Barney natural leader Hunt

He's a man of few words at the best of times.

If anything he prefers to let his bat do the talking or bend his back to tickle the ribs of other batsmen as if to ask how good they are.

But a reserved Kieran Noema-Barnett has the confidence of the Central Districts Stags' stable to lead the team out on the park this summer.

"Barney will captain the four-day and one-day sides," coach Alan Hunt says of the 25-year-old before the 2012-13 campaign starts with the Plunket Shield opener against the Wellington Firebirds at Nelson Park, Napier, from October 28.

"It's a very good challenge for him and he's looking forward to it," Hunt says of the Taradale Cricket Club member.

That is not to say CD thinks Noema-Barnett is incapable of leading the HRV Cup Twenty20 campaign, which begins on November 23 with a flood-lit match against the North Districts Knights at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

"We haven't ruled him out yet but it's just that we haven't made a final decision on that.

"It's a big ask to have someone do the whole lot because there's a lot of stress with the job."

Hunt prefers the big-hitting allrounder to employ his aggressive approach to the T20 campaign without putting self-constraints that often tend to plague some captains.

Veteran ex-Black Caps Jamie How and Jacob Oram

are likely to assume the mantle of T20 captain.

"Jamie's floating around so logically he's indicated he'll do it if required. There's also Jake."

Noema-Barnett's appointment also signals a changing of the guard where a predominantly young generation of players is likely to find more traction with a relatively younger skipper rather than dropping their shoulders because of veteran skippers employing "old-school" methods.

With a plethora of experience between How, Oram, Mathew Sinclair, as well as incumbent Black Caps wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk, the young charges will not be shy of options to consult their seniors at trying times.

"The veterans won't be wearing the captain's armband but they'll still be leaders," Hunt explains.

The CD think tank also consider this an opportune time to blood new leadership.

"While Jamie and Mathew are around they have pledged their support. Kruger's also in that mix."

Hunt says Noema-Barnett commands enormous respect from his teammates.

"He also has a good cricket brain.

"He doesn't say a lot but he's very aware of what's happening both on and off the pitch."

Describing him as a natural leader, Hunt says the allrounder is also mindful of developing his game.

"Kieran's always been a popular player and someone all the lads can relate to both socially and on the park."

Equally prudent is the need for Noema-Barnett to be aloof when the need arises.

"At times he'll not be one of the boys. He'll have to distance himself and yet have good relationships with all the boys."

2012-13 fixtures

HRV CUP

From the Twenty/20 domestic men's competition (with CD Stags matches in bold):

Friday, Nov 2: Otago Volts v ND Knights Seddon Park, Hamilton TV.

Friday, Nov 9: Wellington Firebirds v Canterbury Wizards Westpac Stadium, Wellington TV.

Friday, Nov 16: Firebirds v Auckland Aces, Westpac Stadium, Wellington TV.

Friday, Nov 23: Knights v Central Districts Stags Seddon Park, Hamilton TV.

Friday, Nov 30: Knights v Wizards Seddon Park, Hamilton TV

Friday, Dec 7: CD Stags v Firebirds McLean Park, Napier TV.

Friday, Dec 14: Knights v Volts Seddon Park, Hamilton TV.

Friday, Dec 21: Aces v Wizards, Eden Park, Auckland, TV.

Sunday, Dec 23: Volts v Firebirds, University Oval, Dunedin, TV

Wednesday, Dec 26: Aces v Knights, Eden Park, Auckland.

Firebirds v CD Stags, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Thursday, Dec 27: Wizards v Volts, Aorangi Oval, Timaru.

Friday, Dec 28: Aces v Firebirds, Eden Park, Auckland, TV.

Saturday, Dec 29: CD Stags v Knights, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, TV.

Monday, Dec 31: Volts v Aces, Queenstown Events Centre.

Tuesday, Jan 1: Wizards v CD Stags, Saxton Oval, Nelson.

Knights v Firebirds, Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui.

Thursday, Jan 3: CD Stags v Wizards, Saxton Oval, Nelson.

Friday, Jan 4: Aces v Volts, Eden Park, Auckland, TV.

