CRICKET - Knights coach keen to seal job

Grant Bradburn is a familiar face at Cobham Oval but when he arrives in Whangarei tomorrow the fancy hat he now wears as the Northern Knights' new coach might just stand out.
It's no surprise he's in charge of the team but it has happened a lot quicker than anyone expected. When the Knights' coach at the beginning of the season, Andy Moles, earned promotion to take charge of the Black Caps side, Bradburn and assistant coach Craig Ross were the obvious choices to step in.
"I've always coached right throughout my career and I've coached the Northern Districts A team over the last four years and I've always had the aspiration to coach at the first-class level but I guess it's happened a couple of years earlier than I anticipated," Bradburn said.
He is a legend at ND, playing for 16 seasons at the first-class level as an offspinner and lower-order batsman. He has the highest number of appearances (115), the second highest number of wickets (231) and the third highest number of runs, 4614, at an average of 27.96. In all, he played seven test matches and 11 one-day games for New Zealand.
Bradburn's appointment is only temporary - until the end of the season - and then ND will advertise the job but there's no doubt a final berth in the State Shield or the Twenty20 would boost his chances of landing the job permanently.
"The way I'm looking at it is that I've got an opportunity now, that Joe Bloggs from South Africa or England hasn't got, so it's really up to me to back my skills and make a difference and come April, if I want the job then it should be a no-brainer."
The new coach believes cricket is an individual game and that will be the focus of his coaching.
"I'm very keen to let them know, on a regular occasion, where they stand in batting and bowling rankings in the country and when they need to be a little more hard-nosed and ruthless and if we get enough players doing that then we'll have a good team unit."
Despite a slow start in the championship, Bradburn is optimistic that the side can hit their straps in the State Shield, starting with Sunday's match at Cobham Oval against Wellington.
"All the guys are really looking forward to the one-day and Twenty20 campaign and one thing that's perhaps changed a bit since I've been out of the scene is that they thrive on one-day cricket, so they're all amped and ready to get into it."
• Northern Districts squad: James Marshall (captain), Cameron Merchant, BJ Watling, Michael ParlaneHamish Marshall, Kane Williamson, Peter McGlashan, Bradley Scott, Bruce Martin, Joseph Yovich, Tim Southee, Graeme Aldridge, Brent Arnel, Trent Boult