The BLACKCAPS mentoring initiative got underway in Otago this week with Nathan McCullum and Dean Brownlie working with emerging local cricketers.
The initiative sees BLACKCAPS take up-and-coming players for a session of planning, skills and goal setting to enhance the young cricketers growth, knowledge and skills.
Participants are identified by the local Major Association. Two promising players from the Otago Under 16 side were selected for the inaugural opportunity.
Off-spinner Ryan Adam worked with McCullum while batsman Josh Finnie spent time with Dean Brownlie at the Edgar Centre high performance facility in Dunedin.
Otago Coach Force Manager and Otago Under 16 Coach Will Deerness was impressed with the way his young players were pushed by the BLACKCAPS and said they go a lot out of the session.
“Josh and Ryan are currently playing for the Otago Under 16 team but have been identified as having the potential to be First-Class players in the future,” said Deerness. “The session was a great opportunity for the young guys to ask questions and they were really pushed them to the limits in terms of the how they think about their game.
“Dean and Nathan set up scenarios that challenged them to really come up with plans about what they would do at the top of their mark or where they would hit the ball.
“It certainly helped their development.”
The BLACKCAPS will take run a number of sessions around the country this summer.
