CRICKET - Whangarei throws up challenges for Parlane

New Northern Districts recruit Michael Parlane admits it took longer than expected to untangle himself from Wellington but after finally arriving back in the city where his cricket career got started yesterday morning, he's rearing to go.
"It's been a long winter in Wellington, with far too many people ringing up and wanting to catch up before I left," he explains.
He admits to cutting his travel plans a little fine but like the veteran he is, blamed the traffic around Auckland for any delays. He still had several hours up his sleeve to prepare before his first club fixture last night at Tauraroa Area School.
"I'm playing for the Maungakaramea's past players side in the Twenty20 match against the present team this afternoon, I hope that doesn't mean they don't want me to play for them when the (Northland) Twenty20 competition starts on Saturday," he said.
There seems little chance of that.
Parlane is genuinely happy to be back in Whangarei and for a moment is completely serious.
"It's great to back up here you know, there's a new ground and there are new challenges for me - it's not that easy to come back to start from scratch to an association that you've left behind in the past but I can't wait to get started," he said.
The Northland cricket season officially gets underway tomorrow with the two rounds of matches in the premier grade Twenty20 competition at Kensington Park. Parlane doesn't particularly like the new version of cricket but admits has an important role to play in New Zealand.
"I think Twenty20, as far as the lower grades and club cricket is concerned, is the future of the game because it will get more people involved," he said.
"The way modern life is now you never have time for the things you want to do, so Twenty20 fits in with that but I'm not convinced it's the best idea for developing players, I'm a bit of a purest when it comes to that and though I enjoy the short forms of the game I prefer to play the longer version," he said.
With 109 first class matches to his name, Parlane felt on the outer at Wellington after last season and accepted an offer to play for Northern Districts, where he began his first class career in 1993.
Now at the age of 36, he is back home in Whangarei spending some time with his mum Dawn, at least until the first class season starts when he'll be largely based in Hamilton. Parlane isn't looking to wind down his first class career however and has a few personal batting milestones still to reach.
"I'm looking forward to starting at ND as well, they've got a good young side with some experience in the shape of Bradley Scott, Graeme Aldridge, Joey Yovich and myself and I think that'll mean a good season for us."
He's looking to play himself into position to pick up an even better contract for next season.
Firstly however, it's back after a long break between drinks, to playing club cricket for Maungakaramea. They face Kaipara Flats in the first two matches tomorrow at Kensington Park at 10.30am.