Boon: Players have prepared well

Date: Friday 12 March 2010

In the first of a two-part interview with Senior Coach Tim Boon, we take a look at how the players have prepared for the 2010 season and look at the new signings the Club have made.

Boon feels that the hard yards put into preparation will ensure everybody is ready for the challenges that the 2010 campaign will throw at them.

The team only had a month off before knuckling down again and all of the fitness, strength and conditioning and skill-based work will mean that everybody returns in good health and personally prepared for the official start of pre-season, which begins on Monday.

Indeed, Boon and Coaches Phil Whitticase, Lloyd Tennant, Russell Cobb and Strength and Conditioning Coach Pete McKnight have been putting the players through their paces since November.

The lads had rest and recovery carefully built into their busy individual programmes allowing them to work extremely hard to take to the field in 2010 knowing that they will be in the best shape possible.

In reality, pre-season started around bonfire night. Since then players have progressed well with their programmes and visited Potchefstroom last month to put their skills into practice.

Boon said that has been extremely beneficial for everybody and the facilities out in South Africa were an enormous help in preparation.

He said: “We came back early this year and started in November, basing our work on individual needs around raising self-awareness. We looked at a lot of cricket-skill situations so that everybody was able to be clear about their own method and game plans given their role and game situation.

“The lads will benefit in the new season from the strength and conditioning work and fitness work Pete McKnight has developed. Our aim is to be more injury resilient and to be able to sustain levels of concentration longer."

It also gave him the chance to re-establish his working relationship with new Club Captain Matthew Hoggard and the duo are working hard to set the structures in place to ensure Leicestershire are ideally placed to see progress in the coming season.

"Potchefstroom was the next stage in the winter development in world class facilities and training environment – practicing the skills that they had been working on in top class facilities and a world class training environment," he said. "It is no coincidence that South Africa and Australia use this for the same reason.”

“It was good to see Hoggy at Grace Road in early March, it seemed to give all the staff a lift. We both think along the same lines and it’s my job to help Hoggy grow into the leadership role.

“We officially start pre-season on March 15, it always seems to come around quickly. It is an exciting time of year with our first game on the 9th April against Northants at home, which is early this year. The reason for the early start is the scheduling to fit with the additional t20 games later in the summer."

Boon added that the start of pre-season will give Hoggard the chance to become closer to the players and give him an insight as he prepares for his new role at Grace Road.

“We play golf on the first day and give players the opportunity to reflect on their winter and also look forward to the new season. Day two will be a stark contrast to golf and will really tell us a lot about individuals under pressure and how they cope with difficult situations.

“In week two we’ll see individuals adjusting to conditions outside as soon as the weather permits, hopefully in the middle. Pre-season games allow us to see progression made from last year and how individuals approach a number of challenges within the game scenarios.

“We will also see individuals gel as a team in a competitive environment where a number of players are vying for one spot. Selection is going to be harder than ever this year and competition for places will ultimately improve our standards on the field.

“It’s a great opportunity for Hoggy to see how his players react under pressure given his wealth of experience.

“Pre-season will give him the opportunity to see how each individual goes about their work and will give him an insight into their attitude to various challenges. He will be able to go around and chat to the lads so they understand his leadership style and expectations."

Leicestershire’s Senior Coach is also pleased with the other new signings the club has made. He feels their experience will add to the changing room considerably alongside other senior role models such as Paul Nixon, AJ Harris and Claude Henderson.

Boon has been impressed with Will Jefferson in Potchefstroom and is also excited about the signings of Andrew McDonald, Brad Hodge and James Benning as the Club looks to make strides forward.

He said: “Will is a more experienced character. He still has milestones to achieve in the game with the best still to come. He has worked incredibly hard over the winter in all areas, including fitness as well as cricket skills.

“The younger lads literally looked up to Will in Potch as a leader and an organiser. I’m sure he will add great value to the club both as an individual and through his performances in all forms of the game.

“We saw Benno last year and know the impact he can have as a hard hitting all rounder. He too is well prepared and ready to start.

“Brad Hodge is returning as our t20 specialist. He is a real bonus. His credentials go before him; he is one of the leading performers in the world in this format and his personality and knowledge will have a positive effect on all those around him in the dressing room.

“We know that Andrew has captained Victoria recently and he also has a great track record in all formats of the game. He has been exceptional this year. Together, Brad and Andrew play for one of the premier clubs in world cricket.

“They have recently won the Australian Big Bash T20 and made the final of the 50 over competition with Hodge scoring 136 no and McDonald taking four wickets. They are currently at the top of the Sheffield Shield four-day competition and heading for another final.

“These are exciting times for the Club and the local community and I am looking forward to seeing Leicestershire make progress in 2010."