Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
James Fortuin, CEO of Cricket Boland today announced five key appointments to assist head coach Adrian Birrell in the GbetsRocks’ quest to make an impact this season.
Henry Williams, a former Proteas seam bowler, will take charge of the bowlers with Salieg Nackerdien honing the skills of the batters. Before joining the GbetsRocks, Nackerdien held assistant coaching positions with the Proteas Women. He also coached the Western Province provincial team and assisted the Cape Cobras.
Ezra Poole, who has had stints as fielding and wicket-keeping coaching consultant with Cricket South Africa, is also on board as a fielding skills mentor.
Amongst the medical team is Laden Gamiet, a former professional cricketer has been appointed as fitness and conditioning coach while Brent Martin will take up the physiotherapist duties.
Commenting on the appointments Fortuin said: “We are confident we have assembled a high-level technical team, to support our head coach, Adrian Birrell in the effective execution of our objectives to lay the foundations of a winning culture.
“We are fortunate to have these young talented coaches along with the experienced, Birrell as mentor.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OUR NEW COACHES
Head Coach: ADRIAN BIRRELL
ADRIAN Birrell is an experienced coach and held head coach positions with Ireland during the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. In 2013 he was appointed assistant national coach for South Africa and followed this up as the first-team coach at Hampshire County. Birrell coached the Paarl Rocks to the 2019 Mzansi Super League title.
Bowling Lead: HENRY WILLIAMS
HENRY Williams has been associated with Boland Cricket as a junior and senior player. He went on to play seven One Day Internationals for South Africa. Since his retirement he held several coach positions which included the SA Woman bowling lead 2011-2012 and SA u/19 bowling coach between 2007 -2012.
He was appointed as Boland academy coach in 2012 and went on to coach the Boland provincial team. In 2018 he took on the role of the bowling coach of the Paarl Rocks who won the Mzansi Super League (MSL).
Batting Lead: SALIEG NACKERDIEN
SINCE his playing days (1983-1996) for Boland Salieg Nackerdien has held several coaching positions with Boland, Western Province, Cape Cobras and the Proteas Women’s team over the past 20 years. He also held the assistant coach positions with the SA Emerging as well as the SA A team.
Physiotherapist: BRENT MARTIN
BRENT Martin has been practicing as a physiotherapist for more than 20 and holds a Masters Degree from the University of the Western Cape.
He also had stints with the Boland Cavaliers, Stormers, and the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Varsity rugby teams. He also worked with the SA A and SA Emerging Cricket teams. He was part of the Paarl Rocks team who won the Mzansi Super League in 2019.
Fitness and Conditioning: LADEN GAMIET
LADEN Gamiet is a former professional cricketer from 1999 – 2008. He represented Border, Warriors franchise, United Cricket Board of South Africa Invitation XI, and the SA u19 teams. Gamiet also played hockey and represented Northerns, Border, and SA u18 and u21. He holds a Diploma in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Health Science in Human Movement Sciences degree obtained at the University of Fort Hare (2012-2014).
Fielding and wicket-keeper: EZRA POOLE
EZRA Poole is a certified level three cricket coach. As a player, he has racked up 69 games for the North West Dragons. He also represented the South Africa Colts and South Africa Universities sides. As a coach, he is an experience specialist wicket-keeping and fielding coach.
