Dundrum looking assuredly to future

Dundrum looking assuredly to future

9 December 2020

DUNDRUM Cricket Club’s newly appointed player/coach says he is excited about the prospects for the club, particularly at youth level.

Daniel Kearsley, signed from Bridnorth in Shropshire, is a Level Two ECB coach and will be involved in all aspects of coaching at the club, from juniors through to seniors.

He will also be involved with coaching in local primary schools, together with the annual finals day at the Meadow.

The 24 year-old is a fine fast bowler, who has had trials at Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire, and is excited about coming to play in Dundrum.

Daniel says he has been familiar with Dundrum Cricket Club for quote some time.

“I first built a relationship with the club on they came to Shropshire on a senior tour in 2018. They were to play Madeley CC, but they were a couple players short, so me and my brother Liam offered to play. 

“Fast forward two years to June this year, and my brother had been in contact with the club about us moving over. Being able to see the club and watch a couple matches was great, especially seeing the talent the club has was wonderful. 

“A few weeks had passed, and I knew there was an opportunity for me to come over for the 2021 season, it was something that I debated due to the season I had at Bridgnorth CC. I wanted to build something special at Dundrum, while also improving my coaching experiences. 

“Dundrum has the potential to be a real driving force and coming over is something I’m very excited to have the opportunity to do.

“It is especially exciting with the newly-formed third XI which will be great for the younger players coming through. The club has a great feel to it with the players, coaches and the people behind the scenes which is incredibly important to be a successful club.”

Daniel says he is enthusiastic about what the club can achieve in the near future. “The club has a great set-up already with the juniors, and the talented youngsters in the ranks.

“My main goals for the juniors this year are to get as many coming to training and summer camps as possible. Youth cricket is all about having fun and getting out to enjoy yourself, so increasing the number of juniors coming through is going to be great. 

“Within the junior set-up, I also want to be forming an Emerging Players Programme (EPP) for juniors aged 13-15 that have got the potential to push for the chances to play senior cricket. This would be the stepping stone of junior to senior cricket, which I believe a lot of clubs don’t take into account.

“The EPP would be a group of seven or eight juniors that receive an extra session during the week where we can focus on developing skills further, this would run for three to four weeks which would then be looked at to decide if different juniors deserve to be in. 

“My other goals are getting juniors, where deserving, pushing for the third 11 spots during the season. This would be fantastic to see.”

Daniel, who will work closely with Dundrum’s chairman of selectors Jeff Maguire, also has plenty of plans on how to make improvements within the senior side. “One of my goals for the senior teams this year is getting match-winners throughout the club. This is important for a season where promotion is definitely what the club should be looking at, and also making selection difficult for the right reasons.  “As a tactically-based cricket coach, this is something I’ll be looking to bring into the first 11 during training and matches.

“Players knowing their roles within the team is vital to the understanding of winning and putting in good performances, so helping the players understand their own game is a real goal.

“Being available for players to book one-on-ones will be a great chance for players to work on the smaller details in their game, which is something that can break the barrier to the next level of their game.”

He added: “Overall I just want everyone associated with the club, from the players to the parents, to be enjoying some great cricket and watching the club go from strength to strength.”