Cricket: Cop that! CD sign Big Basher

Luke Feldman, 32, a Queensland police officer, who CD cricket have signed up for their Super Smash campaign to bolster bowling stocks for a week. PHOTO/Brisbane Heats, Big Bash

AT a cursory glance, it comes across as one former cop advocating another but the word is it's pure chance that Shane Bond recommended Brisbane Heat T20 merchant Luke Feldman as a week-long import for the Central Districts Stags.

"It's obviously just a coincidence ," said CD coach Heinrich Malan of Feldman who was a boy in blue like former New Zealand international strike bowler Bond, of Christchurch.

"We've been in constant communication with Shane Bond ... and he had only good things to say about Luke in the way he's fitting into the Brisbane Heat side," said Malan of the former Black Caps bowling coach who is performing a similar role with the Brisbane franchise in their Big Bash T20 competition with Daniel Vettori at the helm.

The table-topping Stags host second-placed Auckland Aces at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, tomorrow from 4pm before rolling out the postage stamp-sized carpet for the Canterbury Kings at the same venue on Sunday in their McDonald's Super Smash T20 campaign.

Until last year, Feldman was best known for his beat as a Queensland police officer in the north Queensland country town of Charters Towers.

The 32-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler played for Townsville before making an impact at the end of the 2009-10, going on to become a fully fledged first-class player with the Queensland Bulls when he claimed 30 Sheffield Shield wickets.

Malan said in terms of CD's skills acquisition the son of former Queensland One Nation party leader Bill Feldman would be ideal after they lost the services of seamer Ben Wheeler to the Black Caps for the Bangladesh ANZ T20 Series starting at McLean Park, Napier, on Tuesday.

"We were looking for someone who can bowl with the new ball at the top and then close out at the death overs."

Malan clarified that it wasn't necessarily a case of bowlers unable to measure up for CD to cast their nets across the Tasman for Wheeler's replacement.

"We're heading into the business part of the tournament so I have someone there to have the experience to fill the gap for us on what we were obviously after so that's why we have thrown a couple of lines in the water and we finally came up with Luke and what he brings to the table.

"We got a like-for-like replacement who is a little older and a little more experienced and has played in front of big crowds in the Big Bash and, hopefully, he can come here and do the same thing for us," he said of Feldman who was expected to jet into the country about 9pm last night.

Malan said Feldman was released for just a week through Brisbane who employ a rest-and-rotation policy.

With injuries plaguing the likes of Black Caps seamers Doug Bracewell and Adam Milne as well as Andrew Mathieson and Bevan Small.

The forecast for New Plymouth is for early drizzle then fine with westerlies and a high of 17 in a region where rain hampered the two opening rounds.

"It's a normal day in Taranaki so whatever happens we're comfortable that we'll get on with it."

Malan said they were delighted for Wheeler and batsman Tom Bruce who are in the 14-man Black Caps T20 squad and may make their debuts if selected to play.

The 25-year-olds' consistency and hard yards for CD have been attributed for their inclusion.

He said George Worker and Seth Rance's statistics spoke volumes over the past few years so they were unlucky to miss out.

"Bruiser has put on the numbers for the last 18 months and Wheels has always shown the ability to swing the ball at the top and even more so as someone who is experienced in finishing off at the back end.

"It's awesome for these guys and we wish them all the best in doing for the Black Caps what they have done for us for a while."

Malan said it was always an easier option to recruit players at a short notice from Australia, something that ND Knights were doing quite successfully whenever they lost their Black Caps, as opposed to recruiting them from England.

CD are two points above the Aces after seven games although the latter lost their third game to ND last night.

The Aucklanders and the Stags have won four games each and the latter lost two but the second-round rain-abandoned game against ND at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, has left CD with a no result, although it remains to be seen if that will make a difference when push comes to shove for the right to host playoffs.