Goodin nabs contract with Northern Knights

A strong cricket season landed University of Waikato student and right-arm pace-bowler Tony Goodin a six-month contract with the Northern Knights.

Goodin, in his final semester of a Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies, takes up his duties next month.

He started cricket "in the back yard with the old man" before going through Kiwi Cricket then on to play for the Mount Maunganui Cricket Club as a junior.

Goodin says he is looking forward to his season with the Knights, especially as he and the team's coach, James Pamment, go back a long way. Pamment coached him when he was a 7-year-old.

He says he was "pretty stoked" when he heard about his selection for the Knights.

"It was a lot of hard work, but it's what I've always wanted to do. I hope it will one day lead to playing for New Zealand," Goodin says.

His contract with the Knights is a reflection of the great season he has had with Bay of Plenty. He is Bay of Plenty Cricketer of the Year 2012-2013 after smashing the club's all-time most wickets in a season record with 44 wickets in 12 appearances and helping the team retain the coveted Hawke Cup.

And what he likes most about cricket?

"Every game is different and you always have good guys around you," he says.