Stags coach goes international

"I'm keen to get out there and get a bit of understanding of conditions in India." CD coach Heinrich Malan.

Central Districts coach Heinrich Malan is dabbling in coaching at international level.

Malan left for India this week with the New Zealand A team as an assistant to Shane Bond for two four-day game and five one-day games.

The 36-year-old Malan applied for the top job, but when former Black Caps fast bowler Bond got the gig, New Zealand Cricket sounded Malan out about the assistant’s role and he took it with the blessing of CD.

Malan is contracted with the Stags until the end of 2019, having been coach since 2013. He is happy with CD, but was keen on having a crack at the next level.

‘‘For me right now this is a great opportunity to get a bit of international experience,’’ he said. ‘‘The key part of that for me is making sure I can relate that back to a young group of players that are all knocking on that door to play for the Black Caps in the next 18 to 24 months.

‘‘I’m keen to get out there and get a bit of understanding of conditions in India and get a bit of an understanding what it’s like to play spin.’’

The trip to india is a first for Malan, and they will play in east coast cities Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Going with him on the trip are four CD men in batsmen George Worker, Tom Bruce and Will Young, and paceman Seth Rance, but Malan wants to see the whole team perform.

The Black Caps are touring India straight after the A side and that New Zealand squad will be named while the A guys are away, so Malan said it was a good incentive for the A team to perform.

CD bowlers Doug Bracewell and Ben Wheeler were not considered for the trip due to injury.

While Malan is away, general manager Lance hamilton will look after the side along with new talent ID and development manager Aldin Smith.

Jacob Oram is back as an assistant coach and will help out too, along with Central Hinds coach Jamie Watkins. Oram was assistant coach for two seasons, but was replaced in November by Englishman Ben Smith.

All the CD players who were playing overseas in the off season arrived back in the country last week and the first official training camp is next week.

There were nine contracted players working at their Napier base over the winter and aside from the New Zealand players, they will be together until the start of the season on October 23.

The Central Hinds have appointed a new captain in Wairarapa batter Anlo van Deventer.

Van Deventer, 23, takes over from Michelle Mitchell, who has retired. Van Deventer has played 36 matches for CD since she debuted in December 2012.

Manawatu seamer and White Fern Hannah Rowe is vice captain.

The 20-year-old Rowe has played 47 games for CD, as well as 12 one-day internationals and five Twenty20 internationals.