Cricket: Sameness reflects strength in CD culture

The Central Districts Stags are reaping the benefits of creating an environment of depth and development where players don't start looking elsewhere if they miss the cut. Photo/Warren Buckland

Nothing actually jumps out and grabs if you peruse the list of players Central Districts have offered in first-round domestic contracts to for the 2017-18 summer of cricket.

Sure, Marty Kain and Andrew Mathieson are no longer in the mix but that's hardly startling considering the spinner retired at the end of last summer and the seamer selflessly revealed this month he wasn't intending to deny a youngster a contract while playing the waiting game on his injured knee.

The air of sameness reflected in the initial cull of 13 isn't one of a lack of imagination or resignation but actually one of allegiance and growth.

For Stags coach Heinrich Malan it's an endorsement of the vision and foresight of the major association when he implemented a structure to ensure depth and quality in CD's catchment-driven stocks.

"It says something about the culture and environment we've created and we've worked hard on it so none of our players is looking to leave," says Malan.

Subsequently some quality players are going to miss out on a cushy number when the contracting process is dusted with the second round to settle a 15-member squad, in line with the other five major associations.

The major associations had the choice of collecting between nine and 14 contracts at their discretion in the first round.

CD's two remaining players will be asked to sign on the dotted line on July 26 and the deal sealed by July 31 in what is believed to be a procedure that induces increased competition for the final contracts.

The prospects have compelling cases to make the remaining two berths and have an equally valid reason to pack a sad if they don't but Malan remains staunch that those who miss out will listen to the voice of reason.

"They enjoy the environment and want to play for the Stags so from our perspective it's fantastic to see that sort of thing happening."

The hopefuls include Mitchell Renwick, Bevan Small, Navin Patel, Liam Dudding, Christian Leopard as well as a cluster of under-19 players in the age-group World Cup equation in February next year.

"There are some fantastic players on the radar who are putting themselves up for contention to play for the Stags in the years to come so it's a big part of what we've tried to develop in the past few years."

No doubt, he emphasises, CD will not try to dissuade anyone who wishes to cross the floor to enhance their careers.

"If someone can gain the opportunity of game time we'd definitely not stand in any players' way."

The ranking process embraces player performance from the previous season and their worthiness heading into the new summer, based on a New Zealand Players' Association formula.

"It's an interesting formula at best, to be fair, but it's obviously what we've got to use in trying to make things work."

Malan says it becomes tricky working under the formula when CD have players who have been injured for more than two seasons.

"I suppose you have to try to look at the crystal ball to see whether they are going to be injured again or having another seamer involved or contracting another allrounder."

Malan feels eight players in the current crop are good enough to make the top four of any major association cull in the country.

The likes of Doug Bracewell, captain William Young, Ben Wheeler, Tom Bruce and Jesse Ryder, to name a few, fall in that category.

"Again, it tells us something about the environment that we've created. It's easy to be ranked higher at a different association but it's a case of how they value playing with their mates and they value the environment they've created from a team perspective and wanting to play for the Stags."

He feels CD performed relatively well last season in all three formats.

Malan reiterates the mantra of last season that if his players buy into the concept of consistency then more will be accepted into the Black Caps fold, such as Bruce and seamer Seth Rance making their debuts last summer.

2017-18 CONTRACTS

Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Joshua Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (wkt), Greg Hay, Ryan McCone, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler, William Young (c).