One thing's for sure every time spring rolls around in anticipation of a cracking summer of cricket.
That is, Hawke's Bay premier club cricketers tend to come and go with the monotonous regularity of pollen-triggered hay fever.
Sure, seasoned campaigners leave for whatever reasons and those who migrate overseas or outside Hawke's Bay for job prospects or lifestyle choices or simply hang up their sprigs and boots, don't come under intense scrutiny.
For instance, Ruahine Motors Ford Central Hawke's Bay Cricket Club overseas import Paul Hindmarch has returned home to England so no qualms there at all.
Ditto Digby Phillips, also of CHB, who has retired (although he may play if they send out an SOS), James De Terte, of Taradale CC, who isn't playing, and last season's teammate, Jamie Cotter, who has dropped to the senior grade this 2013-14 season.
However, if players switch allegiances within or across the Central Districts provinces then it's almost a given rival clubs will cast aspersions on those benefiting from such migratory patterns.
For argument's sake, the inexplicable departure of Tarun Nethula from Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall CC in Hastings to Manawatu has left some dumbfounded.
While Devon Hotel CD Stag player Nethula hasn't returned a phone message from Hawke's Bay Today, it is fair to say premier captain John Jowsey is bereft of ideas as to why he didn't show up either for Hawke's Bay Cricket Association's annual Twenty20 tournament here last weekend.
"It's a bit of a disappointment, really. There wasn't too much said," Jowsey lamented.
The leg spinner from Auckland had indicated to the club 10 weeks ago he was heading to Palmerston North but was keen to be a guest player at the T20 tourney before pulling the pin on that, too.
Even more intriguing is Havelock North CC listing Lindisfarne College batsman/wicketkeeper Dominic Thompson, who is currently part of his school's tour of Sri Lanka, but CHB captain Scott Schaw is of the view the teenager is part of their equation.
"From all accounts, he's coming over because he's given us the green light," Schaw says, emphasising he was playing cricket in the Devon League in England over the New Zealand winter when Thompson approached former Lindisfarne First XI teammate and brother Angus Schaw to indicate he was pulling tent from the village to be part of the 18-man CHB squad, once the school competition is over in December.
Regrettably, Havelock North player/manager Jared Priest says Thompson hasn't told them otherwise.
"There have been player movements but we don't have any new guys," Priest says, after the Todd Astill-captained/coached villagers lost their other "best junior", Jerome Groot, to Cornwall.
"We're still at the rebuilding stage.
"We'd like to think we'll press on for next year."
It's never a pleasant sight to see any team depleted when players cross the floor but, invariably, such migratory patterns can simply be the result of free-market policy amid suspicions of poaching.
But the revolving door of premier men's club cricket need not be a time of consternation.
It can be an epoch consolidation after taking stock of what's in the hand, as it were.
Napier Old Boys' Marist (NOBM), anaemic for the past few seasons, come to mind this summer.
CD's loss is NOBM's gain as veteran Mathew Sinclair retired last summer but kept his pledge to give something back to the community, especially his club.
Not surprisingly the former Black Cap returns as manager, coach and captain of NOBM while last season's coach, Tony Pothan, returns to New Plymouth to start a new job there.
Sinclair says: "It's a good opportunity for the young to learn from a quality player."
Working as a casual stevedore for C3 at Napier Port, the Swiss knife is delighted with the squad number this season.
"I want the guys to get out there to enjoy cricket and, if they do that, then they'll win games and we have the squad to do that."
Fostering the next generation seems to be the gospel of building experience.
"I'm keen to work with the youth of the club and Hawke's Bay cricket and, if they're willing to learn, then that's all I'm after," says the man called Skippy who is available for Bay senior men's duties and will have the services of Bevan Pollock, Andrew Matheson and fellow CD player Roald Badenhorst, of Manawatu, until Chapple Cup (one-day rep) competition kicks in.
With NOBM paying him to coach, Sinclair says he keeps his wife and children happy and it helps pay the mortgage.
The intention is to take the club back to its glory days, if not produce talent to represent the region.
"The club's committee members will step up. It's disappointing, naturally, but we'll get there," he says of volunteers who do it for the love of the game or good will as opposed to other elite clubs who have paid administrators.
Defending champions of the English one-day (120-over), one-day (50-over) and overall champions, Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys are feeling the effects of players still plying their trade overseas or studying at universities.
