Arnel leaves Firebirds but the show bowls on
Brent Arnel is lacing up the bowling boots for another cricket season, but it won’t be with Wellington.
The veteran seamer confirmed he was ending a successful four-year association with the Firebirds, to return to Hamilton and rejoin Northern Districts where he made his name.
Arnel, who doubled as Wellington bowling coach and helped them win three titles, had already informed his team-mates and will head north with wife Jenna and two children - aged five and 10 months - on Friday.
The 38-year-old said it was mainly a family decision, to be closer to the couple’s parents and close friends who had settled down with children of similar age.
‘‘I came down here for the coaching opportunity and enjoyed my time, but I was at a crossroads period in my career,’’ Arnel said.
‘‘If I wanted to keep playing … I’d achieved what I wanted to achieve in Wellington, and it rekindled a bit of fire returning to where it all started.’’
Arnel approached ND coach James Pamment who agreed they could accommodate him on their contract list this season, returning to the scene of his first-class debut as a 27-year-old in 2006. He quickly rose up the ranks and played six tests between 2010 and 2012.
After the Firebirds lured Otago batsman Michael Bracewell and Canterbury allrounder Logan van Beek in recent weeks, Arnel is the first significant departure. Few in Wellington cricket circles would begrudge Arnel the move after his impressive contribution to the side’s on-field success and off-field culture over four seasons.
His arrival in 2013-14 coincided with the end of a decade-long Wellington title drought, when they beat ND in the 50-over final at Mt Maunganui under captain James Franklin and coach Jamie Siddons.
Arnel also played in the Firebirds’ first T20 title in December 2014, on familiar turf in Hamilton when they beat Auckland by six runs in the final.
Last summer was Arnel’s best in Wellington, as the Firebirds won another T20 title under new captain Hamish Marshall and coach Bruce Edgar, and qualified top in the Ford Trophy before losing to Canterbury in the final.
Arnel took 30 first-class wickets at an average of 21.40, and signed off his Firebirds career with 7-93 in their seven-wicket win over eventual champions Canterbury in March. He snared 125 Plunket Shield wickets at 31 for Wellington.
In the T20 Super Smash, Arnel was equal leading wicket-taker with Central Districts’ Seth Rance, snaring 15 at 24.46 and economy rate of 8.15.
Arnel aspires to be a head coach once he hangs up his boots, with a role on the Black Caps staff an obvious goal.