While the Bay of Plenty representative cricket season is some months away, the first steps in implementing another successful season for the Bay of Plenty Senior Men’s team, were undertaken recently.

 

James Pamment, who has taken Bay of Plenty to victory in the last two Fergus Hickey Rosebowl competitions, has been reappointed as the Senior Men’s team coach. In the two years that James has been in charge, the Bay of Plenty first eleven has annexed the symbol of ND cricket superiority, with the added bonus of the Brian Dunning (ND one-day series) trophy last season.

 

A senior winter training group has already started preparations, for a season where one of the major objectives will be to retain the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl, for the third successive year.

 

Bay of Plenty Cricket General Manager David Johnston said “Other associations are particularly keen to raise the bar, to ensure that Bay of Plenty doesn’t win the Fergus Hickey trophy for a third straight year”. “James Pamment has put in place an extensive pre-season program that will leave no stone unturned, to ensure that the players are prepared for the season ahead”

 

“With a number of Bay players likely recipients of Northern Knights contracts, there is a opportunity for a emerging group of players, to push for selection in the Bay of Plenty first eleven” With the appointment of Dave Richardson to a High Performance role within the region, we believe this will continue to add value to the age group programs we operate, which will ultimately lead to players pushing for senior representative selection”.

 

Complementing the role of the coach, are the senior selectors who will choose the members of both the Bay of Plenty Senior Men’s and Development teams, during the season.

 

Peter Swan will join Cameron Burns and Crispian Stewart from last years selection panel. Peter who has a long history in mentoring Bay of Plenty age group sides, will also coach the Bay Development team. His overview will include the development and transition of age group players to the senior representative teams.

 

Both Cameron and Crispian return to the selection bench, with the experience of playing in the cauldron of Baywide premier cricket, in the not to distance past. Cameron earned his stripes playing premier club cricket for Greerton and Otumoetai Cadets for over two decades, while Crispian Stewart hung up his cricket boots shortly after the Rotorua Central Premiers won the Williams Cup in 2007.

Author: Barry Leabourn