Knights keen to train with local young

Knights Cricket

CRICKET

THE Northern Knights are coming to town and want local children to join them at Harry Barker Reserve.

“The Knights are here on September 25, preparing for a three-day trial game against Auckland Aces on September 26, 27 and 28,” Poverty Bay Cricket operations manager Nicholas Hendrie said.

“They would love to see a huge crowd of kids from 3.30pm to 5pm on the 25th.”

A full Northern Districts squad would be here. Hendrie hoped that would inlude the Black Caps in the ND team, but this would depend on their other commitments.

“We’ll know closer to the time.”

Children’s spot prizes would add to the occasion.

“That night we’ll have an evening for coaches, parents and teachers who want to register to be a coach for the season.

“The ND staff will also run some coaching information talks that night.”

South African-born Hendrie said New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had introduced a rule that all coaches who took a cricket team this year had to be registered through the NZC platform.

“Each coach will be police-vetted and will be recorded on a platform that will help associations communicate with the coaches.

“It also has online courses that coaches can do free of charge. Each coach will also need to complete a vulnerable-person module to be eligible to coach.”

Meanwhile, Hendrie said registrations for the junior version of the Indian Premier League — the T15 Blast, which starts on October 19 — were coming along “very nicely”.

“We’ve had a big push in the junior colts section,” he said.

“We are nearly full and and soon I’ll be able to start drafting players into teams.

“We just need a few more intermediate grade and Year 9 and Y10 players.”

Hendrie said the senior Walker Shield T15 Blast was coming along well.

“We have 15 places left for the competition. I have made a cut-off of 48 players (12 players for each of the four teams). The auction night is on October 4 at Smash Palace at 6pm.

“That’s when the owners and captains will bid for players.”

Hendrie has recruited three South African cricketers for local competitions this season — Bruce Kerr (23), Matt Crampton (19) and Graham Hudson (21).

“All three are from Durban,” Hendrie said.

“Matt and Graham have been playing cricket in the UK and Bruce has been in South Africa.

“Bruce arrives here on September 24. Matt is here on October 1.

“Graham has exams in South Africa and will be arriving late in October after he has finished them.

“It will be great for the local clubs and they will bring different skills and ideas.

“They will also do some coaching while they are here.

“A bonus for the association is that all three players will be paying their own travel and accommodation expenses.

“They are coming here for the experience of playing in New Zealand.”