As a 10-year-old, Brent Arnel was kicked out of junior cricket because he bowled too fast and he was soon up against college-level players. Being pushed into the deep end so early, he recalls, helped him in the long run. Arnel is a product of a small-town upbringing, but access to facilities was never a problem because his parents owned a few indoor cricket schools in the area.

It later came down to a choice between a career in cricket or basketball but he chose the former when Northern Districts came calling. He made his debut in the 2006-07 season, playing four games, but his best performance was reserved for the following season. Arnel topped the wicket charts in the State Championships with 33 wickets and his performance earned him a place in the New Zealand A squad for the tour of India.

His impressive performances for the A squad against the England Lions in 2009 led to a call-up to the New Zealand Test squad against India. He didn't get a game, but earned another Test call-up the following year, against Bangladesh, as a replacement for the injured Andy McKay.