CATCHING UP WITH – James Pamment Welcome to the first 2013/14 edition of Catching Up With - where we chat to Bay of Plenty Cricket people about their current cricket activities, plans for the future and in some cases look back at cricket careers of former players. In the edition we caught up with new Northern Knights Coach James Pamment at the Bay Oval during the Knights pre-season hit-outs against Wellington and ND A. One of Bay of Plenty Crickets favourite sons, James played for and coached the Bay, before progressing through to the Northern Districts ranks as their High Performance Coach and the ND A Coach for the past four seasons, before being given the reigns of the Northern Knights this season. A hard hitting batsman who took few prisoners when at the batting crease, he played 10 games for the Bay in the 1997/98 and 1998/99 seasons. His contemparies in the Bay side were Matt and Robbie Hart, Grant Manners, Derek Beard, Neil Howard and Graeme Aldridge who made his Bay debut in James first season in the Blue and Gold strip. Sixteen years later the new Knights coach and G have been reunited, with James coaching the ND star who is in the twilight of a glittering career. Three Fergus Hickey Rosebowls in four seasons as Bay of Plenty coach testifies to the coaching contribution that James made in Bay of Plenty cricket. What does it mean to you to be appointed the Northern Knights Coach? It is a huge honour. When I returned to cricket to coach the Bay in 2007, I didn’t have any first class coaching aspirations, so too progress to this important role in six years is very rewarding and exciting. What are your Goals and Aspirations for the current Season Of course I want to prepare a team to win every game, however the three forms of the game that we play at the professional level, sets three completely different challenges throughout the season. Never being completely sure when our Black Cap players are available is another challenge that awaits me. While we want to win every game, my overriding goal is to have each and every individual player in the squad develop and progress their games during the season in an environment that is both supportive and enjoyable. How many players are in your Northern Knights Squad? The Knights have 14 contracted (professional) players along with our five nationally contracted Black Caps when they are available. We also have Daniel Vettori in our squad who elected not to take a contract with NZC or ND due to his injury rehabilitation, which is going really well. In addition we have introduced an 11 man Future Knights wider training squad of amateur players from throughout the Northern Districts region. The ND High Performance team led by Pat Malcoln, Peter Zanzoterra and myself have put together a new High Performance structure. The structure commences with the Northern Knight, The Future Knights wider training squad and the Senior Development program. The two teams selected from the top end of the structure are the ND Knights and the Northern Districts A team. Age group cricket provides members of the Junior Development and Primary HP programs. In total we have around 120 players involved from the Knights & Spirit squads through to the Primary level. In a new initiative to assist with the ND coach development program, District Association Coaches have been empowered to deliver the Age Group HP program in their own respective regions. Tell us about the Bay players in the Knights Squads The Northern Knights have eight Bay players available to us during the season. Skipper Daniel Flynn, Graeme, Jono Boult and Tony Goodin are Knights contracted players while Trent Boult. Cory Anderson and Kane Williamson have New Zealand contracts. In addition our Knights wider training squad includes Bharat Popli, Joe Carter, Sean Davey and Brett Hampton. Tell us a little about your thoughts on the Bay of Plenty Cricket pathway It’s evident that since the Bay pathway was put in place over a decade ago it has become a launching pad for success. Bay of Plenty Black Caps Flynny, Trent and Kane were the first graduates. In more recent times, players such as Bharat, Hammer, Joe Carter, Sean Davey, Tony G and Peter Drysdale have been instrumental in the Bay winning and then defending the Hawke Cup on three occasions last season. There has been a good improvement in Baywide premier club cricket since the pathway was put in place, with players able to develop their skills in a competitive club cricket environment. The Bay Oval has also played a huge part in the development of the Bay players, with Jared Carter and his team providing early season grass wickets to practice and play on, along with one of the best prepared grounds in the country. What are your tools for success with the Northern Knights I believe in a holistic approach to cricket that encompasses achieving excellence on and off the field of play. Northern Districts Management has put in place a new set of values to assist with new and higher standards of achievement. We will be working hard, we will be enjoying each other’s company and we will be striving for improvement and success. What selection processes have you put in place The selection processes for the season started with a comprehensive winter training program for a wider training group. Our spring training camp last week and the pre-season games upped the intensity for selection. From here on in selection will be performance driven and the needs of the respective XI’s we need for the next game. Where to from here Labour Sunday and Monday, will see a squad of fringe Knights players test their skills and ability against the Auckland Aces, who are training here over the long weekend. From there we will select our first team of the season, to play Auckland at Seddon Park in a (four day) Plunket Shield match which kicks off on Thursday 31st October 2013.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:43:49 +0000