Observations on Batting Techniques, Coaching & Fitness

Canterbury - Season SummaryCanterbury age group teams achieved muchsuccess over the past season. Apart fromthe U19s, all teams won their respectivetournaments.The team results are listed below. Whilst theresults of our age group representative teamsare not as important as the development ofour cricketers, it is nevertheless a reflection ofthe impact that the development programmeshave had on our young players.Wiseman, McCullum, Martin, Cunis, Stead)which has provided opportunities for formerage group players to make the step up tofirst class cricket. It is encouraging and acredit to the players and the coach, DaveNosworthy, that the team has performed sowell. Dave has created a very tight unit thathas worked extremely hard on fitness and skilldevelopment and fully deserve the successthey have enjoyed.I would emphasise that our ultimate goal is toprovide the finest opportunities and the bestenvironment for our young athletes to developtheir skills. We must continue to challengeour coaches and evaluate our developmentsystems to provide the ultimate learningexperience so that both coaches and athletescan both enjoy their cricket and reach theirpotential.Results of Canterbury age group teams forthe 2007-8 season:Canterbury ‘A’The Canterbury ‘A’ team were competitive butfailed to win any games. A large number ofplayers were used (24) which, whilst givingthem exposure at this level, was not idealfor team cohesion and continuity. All theirgames were played on the excellent batsmanfriendlyMainpower Oval in Rangiora. DarrenBroom and Michael Davidson were the mostsuccessful batsman and bowler respectivelyand were rewarded by selection for theTeam Tournament Position CoachU19 National 1st = 2 day Mike Johnston6th 1 day6th overallU17 National 1st 2 day Neil Fletcher1st 1 day1st overallI wouldemphasisethat ourultimate goalis to providethe finestopportunitiesand the bestenvironmentfor our youngathletes todevelop theirskills.Canterbury Black Zonal U15 1st Glenn HooperCanterbury Red Zonal U15 2nd Stephen CunisWomen’s Devt National 1st Mandie GodlimanU17 Girls Zonal U17 1st Nigel MarshCanterbury WizardsThe Wizards have generally ‘punchedabove their weight’ this season being verycompetitive in all competitions reaching thesemi-final of the State Shield, missing outon the State Twenty20 final on run rate andat the time of going to press having just wonthe State Championship. Canterbury haslost many experienced players in the lastcouple of years (Cairns, Astle, McMillan,Wizards later in the season. The team hadworked very hard over winter and remainedvery positive despite some disappointingresults.This continues to be a very valuabletournament that provides opportunity forpotential first class players to competeagainst quality opposition in first classconditions.