Top cricket coach bowls over business event

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson delivered two decades of cricket coaching experience to local business owners at a networking event, held at the Bayleys Real Estate office in Warkworth, on February 16.

The evening was jointly sponsored by One Warkworth Business Association and Bayleys Warkworth, and gave the audience a chance to quiz Mr Hesson on the thinking behind a Black Caps side ranked number one in T20 cricket.

Mr Hesson also had some advice on grass roots cricket, with a particular focus on the Kaipara Flats Premiers during one of their tougher seasons.

The premiers, after expectations to take some silverware this season, finished fifth in the Northland T20, are third in the Oxford Trust Two Day Competition and sixth in the Lion Red Cup one day competition. Coach Kevin Forde acknowledged the loss of some key players and the inability to score runs had taken its toll on the side.

Mr Hesson says it is important to set targets that are within a side’s capabilities.

“It’s important to focus on areas you can improve on, and build from there,” he says. “Don’t let the results consume you; don’t get desperate.”

Mr Hesson says it is difficult to be consistent in cricket.

“You fail more often than you succeed as a player so it’s all about closing that gap.

“As a coach, the most important thing is to give the batsmen clarity around their role and that’s all you can do.

“You also need a balance in players. If you’re going to bring less experienced players into the team, it’s important you have some older heads to teach them.”

Mr Hesson says the game has to be fun and suit a young person’s lifestyle to get players on board, which is why he thinks the shortened format of T20 has been a success for the game.