HKCA appoints Australian as new coach

Terence Tomlinson and David Bryceson
the epoch times

Charles Burke, Hong Kong Cricket Association』s (HKCA) new head coach, admits that his biggest challenge is to continue to grow the game and to get 「the right development programs in place to have a strong national team in the coming years」.

「I suppose the biggest vision with Hong Kong cricket as a whole, whether it』s the National Mens, Womens or Under 19』s, is actually just trying to get a really good pathway and development structure. So when a local Chinese kid starts playing cricket they will know what it takes to get to the top,」 Charlie said in an interview with The Epoch Times. 「That』s not necessarily just what our programs are about it』s about getting people involved in the game and awareness of it.」

「It』s important to have a strong structure and strong pathway. And that』s certainly one thing that I really want to make sure I can leave here as a legacy to make sure as a domestic competition, our under age competition, and even our schools competitions are a strong competition,」 said the recently appointed 30 year-old Australian who has had more than 10 years coaching experience.

Yet to coach the National Men』s team in a match and having freshly met with the 24th ranked team in the world, Charlie said he is: 「really excited about Hong Kong cricket」.

「I think when looking at the National Men』s team they certainly understand the game, there』s that knowledge there, and also the skills. So from there it』s just making sure that these guys have an understanding of the game plan and how we want to play cricket as a team,」 said the former swing bowler and a middle order batsman who played professionally in England for four years and whose previous post saw him oversee cricket in ten countries for the International Cricket Council in the East Asia Pacific Region.

「They』re all fantastic people and they』ve got a passion for the game. You』re going to get players that are more stand-outs than others, but that』s part of a team environment and that』s what makes a team.

「Hopefully we will be in the Asian Games in November. It』s going to be pretty exciting. And then from there we have World Cricket League Division 3 in January. That means that our summer coming up now is a really important stage for our players. So, we』ll be training at least two or three sessions per week maybe four, and also looking for opportunities to play some more cricket – whether that』s more touring teams coming here or us going to visit others.」

While he would like to take the team on tour more regularly Charlie said that: 「with anything like that it comes down to budget.」 The countries that come to his mind were the neighbouring countries because of logistics. But added: 「I suppose with my contacts in Australia that it makes sense to do that (tour Australia). But, again it』s got to be the right fit for us when you invest that much money on tours programs and stuff like that you have to make sure it』s worth while.」

Currently in negotiation with several countries to tour in Hong Kong Charlie again looked Downunder.

「Using sides in Australia or New Zealand to come over and play against us for their pre-season is a really good fit during our summer when it』s nice and warm. Most squads and teams from there want the preparation going into their summer. And we』ve got a responsibility to make sure that we continue to keep challenging the players – we don』t want to keep playing against teams we』ve been playing against and get too comfortable.

Fielding strength

「The thing that these guys will start to learn with me is that there is a structure to a team,」 said Charlie who has a clear vision on how he wants national Men』s, Women』s and Under 19』s to play.

「One thing that stood out for me in New Zealand when I saw the under 19』s in the World Cup is how well they fielded. They were keen to attack the ball. They weren』t afraid to have a shot at the stumps, which I』m a big believer in, and they worked for one another. Fielding is an attitude. You can tell what a team is going to be like from their fielding, if they are attacking, if their enthusiastic, if they run around and are not afraid to have a shot at the stumps, then they can be a pretty good side. That』s one of the biggest things for me – is making sure that we』ve got the best fielding sides in the men』s and women』s through Asia.

Charlie had completed one training session with the national Women』s team and was most impressed with their athleticism.

「The exciting thing with the Chinese girls is that they are so athletic. Some of the girls are good runners. Some of those girls have played cricket only three or four months and they already have the basic fundamentals of good athletes – you can really do a lot (with that).」

At the grass-roots level Charlie said that the Hong Kong Cricket Association was actively involved in creating awareness of the sport for men, women and children. 「The guys we have here in the development office have a really good structure so our coaches are sent out weekly to the local schools to do promoting.」

Charlie had a few words of advice for any budding or experienced cricket player. 「Cricket is one of those games where if you got the commitment to get involved and you look at all aspects of your game, whether you』re a bowler, a batsman or an all-rounder there is always areas that you need to work on. If you challenge yourself and you』re committed you』ll go a long way in this sport.」