Awards night banter

Whanganui cricket fan Dave Berry rubbed shoulders with the elite when receiving his Outstanding Contribution to Coaching community award in Auckland last week.

Award-winning self-confessed Whanganui cricket fanatic Dave Berry was in his element at the ANZ New Zealand Cricket awards in Auckland last week.

Berry was one of a number to receive community-based awards during the plush dinner at the Viaduct alongside New Zealand's cricketing elite.

Berry, affectionately known as Straw, received the Outstanding Contribution and Services to Coaching award for his tireless volunteer work over more than three decades.

"It's the first time I've been to something so grand with all our best players and coaches at the dinner," Berry said.

"When my wife Beth and I arrived in Auckland they picked us up and drove us the the plush Pullman Hotel where we stayed. Then along with the other community award winners - about eight of us - they took us to Cricket NZ headquarters where we got to know each other so we wouldn't feel out of place at the main event - that was a real icebreaker.

"I was also fortunate during the dinner to run into some guys I had played with or coached from down these ways and that helped ease us into the event.

"The main thing to impress me was just how professionally the event was run, but also what others had achieved to earn their awards. Before the dinner we were taken through a dry run of the ceremony where we had to tell people a little bit about ourselves.

"I told them I was only here to receive the award on behalf of all the tireless volunteer coaches around - it wasn't just about me."

Later in the evening Berry got to chat one-on-one with several of the Black Caps, including captain Kane Williamson and coach Mike Hesson.

"I told Kane that if he put more into improving his off-spin bowling we would win a lot more tests. He listened and laughed saying he would try during the IPL - amazing what gets said after a few pinot noir."

Berry quizzed coach Hesson about his coaching style rather than offer advice.
"I was interested how involved he was during a match. He told me things are discussed during lunch and afternoon teas, but he pretty much let's then get on with it. I did speak about what I planned to do with the Tech team I coach by home. Next season I will be encouraging them all to do to a coaching course.

"It will benefit them in at least three ways - it will give them a coaching certificate, it will help their own game and it provides a good service to Wanganui cricket and also add longevity to their clubs."

But the most striking discovery on awards night was how approachable the elite squad was.

"They all eat with a knife and fork like the rest of us, really down to earth. But then again I've always said cricket is a character-building game."