Cricket: Bay misses one-dayers

Heinrich Malan.

Hawke's Bay doesn't feature on the Ford Trophy map this summer but there's nothing sinister about it.

"That's just the way it panned out," Devon Hotel Central Districts coach Heinrich Malan said last night after NZ Cricket announced the premier one-day competition will be staged from late December to January to factor in school holidays in a bid to lure families to the park.

CD start their campaign at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, in the first two rounds before playing one each at Saxton Oval, Nelson, and Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North.

"It's exciting to be playing at Puke, Palmy and Nelson where they have quality pitches so there are no issues there.

"We'd like to have more games in Napier where a couple of CD boys are based but we're trying to give the Stags back to the people in our eight districts."

The six major association teams play eight rounds, culminating in a three-match preliminary finals series, just before the ODI World Cup to be staged in New Zealand and Australia from February

Malan lauded NZ Cricket for heading in the right direction in locking in that format for the next four years so as to enable young players to prepare better for the World Cup within a transparent and defined structure.

"It's great for someone like Adam Milne to have the opportunity to bowl on both sides of the spectrum in December and January," he said of the CD speed merchant from Palmerston North.

Malan last night returned from another trip around the CD catchment area to ensure everything was on track for summer.

"I've been pretty busy, with CD being CD and scattered throughout New Zealand it's pretty important to get around."

The South African coach, in his second season at the helm of CD, said they had a coaches' conference in Palmerston North a fortnight ago.

"The support staff from the Stags were there, too, so everyone was on the same page and so everyone knows the roles they play in their different districts."

The primary goal, he said, was to provide a platform for players in the CD district to put their hands up for higher honours, including CD A and age-group teams.

"The attitude is fantastic and the communication great so it all bodes well for the future."

The goal was to offer elite players the opportunity to play for the Black Caps while the youngsters aspire to become the next Milnes, Youngs, Smiths and Wheelers from the district.

"We want to bring the district closer to us and take the Stags closer to them."