Cricket: Kent bowler adds to CD brains trust

Mitchell Claydon

CD Stags v Otago Volts Super Smash T20

Australian-born Mitchell Claydon is joining the Central Districts Stags this week to bolster their depleted bowling stocks.

The 32-year-old player from Kent will jet from England to New Plymouth to begin the Devon Hotel-sponsored Stags' campaign in the glamour Georgie Pie Super Smash Twenty20 stint at Pukekura Park on Thursday.

A shin injury to Black Caps seamer Adam Milne has blunted CD's strike bowling stocks with Ben Wheeler and Bevan Small also in the casualty unit.

"We've got Milney unavailable for the first two games so we'll have 12 for the first two [games] and 13 for the last one in New Plymouth," said CD coach Heinrich Malan yesterday.

Claydon had clocked up more than 100 Twenty20 games for Kent so the right-arm medium pacer would add another dimension, Malan felt.

"He's not an express bowler but a clever one. We need someone with a calm head especially in Twenty20 where we have had people who have only played a handful of games.

"Your Mathiesons, Clarksons and Tickners, if they get an opportunity, it's important we have people out there with calm heads so he [Claydon] definitely brings that to the party for us."

Malan said Jesse Ryder, who registered a golden duck on debut for Wairarapa, his region of birth, on day one of Chapple Cup would be the other pivot.

"It's always fun coming back to play a little Chapple Cup cricket but, you know, Jesse's an integral part of our campaign from a white-ball perspective.

"Having his power at the top of the [batting] order and his skill from a bowling perspective will be important."

Malan said Dane Cleaver would return to the fold after a "fantastic three days over here".

"He's scored 100 and got his team [Manawatu] across the line so I reckon it's something he'll be keen to do for us."

Last summer's prolific run scorer, William Young, also returns from Lincoln, near Christchurch , from NZ A duties.

Marty Kain claimed the tweaker's portfolio with Plunket Shield left-armer Ajaz Patel missing out despite taking a five-wicket bag in Hawke's Bay's match against Taranaki in the Chapple Cup yesterday.

"Marty's our white-ball specialist at this stage while Ajaz misses out, unfortunately, but it's a good time for him to go back [to club and Bay rep] to work out a couple of things."

-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, Adam Milne.