Kent cricketer Mitchell Claydon brings character to the CD Stags.
CD Stags v Otago Volts Rd 1, Twenty20 New Plymouth
He has come from playing cricket in England but Mitchell Claydon says he's an "Aussie for the most part of the time".
That is not to say Kent county player Claydon, who lives in Sydney, is anything like the Aussie international Mitchells, Johnson and Starc.
For starters, the 32-year-old is a leftie but for some inexplicable reason bowls with his right and bats left.
"I'm a bit of both [Australian and English]," says Claydon who has plied his professional career in England and New Zealand and has no first-class experience in his country of birth, Australia.
The New South Welshman has "the Aussie fire" and English temperament, something he considers an asset.
But don't mistake that for the usual diet of Johnson-type sledging and in-your-face mentality before today's opening round of the Georgie Pie Super Smash Twenty20 when he makes his debut for the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags against the Otago Volts in New Plymouth.
"I have no aggressive bone in my body. I'm just too friendly," says the medium pacer who will bring a wealth of experience at Pukekura Park from 3.15pm today before round 2 at the virgin Yarrow Stadium, a rugby park for the televised encounter against the Volts on Saturday night and the Auckland Aces next Wednesday.
No doubt, Claydon, who started playing in England after former Australia opening batsman-cum-Queensland coach Phil Jaques paved the way for him to ply his trade for Yorkshire for two years, always wanted to play first-class cricket in Australia but the cutthroat age-group era he grew up in put paid to that.
"I was pretty useful then but the opportunities were not there."
Needless to say, Claydon didn't hesitate when CD coach Heinrich Malan approached him to help the squad's young brigade soak up some of his placid demeanour in the high-octane T20 cauldron.
"To be honest I snapped at it," Claydon said last night from his New Plymouth hotel where fellow talented batsman George Worker is his roomie.
He offers glimpses of the "character" that Malan says Claydon brings to the CD squad, fitting like a glove with other jokers in the squad.
Claydon's preoccupation is with Worker peeling off his shirt in a budding modelling career, after the import endorses his maturity and growth as an aspiring international batsman.
"I have the experience of over 100 games but my role is still the same - two overs opening and two at the death," he said, mindful some CD players would be making their debut.
The 2010-12 Canterbury Kings player is a lot more wicket savvy this time around.
"I've learned a lot in T20 cricket in New Zealand where you have very small grounds at rugby stadiums so there's no room for errors," he said, juxtaposing it with expansive venues in England that can be forgiving.
He's ready for the postage stamp-sized Taranaki venues.
Having played against the likes of Jesse Ryder in county cricket, Claydon relishes the thought of playing alongside him from today.
He believes Sri Lankan batting maestro Mahela Jayawardene also will bring immense benefits for CD's young in a few weeks.
Malan said the player to miss out would be decided just before the toss after a training session this morning.
"Jesse would obviously like to get out against his old teammates to get one over them but, at the end of the day, we want to form the brand of culture the Stags want to play."
Placed fifth in 2014-15, Malan said CD would be feeling the pressure in every game, not just against last-placed Otago.
Match details
For the opening round of the Georgie Pie Super Smash Twenty20 game:
* WHO: Central Districts Stags v Otago Volts.
* WHEN: From 3.15pm, today.
* WHERE: Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.
CD STAGS: Kruger van Wyk (c, wkt), William Young (vc), Tom Bruce, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Claydon, Dane Cleaver, Marty Kain, Andrew Mathieson, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Blair Tickner, George Worker.
OTAGO VOLTS: Nathan McCullum (c) , Warren Barnes, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder (wkt), Jacob Duffy, Josh Finnie, Anaru Kitchen, Rhys Phillips, Michael Rae, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells, Brad Wilson.