No hesitation

YOUNG SKIPPER: Thorn Parkes, 19, has been named captain of the Poverty Bay men's cricket side for a T20 tournament in Taupo starting tomorrow. Picture by Liam Clayton

Nineteen-year-old Thorn Parkes did not hesitate before he accepted the captaincy of the Poverty Bay men's cricket side.

Parkes will lead the team in a Northern Districts T20 tournament in Taupo starting tomorrow.

He was surprised when he got a phone call from Andrew Gibbs, the skipper in Poverty Bay's first three 50-over games this summer.

The leadership of Gibbs has been praised by selector Ryan Majstrovic but he has described himself as something of a reluctant skipper and Parkes was pleased to get the vote of confidence from Gibbs and the Poverty Bay set-up.

'It was a pleasure hearing it from him,' Parkes said.

The batting prodigy has captaincy experience.

He led the King's College first 11 in Auckland during his last year at school. That was a side coached by former New Zealand off-spinner Dipak Patel and they had a successful stint, winning the Auckland Premier schools competition in 2018.

Patel encouraged the players to have a strong work ethic, he said.

Parkes has also captained the Northern Districts under-19 side.

'It's always a privilege. I was stoked to do it at the time and I enjoy it.'

Parkes said he enjoyed the influence and responsibility attached to captaincy and liked to help others learn.

The T20 version of the sport was fast-moving and could be demanding for captains but he was up for the challenge.

'There are always others in the team to help you out.'

His philosophy as a captain included being adaptable — 'changing with the situation' as the game went on.

The left-handed batsman is one of Poverty Bay's best prospects in years.

He has played for Northern Districts A, which is the level below first-class cricket, alongside Poverty Bay opening batsman Nic Hendrie.

This week, Parkes has had a little extra captaincy practice in Gisborne.

He played in a Northern Districts secondary schools' tournament, for which Poverty Bay fielded a side that included some adults.

Parkes started a commerce degree at Otago University this year.

The Poverty Bay men's side have had a rough start to the season, suffering two heavy defeats and one loss by 39 runs.

Poverty Bay are due to play against the Counties-Manukau first 11 at Owen Delany Park tomorrow afternoon and have two matches on Monday and another two on Tuesday.

Poverty Bay: Thorn Parkes (captain), Nic Hendrie, Bruce Kerr, Nadeera Nawela, Robbie Tallott, Alex Gooding, Andrew Gibbs, Josiah Turner, Parminder Kulaar, Marshall Norris, Paul Stewart, Jimmy Holden, Travis Mitchell.