LAHORE: Power-hitting coach Julian Wood and fast bowling coach Gordon Parsons have started their stints at the National High-Performance Centre, Lahore for the Engro Cricket Coaching Project under the PCB Pathway Program.
The two seasoned specialist coaches arrived at the NHPC this week to work with the U13, U16 and U19 players selected for specialized training in the PCB Pathway Program. A total of 107 players are involved in the first batch of the program that is aimed at providing world-class coaching, training, education and development of life skills of the future stars of Pakistan.
Wood and Parsons are working with the players at the NHPC’s indoor and outdoor nets besides delivering lectures in their respective areas of expertise. The players will also play practice and scenario-based matches in the upcoming days here at the LCCA Ground and the Gaddafi Stadium.
In addition to the foreign coaches, some of the top-ranked local coaches including former Pakistan stars Arshad Khan, Rao Iftikhar and Ijaz Ahmed Jnr are also working with the players.
Fast bowling coach Gordon Parsons said: “I have received a rousing welcome here and have almost felt like royalty with the affection and hospitality offered by the players, coaches and the staff.
The NHPC is a coach’s paradise, the facilities are absolutely top-class, and my aim would be to contribute further to the rich heritage of Pakistan fast bowlers.
Power-hitting coach Julian Wood said: “I have had an amazing time so far since arriving at the NHPC, the facilities are excellent, and I am really excited to see the talent in the batters here.
Most of the batters have solid technique, and their fundamentals are in place.
“We have some impressive young batting talent here with strong basics, technique and the desire to learn. As a specialized coach, I would endeavor to teach these players the ways and means of maximizing their talent.
“The buzzwords these days are power-hitting, ball access speed, hand-speed, launch angles and creating angles while batting. In the shorter formats, the time is short, so everything needs to be done quicker but there is so much more to the concept, and you need to have a tough game, a skill game and a power game and one thing I have noticed is that these young Pakistan players have all of it.”
The remaining three foreign coaches (Julian Fountain, Toby Radford and Nicholas Webb) part of the Engro Cricket Coaching Project are expected to reach Lahore in the next seven to 10 days.