"We got on our feet to get through last weekend," Tech captain Morten Freer says of the T20 tourney.
"The boys are keen to do that again so it's a big ask but we need to knuckle down to the task."
Freer, assuming the mantle for injured George Diack, says they'll have the services of CD rep Greg Hay, of Nelson, batting at No3 for the first five weeks when the English style first-round games in whites start today from 11am at Nelson Park, Napier.
Bronson Meehan is playing in Perth while Indika Senarathne will be away for a fortnight in his birth country of Sri Lanka where Lindisfarne College are touring.
Jayden Lennox, 18, a leftie who carved up five centuries in English club competition, is in the mix with his left-arm orthodox deliveries.
Napier Boys' High School exciting talent Christian Leopard will join the fray when not playing for his first XI side.
Freer lauds manager David Caldwell for his dedication and commitment to help mould a young outfit.
"Having older guys around always helps out."
Second overall last season, Scott Schaw says CHB want to go farther and are happy to have ex-NOBM coach Brendon Bracewell at the helm.
"When you look at the Hawke's Bay Cricket honours board at the [Nelson Park] pavilion you'll see it's been 15-odd years since our name was put up there so we want to go one better from second overall last season."
Schaw says CHB have signed up another overseas import, Will Chapples, 20, an allrounder from Hindmarch's Manchester club competition region.
"Will's heading the attack with Driaan Lubbe," he says of the Englishman who arrived in Waipukurau last Saturday.
Although CD reps Kruger van Wyk and Ben Smith's stay is limited, he feels the prem club competition is richer for their presence.
Like CHB, Tech and NOBM, Taradale are hanging out for players from the Bracewell Academy.
Dale skipper Toby Doyle says they have asked for a batsman for the player/coach Baden Wilton's team.
"We have Barney and Ajaz for a while," he says of CD allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett and spinner Ajaz Patel after Taradale lost in the T20 final last Sunday to newcomers Hutt Districts.
Taradale High School batsman Harrison Woolley and NBHS seamer George McPherson are their young guns.
Cornwall skipper Jowsey says despite losing Nethula they have the services of veteran spinner Jonathon Hall.
The 2012-13 T20 champions have inherited Sam Hurley, of Auckland, a "quality" right-arm leg spinner.
"We've lost the experience of Jake Smith [Auckland], Jayden Waters [Nelson] and Nethula," Jowsey says, adding teenager Ben Jackett had also left for Auckland.
The young intakes include ex-St John's College player Scott Brocklehurst, a leftie batsman and right-arm leg spinner.
"A young side can sometimes be a good thing, building for the year ahead," Jowsey says.
Ending Tech's domination won't be easy, he says, because they battle for everything despite rumours they had lost a few players.
In today's opening round of matches at Nelson Park, Napier Tech play Havelock North on pitch No3, Taradale play Cornwall on pitch No5 while Napier Old Boys Marist lock horns with CHB on pitch No1.
2013/14 squads
CHB: Scott Schaw (capt, RHB, Wk), Angus Schaw (RHB, RA offspin), Henry Hunter (RHB, LA spin), Driaan Lubbe (RHB, RAM med/fast), Jake Chalmers (RHB, RA med), James Mackie (LHB), Will Chapples (RHB, RAB), Ben Smith (RHB, wk), Kruger van Wyk (RHB, wk), Paul Lyttle (RHB), Toby Richardson (LHB, RA offspin), Brendon McLeod
(RHB, RA med), Adam Clark (RHB, LAB), Charlie Robson (RHB, RAB), Zac Jones (RHB, RAB), Andrew Douglas (RA med), Richard Hood (RA fast).
Coach: Brendon Bracewell. Manager: Colin Schaw.
CORNWALL: JC Jowsey (capt, RHB/RAB), Jayden Wiggins (vc, HB/RAB),
Jono Hall RHB, RA offspin), Scott Brocklehurst (LH bat), Liam Dudding (RH bowl), Sam Hurley RHB, RA legspin), Seb Langridge (Wk, RH bat), Matt Coulter (LH bowl), Jerome Groot (RHB/RAB), Jack Arnall (LA bowl), Hami Kennedy (LA bowl), Carl Cachopa (RHB/RAB), Charlie Crasborn (RHB/RAB), Michael Taiaroa (RH bat), Jarod Hughes
(RH bowl), Joe O'Connor (RH bowl).
