Cricket: Pamment appointed ND coach

James Pamment. Photo / Mark McKeown.

James Pamment has been appointed Northern Districts cricket coach, replacing Grant Bradburn who stepped down from the role last month.

Pamment was Bradburn's assistant coach last season and his promotion adds to an interesting CV.

He was a batsman for Auckland for several years in the 1990s and has been a New Zealand Under-19 assistant coach, Northern Districts and Bay of Plenty high performance manager, coached Northern Districts A for five seasons and has also worked with the Black Caps, particularly in fielding.

Pamment has also been heavily involved in football and was Waikato FC co-coach for the first two seasons of the NZFC.

"I'm really looking forward to the responsibility that comes with this opportunity,'' Pamment said. ``I feel it's a natural step for me. I bedded down some important experience in the four years that I spent working as a high performance coach here. Obviously I'm familiar with the players but I'm very much looking forward to now being able to spend more time with them as individuals, and really get inside their heads.

"My coaching philosophy and style of leadership is my own and based on establishing strong relationships with the individual players first and foremost. I pride myself on that, and I'll enjoy working closely with the group of players at the forefront of our game.''

Pamment will have the services of Bradburn at his disposal to assist with season preparation until September and his first major assignment will start in June as Northern Districts finalises their contracted players for the 2013/14 season.

Pamment will continue to work with New Zealand Cricket's high performance and White Ferns training squads over the winter.