Cricket: CD selector mindful of pressures on young

Kerry O'Neill.

Central Districts Stags' third selector Kerry O'Neill understands what the demands are on young cricketing talent.

"In today's sport, young people have to give up a lot to be good," said O' Neill last night after he was named to help coach and convener of selectors Heinrich Malan and CD director of cricket Craig Ross.

The 56-year-old New Plymouth managing director replaces Gary Cunningham who stepped down after six seasons in the role.

"It's a lot more demanding on them [youngsters] because they can't do anything without a cellphone or social media on them," said O'Neill who often tells youngsters there's no second chance so when the window of opportunity opens at an elite level they should make the most of it.

O'Neill is no stranger to the country's premier summer sport in Taranaki. He played senior grade cricket for Patea from 1978 until 1988 and subsequently for Hawera until 1994.

The allrounder represented CD Colts in 1980 and Taranaki from 1982 to 1984, coached Hawera United for 13 years in two stints between 1993 and 2007 and was Taranaki Hawke Cup selector from 1995 until 1998 and again (as assistant coach and later coach) from 2006 until 2013.

It impressed O'Neill that CD had paved a clear pathway for developing talent in a testing fragmented region.

"Heinrich and Craig have set up a pretty good structure so it'll be pretty easy for me to come in," he said, keen to fulfil his duties at the Chapple Cup (one-day interdistrict tourney), Hawke Cup games (symbol of minor union supremacy) and identifying talent for succession.

"If you keep bringing in imports then you'll close down those pathways."

He felt the predominantly young Stags with veteran Kruger van Wyk would perform well in the 2015-16 season despite not having the full services of Ross Taylor and Adam Milne.

It was imperative for a selector to be watching a player who might make a good 50 on a bad wicket.

With a New Zealand A side to be named this summer, O'Neill said it was vital for the Stags to be familiar with the potential replacements.

O'Neill will meet the eight district coaches and Stags during their early October camp in Napier.