A more mature, experienced crop of Northland Cricket Association contracted professional player-coaches arrived in time for a hit and giggle in the club Twenty20 competition.
Chairman of the NCA Gary Bell said all seven professionals had arrived from far and wide late last week and were accounted for.
"This season we have
a more mature bunch who are highly qualified and have strong coaching backgrounds, which was critical to their selection," he said.
"We've got a wide range of skills within the group - specialist keepers, batsman and bowlers - which fitted in with their clubs but also with the approach we are taking this year."
Tauseef Satti from Pakistan returned to Kaipara Flats Club for his eighth season and fourth in Whangarei and will be joined by Wellington's Kevin Forde to assist him coach within the huge region.
Welshman Owain Hopkins returned to Whangarei for his third season with City Cricket Club and fellow Briton Dean Williams will help out Kamo.
Onerahi-Central will have South African Garth Anderson's services while Maungakaramea can call on his countryman, Finlay Brooker's specialist batting skills.
Finally, Oxfordshire cricketer and PE teacher Richard Kaufman was placed at Whangarei Boys' High School, which should suit him, though it was his first time playing alongside lads 10 years younger than himself, he said.
The professionals were in action with their new teams on Saturday in round one of Northland Club Cricket's Twenty20 premier grade competition at Kensington Oval, gearing up for the season and their NCA commitments.
Responsibilities for the pro-cricketers included coaching Have A Go junior cricketers on Wednesdays and Fridays at Cobham Oval, as well intermediate teams at their allocated clubs, and playing and coaching their premier grade side.
This year, NCA was trying to encourage a more team-orientated style of coaching, so the professionals would join forces to coach various sides, Bell said.
They would still coach at their own clubs at least once a week but they would also assist their fellow professionals with coaching teams at other clubs.
School visits and assisting parent coaches would also be part of their responsibilities.
