Get basics right, success will follow

OLD-SCHOOL APPROACH: Kevin Cooper is looking for hard work.

Kevin Cooper admits he has an "old school" approach to cricket coaching.

The former English county quick bowler whose first class career of 22 years included more than 300 games, many of them at Nottinghamshire where he often played alongside Sir Richard Hadlee, says he will be XZstressing the importance of players having good basic skills in his new role of director of cricket for Wairarapa Cricket.

"It's the old story of being able to walk before you can run," Cooper said. "If you aren't prepared to do the hard yards first then you can't expect to develop into a first-class player."

Cooper said the introduction of Twenty20 cricket could give youngsters the wrong impression of what it takes to succeed in the game. "They watch TV and see all sorts of funny shots being played and want to get out there and copy them. What they forget is that these guys are practising every day, that they too had to get the basic things right before performing at that level."

Cooper is also big on players taking responsibility for their own actions. "Sometimes you do get situations where bad luck comes into it but, for me, it's more about making your own luck, and that's where self-belief comes in. Being prepared to back yourself is important."

Cooper isn't a great fan of artificial pitches either.

"Artificial pitches develop artificial players, that's the way I see it.

"For instance, it's easy for batsmen to work things out when the ball is doing the same thing but then they get on the grass when the ball starts to move around and they haven't got the flexibility in their game to cope."

Cooper is looking forward to watching the Wairarapa senior men's rep team go through their paces against Taranaki in a Hawke Cup qualifying round at Rathkeale this weekend.

Having been here only about a month, he's had little opportunity to work with them in a coaching sense and is keen to assess their individual and collective talents. "There is certainly no lack of enthusiasm, they appeal as a good bunch who will go out there and give it their best shot," he said.