campaign, with the return of Manawatu opening batsman George Worker from the Canterbury Kings the only addition.

Seth Rance, of Wairarapa, is another returning from exile.

Leftie Worker, who offers a part-time off spin option alongside tweakers Ajaz Patel and Marty Kain, left CD two seasons ago when he lost traction with then coach Alan Hunt, of Auckland.

Malan feels the three to four-year cycle of the honeymoon phase for young Stags, who have blossomed to the right side of their 20s, is over and they need to start delivering.

Injury-prone Black Caps' speed merchant Adam Milne is in the equation and will be a regular part of the T20 campaign.

"Milney is recovering so he'll have specific workloads and plan to play in the near future.

"He's not injured but just working towards becoming 100 per cent, fit and durable."

With Black Cap seamer Doug Bracewell departing for the United Arab Emirates early next month, Milne will come into the fray for CD.

"They'll both be away at the end of the Super Smash campaign."

Bracewell, he said, had grown into a fitter player with leadership qualities.

"Milney's exciting because few people in world cricket can bowl around the 150km/h mark."

Malan's philosophy is to produce Stags who have the propensity to go on to represent their country.

Ben Wheeler and Rance will vie for the new-ball opening spot to counter Otago's left handers, with Noema-Barnett seen as fourth seamer. Andrew Mathieson is also in the mix.

The batting fulcrum will come from veterans Jamie How and stayer Van Wyk with Worker.

"There's no substitute for spending time in the middle," he says, alluding to Van Wyk's gritty and passionate demeanour.

Talented Will Young, Ben Smith and Dean Robinson have the chance to graft their way around fearless hitters such as Noema-Barnett and Greg Hay.

While CD are familiar with not only the Volts (including a swashbuckling Jesse Ryder) but other oppositions' make-up, Malan says the Stags are preoccupied with their own rituals and routines.

A jovial Malan prefers to see his stint here making him a lot more greyer rather than wiser.

He goes back to the recruitment stage of players in the off season from a geographically scattered CD catchment area.

"We have the best players to win trophies.

"There's the pressure of winning so the boys are relaxed but focused."

CENTRAL DISTRICTS STAGS: Jamie How, Ben Smith, George Worker, Will Young, Greg Hay, Kruger van Wyk, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Doug Bracewell, Ben Wheeler, Ajaz Patel, Andrew Mathieson, Seth Rance.

Coach: Heinrich Malan. Assistant: Lance Hamilton.

OTAGO VOLTS: Aaron Redmond (c), Michael Bracewell, Jesse Ryder, Ryan Duffy, Brad Rodden, Sam Wells, Derek de Boorder, Mark Craig, Nick Beard, Neil Wagner, Tipene Friday, Bradley Scott.

Coach: Dimitri Mascarenhas.