Lance Cairns
POVERTY Bay cricket selector-coach Lance Cairns says he is not overly concerned with results this season or “even next season”.
“I’ve given myself three years to turn things around, but in the third year I would be expecting to see some positive results . . . wins,” the former New Zealand test player said.
“We’ve got three tough two-day games coming up — Counties Manukau away in two weeks, Hamilton at home and Northland away — but I like the two-day games.
“With the white-ball (limited-overs) games, it’s all about going for it with the bat.
“But the red-ball game, which I prefer, is a different mindset and that’s what I’ll be focusing on in the nets.
“The players have to be prepared to change their mindset.
“Two-day stuff is all about occupying the crease and not, under any circumstances, giving your wicket away.
“In club cricket you’ll always get plenty of loose balls to put away, but in the longer version of the game, and against better bowlers, our batsmen have to learn to be patient.”
Under normal circumstances when coaches talk about “performances, not results” I tend to cringe.
At the end of the day, results are the measure of success for coaches and players.
But on this occasion, I can go along with Cairns . . . improved performances this season and the next can translate into results in Year 3.
As Cairns said, “it’s not going to happen overnight”, which is another reason he has started introducing young players into his wider squad.
Campion College bowler Sam Patterson and Boys’ High batsman Drew Scott have already made their Bay debuts, while medium-pace bowlers Blake Taylor (Horouta) and Harry Singh (Bollywood Stars) were called into last night’s practice session.
Both impressed with their enthusiasm, attitude and bowling.
Following the rep session, Taylor joined his father Greg and sister Phoebe in the nets, along with their Horouta teammates.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was asked to come along to the rep training . . . I never thought that would happen,” the 19-year-old Horouta captain said.
“To have someone like Lance Cairns giving advice on bowling . . . unbelievable, I can’t get over it.
“I can’t wait to put into practice what he said.”
Cairns said he saw his role as one of helping players develop their natural games in a way that would help them improve as individuals and in ways that benefited the team.
“Players have natural talents but need to understand the game and be taught how to develop their talent,” he said.
“Harry (Singh) has been brought in to give him experience bowling to representative players on good grass wickets. I’m looking to see if Harry and Blake can move the ball. It’s not always about pace.
“Gary (Singh), who was picked for his batting, has been bowling brilliantly in our games. He can move the ball through the air and could be an option to open the bowling.
“Bringing Sam (Singh) into the squad for the last three games gives us someone who can anchor an innings, bat right through. He understands the game and wants to do what’s best for the team.”