Cricket coach must stop commuting

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 34

Cricket coach must stop commuting

Bob Carter talks about his cricketing dilemma in an

interview with

JOHN COFFEY.

Bob Carter will have made the biggest single decision of his summer by the time the Canterbury cricket team he coaches begins its Shell Series campaign. For the last nine years Carter has enjoyed perpetual summers and continuous cricket by commuting between his native England and New Zealand. But Carter, who owns houses in both Christchurch and Northamptonshire (where he is the county club’s coach), must soon settle for one permanent address. “It’s not that I’m sick of travelling. Far from it, because I enjoy both jobs,” said Carter. “But the Canterbury Cricket Association wants a full-time director, and there is no way I could do that and travel to and from England every six months.

"And Northants has also put pressure on me for a similar reason. A decision has to be made one way or the other by Christmas,” he said. Wherever Carter’s coaching future lies, it will not affect his determination to help lift Canterbury from the bottom of the Shell Cup and Shell Trophy tables. “Over the last nine years Canterbury cricket has provided me with a pretty good living. I have given a bit back, but I would like to feel the Canterbury team was pointed in the right direc-

tion. Until then my job is not done,” he said. This will be Carter’s second season (the last of his present contract) as travelling coach with the Canterbury first XI. Unlike last summer, he now has a say in the team composition as co-selector with the convener, Brian Salt, and Wayne Wilson. “In England the coach never travels with the first team. The coaches over there are advisers to prepare the team and to guide younger players. There is always an experienced captain who actually runs the ship. “I believe that will happen again here — it would be good if John Wright was available for two or three years to bring the inexperienced players on,” said Carter. Canterbury, without Wright but including Michael Holding as Richard Hadlee’s replacement, began its 1987-88 Shell Trophy programme with victory over Auckland. From that high point its fortunes faded until it dropped back to last — in spite of taking first innings points in four other matches.

Since then the selection convener, Bryan Andrews, and another panel member, Lyn Sparks, have been deposed by Salt and Carter. The captain, Dave Dempsey, has retired, and Wright, free of international duties, was the logical successor. Carter admits there were frustrations.

“I don’t want to be overly-critical of the selectors, but last year I felt they did not really understand what my role was — or perhaps I didn’t understand theirs. “In England three people select the side, the coach, captain and the secretary-manager, who acts as convener. It is possible I was expecting

them (the Canterbury selectors) to do it the way I wanted. “Obviously, it didn’t work out,” he said. "If I was to carry on as coach it was imperative I be made a selector. That’s not to say I get my own way, but Brian (Salt) and Wayne (Wilson) are prepared to listen,” said Carter. The availability of

Wright and Hadlee will greatly boost Canterbury’s prospects of being prominent this season. Canterbury has held the Shell Trophy just once in the last decade, and Carter points to Cran Bull’s astute captaincy as having been vital to that success. A failure to press home winning advantages cost Canterbury heavily last season. “We lacked the instinct and experience to take advantage of our opportunities. Wright and Hadlee will made a hell of a difference this time,” he said. Carter does not believe Canterbury’s representatives were short of pride in playing for their province. “Rather, I think we put pressure on ourselves by having quite a high profile as a team — to have a high profile you have to earn it. We hadn't. “No we are starting again at the bottom and have to work our way up. At the end of the day it is the team which scores most runs and takes most wickets which wins and we have been sadly lacking at times.” The Canterbury coach makes valid comparisons with Otago, which completed a Shell “double” last summer. “No-one writes reams about how flashy a side

Otago is. But Otago has a lot of experience, many players who have proved themselves at that level, which all makes for a very hard side to beat. “We can’t go about talking of winning this or winning that — with the possible exception of Northern Districts you don’t hear the other provinces saying that. Certainly not Otago. “I’m sure the ability is here in Canterbury, but the players have to prove it. They have to transfer their success from other levels into first-class cricket,” said Carter. He partly agrees that Canterbury’s moderate inter-club standard has had a detrimental influence. “But I’m also a firm believer than you don’t solely pick a first-class side from club cricket. There is an established ladder to the top via agegroup, Emerging Players and Canterbury B teams. “There are a few exceptions like Ben Harris, who last year made so many runs in club games that he warranted a place in the Canterbury B side. From there he, and the other B team members, can challenge for promotion,” said Carter. Vacancies exist, and the identities of the frontrunners will be clarified when a squad of about 18 players is announced after the trials at Hagley Oval on Saturday and Sunday. Wright, Paul McEwan

and Rod Latham are certain to fill three of the top six batting positions. There are no obvious choices among the many contenders to plug the gaps, though the selectors could look favourably towards David Boyle’s “stickability” in the troublesome No. 3 slot. The presence of Hadlee in the late middle-order is a bonus, and Mark Priest will be looked upon to prove his value as an allrounder rather than a bowler with some batting talent. Carter feels the young wicket-keeper, Lee Germon, was tossed in a season too soon — “he missed the B team rung on my ladder” — but will not suffer lasting damage. Germon, however, also has his challengers. A most satisfactory first season has probably given Bill Lawrence the inside running to become Hadlee’s first lieutenant. However, Andrew Hintz, Stu Roberts and Chris Flanagan have had their moments in top company, while Roger Ford is also worthy of consideration. Carter promises the select few will be given an opportunity to consolidate their claims, that second XI players must produce consistently high performances to displace Shell Trophy representatives. “It’s time we started making strides towards putting Canterbury cricket back where it belongs,” he said.