Sunday, Jan 6: Wizards v Firebirds, Mainpower Oval, Rangiora.

Knights v Aces, Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui.

Volts v CD Stags, University Oval, Dunedin.

Wednesday, Jan 9: CD Stags v Aces, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.

Friday, Jan 11: Wizards v Knights, Seddon Park, Hamilton, TV.

Sunday, Jan 13: Wizards v Aces, Mainpower Oval, Rangiora.

CD Stags v Volts, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.

Firebirds v Knights, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Tuesday, Jan 15: Aces v CD Stags, Eden Park, Auckland.

Volts v Wizards, University Oval, Dunedin.

Friday, Jan 18: Preliminary final (2nd v 3rd).

Sunday, Jan 20: Final.

Monday, Jan 21: Reserve day.

FORD TROPHY 2012-13

For the one-day (50-over) competition:

Tuesday, Feb 26: Wizards v Aces, Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

CD Stags v Knights, Saxton Oval, Nelson.

Firebirds v Volts, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Thursday, Feb 28: Firebirds v CD Stags, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Knights v Aces, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Wizards v Volts, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Sunday, March 3: CD Stags v Wizards, Saxton Oval, Nelson.

Volts v Knights, Queens Park, Invercargill.

Firebirds v Aces, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Wednesday, March 6: Aces v Wizards, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Knights v CD Stags, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Volts v Firebirds, Queen's Park, Invercargill.

Saturday, March 9: Aces v Firebirds, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Sunday, March 10: CD Stags v Volts, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.

Knights v Wizards, Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui.

Wednesday, March 13: Aces v CD Stags, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Wizards v Firebirds, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Knights v Volts, Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui

Saturday, March 16: Aces v Knights, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Sunday, March 17: CD Stags v Firebirds, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.

Volts v Wizards, University Oval, Dunedin.

Wednesday, March 20: Wizards v CD Stags, Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

Volts v Aces, University Oval, Dunedin.

Firebirds v Knights, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Sunday, March 24, preliminary finals: No 1 qualifiers v No 2 qualifiers; No 3 qualifiers v No 4 qualifiers.

Wednesday, March 27, preliminary finals: Losers 1 v 2 against Winners 3 v 4.

Saturday, March 30: Final.

PLUNKET SHIELD

For the four-day first-class matches:

Saturday Oct 27-30: Wizards v Volts, Mainpower Oval, Rangiora.

Sunday Oct 28-31: CD Stags v Firebirds, Nelson Park, Napier.

Sunday, Nov 4-7: CD Stags v Aces, Nelson Park, Napier.

Knights v Volts, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Saturday, Nov 10-13: Aces v Knights, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Monday, Nov 12-15: Volts v Wizards, University Oval, Dunedin.

Saturday, Nov 17-20: Knights v CD Stags, Harry Barker Reserve, Gisborne.

Monday, Nov 19-22: Wizards v Firebirds, Mainpower Oval, Rangiora.

Monday, Nov 26-29: CD Stags v Volts, McLean Park, Napier.

Aces v Firebirds, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Sunday, Dec 2-5: Aces v Volts, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Knights v Wizards, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Monday, Dec 10-13: Firebirds v CD Stags, Karori Park, Wellington.

Sunday, Dec 16-19: Aces v Wizards, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Monday 17-20: Firebirds v Knights, Karori Park, Wellington.

Thursday, Jan 24-27: CD Stags v Wizards, McLean Park, Napier.

Knights v Aces, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Volts v Firebirds, University Oval, Dunedin.

Wednesday, Jan 30-Feb 2: Aces v CD Stags, Eden Park No 2, Auckland.

Thursday, Jan 31-Feb 3: Volts v Knights, Queenstown Events Centre.

Firebirds v Wizards, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Thursday, Feb 7-10: Firebirds v Aces, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Wizards v Knights, Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

Thursday, Feb 14-17: Wizards v CD Stags, MainPower Oval, Rangiora.

Kinghts v Firebirds, Cobham Oval, Whangarei.

Volts v Aces, University Oval, Dunedin.

Wednesday, Feb 20-23: Wizards v Aces, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

CD Stags v Knights, Saxton Oval, Nelson.

Firebirds v Volts, Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.