Cricket: One hell of a homecoming

By TERRY MADDAFORD

No surprisingly Mark O'Donnell looks back on his first season with Auckland with some satisfaction.

The 40-year-old, back living in New Zealand for the first time since 1984 when he left Christchurch for South Africa via Holland, took over from Tony Sail as coach of an Auckland team who had won the 2001-2002 State Championship.

Defending that title was one aim. Improving on a disastrous last place in the one-day competition another.

A much better one-day season gave O'Donnell some satisfaction - and the season's only disappointment.

"We set the goal of winning the double," says O'Donnell. "In getting to the shield final we gave ourselves that chance. But we did not expect to get that so wrong."

With that shocker behind them, Auckland steeled their resolve to defend their championship title.

"I don't think anyone would deny we deserved that. We played some very good cricket. It is harder to retain a title than win it.

"All the players contributed. Tim McIntosh scored the most runs, Tama Canning took the most wickets and Reece Young the most catches. But it went much deeper than that.

"Rob Nicol had a very good second season. Matt Horne showed just what an asset he is and that he can still be a match-winner. Despite not having a contract, Aaron Barnes was outstanding. Heath Davis, too, came in and showed how good he is.

"Brooke Walker captained the side very well but did not have many pitches that suited spin."

O'Donnell is not sure which players, apart from Wales-bound Barnes, will be returning.

"I will have one-on-one discussions with all the players in the next couple of weeks.

"We will then take a break before preparing to come back in June-July to start on fitness/technique work."

While he says club cricket must continue to play a role, O'Donnell feels that is true only when the players get pitches close to the standard they have at representative level.

He advocates pitches on which batsmen can score runs and bowlers have to work for their wickets.

"That is not always the case in club cricket. Too many pitches have been seamer-friendly with sides out for 80-100 runs."

O'Donnell pays tribute to fellow selectors Rowan Armour and Richard Irving.

"They were very good. I came in cold but they knew which players we needed to look at."

O'Donnell, who says New Zealand Cricket "have it right" in wanting to maintain the number of first class associations, believes the challenge now is winning for a third straight season - something not managed since Auckland's Plunket Shield-winning run of 1935-40.