A string of milestones were reached in 2024 with Ireland’s first test match wins, against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi and a home-pitch victory against Zimbabwe, and a tied two-match T20 series against South Africa.
Last year, Ireland beat the West Indies by 124 runs in a 50-overs match in Dublin, and on June 28 completed an historic 2-0 ODI series win over India.
A day later, Malan shocked the growing band of supporters by announcing he was opting out with a year to go on his contract, having decided it’s a good time to step back, as Ireland starts another era looking at the 2027 World Cup in southern Africa.
He’s now signed a three-year contract with the Central Districts Cricket Association, which in first-class Plunket Shield cricket, the one-day Ford Trophy series and Super Smash T20 cricket represents minor associations from Nelson and Marlborough in the South Island to Hawke’s Bay in the north, except Wellington.
Due back in Hawke’s Bay this month, Malan said in a Stags statement: “Hawke’s Bay is special to us. Our daughter Mila’s got really good memories of growing up there, and our two lads were born there.
“We’ve got a real affinity for the region and for CD,” he said. “It makes your heart feel nice and warm knowing that there’s people there who really care about us.
“I honestly can’t wait for the weeks to fly by so we can get our feet on the ground in Napier again,” he said.
Malan quickly found his feet across all formats when assuming his role with the Stags for the first time, at 31. They won consecutive Ford Trophy titles in his second and third seasons, back-to-back Plunket Shield championships in 2018 and 2019, and the 2019 T20 Super Smash trophy.
He coached Black Caps understudies New Zealand A in 2018.
He is looking forward to seeing the team’s high performance centre at Mitre 10 Park, Hastings, in person for the first time.
Since 2023, the 16-lane Rodney Green Foundation Turf Training Facility, adjacent Indoor Centre and athlete facilities have transformed CD’s ability to upskill and prepare elite and District representative players.
“What we lacked 10 years ago, the lads wouldn’t even think about now because they’ve got it all at their fingertips,” Malan said.
“They rock up in the morning at 8am, they don’t leave until 4pm, and they’ve got everything on site which is a fantastic prospect for us,” he said.
The 16 players so far contracted for the Stags for the 2026-2027 season include nine based in or linked to Hawke’s Bay.
Doug Laing began a career as a journalist at the Central Hawke’s Bay Press in Waipukurau in 1973, and, having worked in Masterton, Auckland and Wellington, has been based back in Hawke’s Bay since 1987, working for the Daily Telegraph in Napier and for Hawke’s Bay Today following a newspaper merger in 1999.