Cricket: Oram will have chance says Malan

CD coach Heinrich Malan says Sunday night in Wellington "wasn't fun". PHOTO/FILE

While Jacob Oram is disappointed in failing to retain his specialist white-ball coaching stint Central Districts Stags coach Heinrich Malan says the former Black Caps allrounder has the opportunity to return to the stable next season.

"In a perfect world we would have been able to finance another specialist coach but sometimes you just have to skin the cat differently," says Malan after CD Cricket appointed county cricket coach Ben Smith, who represented the Devon Hotel-sponsored CD Stags during the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, to support him during the McDonald's Super Smash Twenty20 and one-day Ford Trophy competitions.

When he walks into the office of new CEO Pete de Wet, Malan hopes to ask for more money hopefully the major association will have enough in its coffers.

"The boys have enjoyed working with Jake and if things work out we'll have him back in the mix," he said soon after the Stags returned from their abandoned four-day Plunket Shield against the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve.

He reiterated coach Smith, not to be mistaken for the incumbent batsman by the same name, was a "through and through CD man" with some playing and coaching experience.

The Englishman arrives in Napier on Friday and will rest at the weekend before rolling up his sleeves.

The deferred start to yesterday's shield game came on the heels of the earthquake minutes after midnight on Sunday, which left everyone with jangled nerves.

Frequent aftershocks and inclement weather in the capital put paid to any thoughts of play despite structural engineers deeming the Basin Reserve safe.

Malan echoed the sentiments of New Zealand Cricket that proceeding with play would have been unfair on sleep-deprived players.

"Sunday night wasn't fun and we started off today [Tuesday] with aftershocks following from last night.

"It's not an ideal scenario so, like the weather, it's out of our control," he said.

NZ Cricket will consider options for re-playing the first-class match.

Yesterday, leaders ND had a washout against Auckland at Mt Maunganui, and are 324-5 while Otago's match with Canterbury in Invercargill was restricted to 7.1 overs as Andrew Ellis pressed on to 196 before the Kings declared at 446-6.

Malan said the Stags had dispersed to their homes and would play club cricket on Saturday before assembling in Napier on Monday for the round five clash against the Knights at Nelson Park.

A T20 quadrangular tourney, involving CD A and ND, Auckland and Wellington counterparts, will be staged in Taupo on Monday/Tuesday.

It would enable "leftover" squad members who miss out on the shield games, as well as those returning from injuries, time on the crease.

"It'll give guys like George Worker some game time leading into the T20 campaign."

While Jesse Ryder had indicated last summer he was only playing white-ball cricket for CD Malan said the ex-Black Cap was willing to help out in the red-ball competition if the need arose.

"With Youngy [captain William Young] in the NZ A team and Georgie injured, Jesse jumped at the opportunity to be on the park environment with the boys," he said, adding it was a pity the game was abandoned without a ball bowled.