Cricket: Family ties may see elite few not return

Heinrich Malan says "it's not a money thing".

In the furious free market of domestic cricket it seems some of the marquee players may lose their way to the province this summer.

"The Auckland boys are always at risk," says Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags coach Heinrich Malan, not long after returning from his hometown of Pretoria, South Africa, this month for his second term at the helm.

"They live there [Auckland] so at the end of the day they have to weigh up family and life with cricket," says Malan who is in New Plymouth as he covers the sprawling CD region, catching up with players and coaches before heading to Auckland on Friday for the weekend.

Ex-Black Caps legspinner Tarun Nethula, New Zealand A batsman Carl Cachopa and left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel hail from the Big Smoke.

"We owe it to them ... to be happy in life and on the field. We don't want to lose them because it'll be a big blow.

"Tarun's just had a baby girl and Chops wants to start a family," says Malan, adding players in their late 20s start contemplating stability in what is "always a free market".

However, Malan hastens to stress major associations can discuss contracts but are not in a position to negotiate until after the Black Caps are signed up following their return from the West Indies tour so "it's all hearsay on who's signing or not".

"Tarun and Chops are CD through and through but for most players families probably come first in their decision making every season. It might be their gain to go to Auckland."

Patel, on the other hand, is signed and contracted with CD.

"He's looking at the white-ball format and he's really done well in the four-day format," Malan says, emphasising Nethula has international pedigree but should he not commit then Patel is the "young prospect".

While every major association's purse strings are tied a little, he says "it's not a money thing" with CD.

"It's about time away from home and CD spend most time away from home."

Malan reckons it's a testament to CD players that other associations are sounding them out for the 2014-15 summer.

Conversely, he also sees openings for budding talent in the CD catchment to step up to an elite level.

"Your Will Youngs and Ben Smiths have grown after another year of first-class cricket."

If a few elite players don't return then Malan believes it'll offer "opportunities to young quality players to step up to the plate".

Speculation is rife other major associations are putting their feelers out to sound out the young Stags, too.

CD are hoping Doug Bracewell, of Napier, retains his New Zealand contract and speed merchant Adam Milne, of Palmerston North, will also be in the mix.

"Who we'll look to sign depends on how many Black Caps contracts we'll have."

CD want what's best for Bracewell, who has had a spate of disciplinary issues, leading to him falling out of the international equation.

Black Caps contracts are due to be released on July 8.

Manawatu's Roald Badenhorst and Wairarapa's Seth Rance played last summer without CD contracts.

"The older brigade are still good to go, with a point to prove.

"Howser [Jamie How] is going well in the UK league and Krugs [Kruger van Wyk] is doing well in Holland."

The Stags will be back in camp in the first week of October.