TOP MOVE: Ryan McCone's decision to switch allegiances from Cantebrury to CD is paying dividends on and off the field. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
IN any walk of life, when the curtains to transparency are opened it's not surprising to find how many people are willing to march through to share the security and trust it offers.
Domestic cricketer Ryan McCone is an advocate of that after leaving the confines of his Christchurch upbringing to redefine his worth at the Central Districts Stags' hunting grounds this summer.
"It's bloody good to be part of CD because the culture is very good because we're enjoying our cricket which makes it easier when there's good or bad," says McCone before the table-topping Stags host his former team, Canterbury Kings, in round nine of the McDonald's Super Smash T20 competition at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, today from 4pm.
That is, of course, not to say the culture at Canterbury Kings is bad by any means but it had its limitations, specifically for him.
"They pick from the whole of Canterbury in the end and I know they don't do that in CD where they pick guys on their merit and get everyone to do a job and I just enjoy that.
"I think it does wonders for the guys on the backs of the coaching staff."
After all, Canterbury offers its share of benefits, such as having all the top facilities and access to IQ based at the headquarters of New Zealand Cricket, not to mention a closer affinity with perhaps national selectors in aspiring to become a Black Cap.
Proximity made it easy to spend more time on training but the band of brothers in CD have found they have a stronger bond enforced through commuting between districts to play.
After seven summers with the Canterbury Kings, predominantly as a first-class cricketer, he decided to migrate to CD because of minimal opportunities to advance his white-ball game, although he wanted a change of scenery as well.
"I wanted to push on," says the 29-year-old who also knew a few Stags so saw that as helping ease his transition from the South.
It gives McCone comfort to co-exist in an environment now under coach Heinrich Malan where everyone's portfolio is succinct and translucent, which all add to a sense of accomplishment in what is, after all, a seasonal job.
A left-arm medium pacer who can produce the odd one every over or so to tickle a batsman under the ribs or give him the hurry on, McCone is no mug with the bat although he hasn't seen much of it in the T20 format.
He knew Black Caps greater squad member George Worker well after the Manawatu allrounder had drifted South for a couple of seasons to inject some impetus to his career when things weren't falling into place under the tutelage of former Stags coach Alan Hunt.
"I had a chat with him and looked at the proposition of moving so we got the wheels moving and talked to H [Malan]."
The rest has been history this summer.
It's easy to detect even the smile during the phone interview from Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, that McCone feels like he has just won second-division Lotto in the T20 campaign as a predominantly youthful Stags side continue making gigantic strides towards becoming formidable foes for the other five major associations in another couple of summers - that is, if they aren't already one.
As he approaches the 30-year-old mark, he doesn't really feel like time is his enemy.
"If you're a kid growing up in New Zealand, you're only half a season away from higher honours so that's part of the move as well to keep improving.
"I knew as well that at the CD set up that would happen so I see it as a really positive move.
"We play cricket to play at international level so every cricketer aspires to play for the Black Caps and that's obviously a goal so I just have to keep challenging myself with my cricket."
McCone says the scattered catchment area of CD means a nomadic lifestyle only lends to reinforcing a sense of belonging on the road.
"I think it's a real bonus."
He was a late bloomer in cricket, going through the under-17s and age-groups in Canterbury.
"I missed out in the New Zealand under-19s but, to be fair, I probably didn't start developing in cricket until I was in my early 20s."
In rugby heartland, McCone played the country's No 1 sport during winter although his father was a rugby league man who went on to represent the South Island, so few in the clan saw cricket coming into the family photo albums.
"It wasn't until I was in my late teens that I started focusing on cricket more because in Canterbury rugby is a big part of life so I naturally played that while my old man had played rugby league."
The McCones, though, are a sporty family with elder sister Kimberley a former record holder in age-group swimming.
He started off as a speed merchant with the cricket ball but his slight stature meant he has metamorphosed into a medium-pacer although his growth spurts kept him in contention over the years.
"I guess I became a medium-pace bowler ... although I learned to control the ball and to swing it a bit more and that's help me become a little stronger and taller and quicker."
He attended high school at St Andrew's in Christchurch with CD spinner Marty Kain, of Nelson, where "the great coach" Mike Johnson honed their skills.
His former Lancaster Park Woolston Club coach, Gary MacDonald, who also coaches in Nelson now, further polished his prowess.
"Those few years at high school were crucial for my development and they were very useful for Marty and my career," he says, singling out former Canterbury Kings mentor MacDonald, a left-arm orthodox spinner, also for his ability to furnish cricketers with people skills.
McCone and Kain attended university in Canterbury, although the latter attended lectures at Lincoln on the outskirts of the city.
"We flatted together and worked very closely," says McCone who has a double degree in law and commerce as a safety net should something stall his progress in the summer code.
"I've got something behind me so I have no worries after 10 years of studying."
He sees his rugby experience as added value to share with the youthful Stags when the need arises.
So how does he measure up when facing his hometown boys in the domestic cricket arena?
"You always want to do well and, of course, you always want to get one over them but at the end of the day it's professional sport - guys play each other a lot these days so I guess it's just part and parcel of the job we do," he says.
In fact, it simply boils down to preparing like the Stags prepare for any other game despite his inside knowledge on the Kings.
"Nothing's a secret any more out there," says McCone, reiterating the frequency of interaction season in season out among the six major association teams means everyone is pretty knowledgeable.
The Stags' purple patch,he suspects, is down to a superb batting line up that ensures the bowlers have the room to breathe.
"When defending larger targets we back our batters to get there anyway so it's a great position to be in anyway."
While they are in T20 heaven, McCone, says it's vital to keep their heads out of the clouds because of the fickle nature of a format that can rapidly turn into a lottery.
"We just have to keep that momentum going as much as we can going into the finals," he says before they play the final pool match against Auckland Aces at Eden Park outer oval from 4.10pm on Tuesday.