NZ Cricket Legend Arrives in Cook Islands
As one legendary NZ Cricket player in Geoff Allott departs Rarotonga, another legend of NZ Cricket arrives in coach educator Pat Malcon.
Malcon is the operations manager of leading state cricket association Northern Districts Cricket of which Cook Islands Cricket enjoys a productive partnership.
As part of their ongoing relationship with CI Cricket, the local association with support from Island Car & Bike Hire and Edgewater Resort & Spa Cook Islands has bought Malcon to the Rock to deliver both New Zealand Cricket coach education certificate courses and run skills sessions with aspiring men's, women's and junior players and coaches.
Malcon has an extensive background in coaching and is widely regarded as one of the most effective sports administrators in NZ which includes an impressive track record and uncanny ability to identify young talent and provide conducive environments that fast track them into a professional first class cricket career, which has included quality BlackCap's Tim Southie, Daniel Flynn, Kane Williamson and Daniel Vettori.
Other players that have been under Malcon's tutorage include BlackCap twins James and Hamish Marshal, the exciting talent Peter McGlashan and women's international player of the year Nicola Browne.
Originally a deputy principal Malcon has been involved with Northern Districts Cricket for over 25 years, performing a wide variety of roles including coach education, fifteen years as the Chairman of Selectors for the Northern Knights first class team, coach of each of ND's age group sides, the ND A side and a stint as the Head Coach of the New Zealand Cricket Emerging Players side, which included BlackCap Daryl Tuffy, another Maori New Zealand Cricketer to have visited the Cook Islands on a player development initiative.
Malcon who has been at the forefront of cricket achievements over the past decade points to the Northern Knights 'doing the double' in 2009 by winning both the four day and one day championships as a particular highlight of his career, however emphasises watching young players develop throughout the Northern Districts development and high performance systems to go on to enjoy fruitful first class and international cricket careers as especially satisfying.
Malcon was instrumental in assisting the Telecom CI Cricket national teams build up to the recent ICC tournament in Samoa, hosting the Telecom CI team and arranging for the Telecom national team to play against the newly formed Northern Districts Maori side, which Malcon may have nearly regretted as the Telecom Cook Islands national team nearly caused an upset, narrowly losing by 3 runs.
This is Malcons third trip to the Cook Islands and has been impressed by the noticeable development he has seen with each visit, with the development of practice facilities especially pleasing:
"It's essential for both player and coach development to have quality practice facilities and I have certainly enjoyed utilising these on my trip so far," said Malcon.
On making a permanent move to the Cook Islands Malcon laughed by answering "I am happy with my annual visits at the moment, the opportunity to come to the Cook Islands to make a contribution to the game I love, in a beautiful country, full of passionate and talented players and coaches is truly a privilege."
So if you want the same opportunities that BlackCaps Daniel Vettori, Nicola Browne, Scott Styrus, Daryl Tuffey and many many more have had, then get to one of the following sessions; Turangi, 5PM Thursday the 11th August, Matavera, 5PM Friday the 12th August and Tereora College, 10AM Saturday the 13th August for the NZC Level ll Course. Club coaches, managers, players and selectors will also have the opportunity for a Q&A session with Malcon next week at a time and venue TBD.