Coaching reshuffle at Central Districts

Two new coaches are in the mix at Central Districts Cricket.

Nelson’s Aldin Smith is the new CD A coach and Jamie Watkins from Taranaki is the new Central Hinds women’s coach.

Watkins takes over from Horowhenua-kapiti’s Nigel Brooke, who coached the women for two seasons. CD have had a reorganisation and Brooke will not have the time for coaching in his new job as community cricket manager, overseeing the amateur game.

Smith, who was the Nelson senior men’s coach last season, will move to Napier to take up the newly created role of coach performance and talent ID for CD and will also coach the A side, which was coached by Watkins last season.

The South African-born Smith spent five years at the internationally acclaimed Tuks Cricket Academy at the University of Pretoria. He may fill a similar role to the departed Craig Ross.

Ross was CD’S director of cricket since 2012, but left the job in June to become high performance operations manager of Hawke’s Bay Cricket.

Stags coach Heinrich Malan will look after the 15 contracted players, as well as their contracted Black Caps when they have them.

So Smith will look after all the players underneath the CD Stags senior men, including uncontracted Stags players and age-group players.

He will also be responsible for driving coach development throughout the region and setup a talent identification network.

‘‘I was thrilled when I received the call informing me that I was the person that got the role,’’ Smith said. ‘‘I am so humbled that Central Districts Cricket Association has put their faith in me, to drive an area which is so important to CD Cricket given the geographical area we cover.

‘‘There is a lot of young exciting talent within the Central Districts region and being able to work with the calibre of players that I will be, is an exciting prospect that I look forward to. I have the privilege to live my passion on a daily basis.’’

Watkins is on a two-year contract with the Hinds and will take what is likely to be a young team this season. He will also continue his as a Taranaki development officer.

Watkins has coached CD representative teams for more than a decade, and coached the Taranaki women’s team.

‘‘I am very appreciative for the opportunity to coach the Hinds and excited by the prospect of working with a young squad who are motivated to take the team to a higher level over the next few years,’’ said Watkins.

‘‘I have had an affiliation with the women’s game over a number years supporting and following my wife during her international and domestic career, as well as coaching at school and district level in Taranaki.

‘‘And [I] am looking forward to continued involvement through this appointment at what is a very exciting time for women’s cricket in New Zealand.’’