Top coach visits

As one legendary New Zealand cricket player in Geoff Allott departs Rarotonga, another legend of cricket arrives in coach educator Pat Malcon.

Malcon is the operations manager of leading state cricket association Northern Districts Cricket of which Cook Islands Cricket enjoys a productive partnership.

As part of their ongoing relationship with CI Cricket, the local association with support from Island Car & Bike Hire and Edgewater Resort & Spa has brought Malcon to the rock to deliver both New Zealand cricket coach education certificate courses and run skills sessions with aspiring mens, womens and junior players and coaches.

Malcon has an extensive background in coaching and is widely regarded as one of the most effective sports administrators in New Zealand. This includes an impressive track record and uncanny ability to identify young talent and provide conducive environments that fast track them into a professional first class cricket careers, which has included quality Black Caps Tim Southie, Daniel Flynn, Kane Williamson and Daniel Vettori.

Other players that have been under Malcons tutorage include Black Cap twins James and Hamish Marshal, the exciting talent Peter McGlashan and womens international player of the year Nicola Browne.

Malcon was instrumental in assisting the Telecom CI Cricket national teams build up to the recent ICC tournament in Samoa, hosting the team and arranging for them to play against the newly formed Northern Districts Maori side, which Malcon may have almost regretted as the Telecom Cook Islands national team nearly caused an upset, narrowly losing by 3 runs.

This is Malcons third trip to the Cook Islands and he has been impressed by the noticeable development he has seen with each visit.

Its essential for both player and coach development to have quality practice facilities and I have certainly enjoyed utilising these on my trip so far, says Malcon.

So if you want the same opportunities that Black Caps Daniel Vettori, Nicola Browne, Scott Styrus, Daryl Tuffey and many more have had, then get to one of the following sessions 5pm on Thursday August 11 at Turangi, 5pm on Friday August 12 at Matavera and 10am on Saturday August 13 at Tereora College for the NZC Level II Course.