Coach: Mike Shrimpton. Manager: Neil Jackett.
Gains: Jerome Groot (St John's College), Sam Hurley (Auckland), Matt Coulter (back from UK), Scott Brocklehurst (St Johns), Hami Kennedy (HBHS).
Losses: Jayden Waters (staying in Nelson), Jacob Smith (moved to Auckland), Tarun Nethula (Manawatu).
HAVELOCK NORTH: Todd Astill (capt, RHB, legspin, WK), Jared Priest (RHB, RA med), Ben Fair (LHB), Graeme Tryon (RHB, RA offspin), Al Saharia Rokon (RHB), Mathew Goodwin (RHB, WK), Alister Murdoch (RHB, WK), Stu McViegh (RHB, LA med), Jeremy Ketel (LHB, RA med), Sam Prescott (RHB, RA med), Matt Taylor (LHB, LA fast),
Harrison Gregory (RHB, legspin), Ben Broughton (RHB, RA med), Nick Ward (RHB), Mitchell Hammond (RHB), Dominic Thompson (RHB, WK), Ben Wheeler (RHB, RA fast).
Coach: Todd Astill. Manager: Jared Priest.
Gains: Mathew Goodwin (returning).
Losses: Adam Bryant (Australia), Kurt Richards (work), Jeet Raval (Auckland), James Taylor (work).
NOBM: Mathew Sinclair (capt, RHB, RAB), Jesse Singh (RH bat), Bevan Pollock (RHB, RAB), Roald Badenhorst RHB, RAB), Daniel Drepaul (RH bat),
Harry Ghodke RHB, RAB, Wk), Brendon Quinn (RHB, RAB), Sam Macklow (LHB, LAB), Sean Daniels (RHB, RAB), Andrew Matheson (RHB, RAB), Josh O'Brien (HB, RAB), Sam Burton (RHB, RAB), Ollie Sutton (RHB, RAB), Matthew Tabernakal (LHB, RAB).
Coach/manager: Mathew Sinclair.
NTOB: Morten Freer (capt, RH bat) Craig Herrick (vc, RHB, RHB), Josh
Paerau (LHB, Wk), Jayden Lennox (LHB, LAB), Indika Senarathne (RHB, RAB), Chrisitan Leopard (RH bat), Matt Edmonson (RH bat), Ruan Markram (RHB, RAB), Liam Rukuwai (LHB, RAB), Greg Hay (RH bat), Andy Thompson (RHB, RAB), Craig McGhie (RHB, RAB),
Jazz Williams (RHB, RHB), Daniel Hicks (RH bat), Hudson Craig (RH bowler), Steven Smidt (RHB, RAB), Bronson Meehan (RHB, RAB), George Diack (RHB, RAB).
Coach: Dale Smidt. Manager: Dave Caldwell.
Gains: Andy Thompson (allrounder from Wellington, work), Jazz Williams (RA legspin, from Auckland, work) and Craig Mchie, Daniel Hicks, Hudson Craig (all promoted from Seniors).
Losses: Alex McGarva (retired, soccer focus), Jurgen Anderson (Melbourne, cricket contract).
TARADALE: Toby Doyle (capt, RH batsman), Luke Kenworthy (vc, HB,
WK), Callum Hewetson (LHB, RA med), Ben Stoyanoff (RHB, RA med-fast), George McPherson (RHB, RA med-fast), Tevita Mpofu (LHB, RA med), Baden Wilton (RHB, RA offspin), Kieran Noema-Barnett (LHB, RA med-fast), Ajaz Patel (LHB, LA orthodox), Harrison Woolley (RH bat), Peter Cotterell (RHB, RA med), Lance Sivewright (RH bat), Mark Harris (RHB, LA med), Doug Bracewell (RHB, RA fast-med), Ben Murtha (RH bat).
Coach: Baden Wilton. Manager: Robert Wheatley.
Gains: Bracewell academy to be named; Harrison Woolley (Taradale High), George McPherson (NBHS only for first 3 weekends and then Sunday games).
Losses: James de Terte, Jamie Cotter (seniors), Sam Nibblett (Bracewell academy not returning), Ronnie Chokununga (Bracewell academy not returning).