Former Test stars to coach

HAVING nearly 100 test matches appearances between them must provide Australian greats Geoff Dymock and Doug Walters with some background as cricket coaches.

The pair are legends of the game who now devote their time to coaching youngsters as a part of COGS (Cricketing Old Greats) Australia.

Next week the pair will be at the Frenchville Sports Club to conduct clinics with local young players.

Dymock was a fast bowling star who also captained and coached Queensland and has had appointments with the national team as an assistant manager and coach.

The name of Walters was a fixture in the Australian team over the years and his batting technique is legendary.

Now, like Dymock, Walters coaches cricket and as a pair they can cover the major areas of the game.

The philosophy behind the sessions is to ensure each young cricketer has an enjoyable day with an opportunity to vastly improve his skills.

It sounds like an exaggeration, but Dymock states every junior cricketer can learn how to score an additional 500 runs in a season.

For a bowler, he believes it is possible to teach the skills of swinging a ball or extracting turn.

He also reckons he can teach bowlers to do their work without falling victim to the back injuries that are common in today's game.

Through its activities, COGS intends to view young cricketers in rural areas and identify indigenous talent.

Once identified, it is hoped talented youngsters would get an opportunity to attend elite clinics in the major cities.

Information on the clinic can be obtained through Rockhampton cricket clubs and local schools. The clinic will be held at the Frenchville Sports Club on Thursday, March 18, and will run from 9am to 3pm.