Magazine - Kevin Cooper's Skills not Utilised

By Editor in Cricket on 10th Mar 2010 10:10

I couldn't agree more with Sav's column during the week calling into question whether Kevin Cooper's skills were being fully utilised by Southland cricket.

Since arriving in the city five years ago he has been handed an increasing number of hats – coaching, administration, groundskeeping. Now it appears that the groundsman duties have become his primary focus.

Here we have a guy who has the respect of Sir Richard Hadlee, a guy who took 1000 wickets at county level and who has worked as a technical assistant with the New Zealand team and we have put him on a lawnmower.

Testing financial times require everyone to do whatever they can for an organisation, but this is bordering on criminal.

The Southland Cricket Association has perhaps been a victim of its own success in attracting more top-level games to the city and then having to provide facilities for them.

However, on the home front, Southland cricket has struggled for quality bowlers since I've been in this job.

Two of our best have been Mark Billcliff, who came to us via Otago, and Nic Turner, whose appearances in maroon have been spasmodic at best as he's chased first-class opportunities.

If Southland cricket is going to have the sort of success on the pitch it has enjoyed in gaining the ear of the community funders for flash buildings then it has to start developing more quality players.

Cooper has more to offer than as a tractor jockey. Let's find a way to make it happen.

Source & More: www.stuff.co.nz

Read more articles in Cricket, by Editor or from March 2010.