Tag: Paul Adams

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NO RESOLUTION OF COBRAS PLAYERS AND COACH DISPUTE

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) today confirmed that the Cape Cobras players’ dispute relating to their grievance against the Cape Cobras coach, Paul Adams, has not been resolved.

The players, SACA and the Franchise had agreed at the conciliation meeting held at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on 18 October 2016 to a fourteen (14) day extension period to give them a further opportunity to resolve the issues around the coach.

“SACA and the players are disappointed by the Franchise’s response to our proposals on a process which we believe would have resolved the matter once and for all”, said Tony Irish, chief executive of SACA. “We had proposed a process for an independent cricket person to monitor and assess the coach’s situation on the ground within the team over a three (3) week period and thereafter to make a recommendation as to what should happen with the coaching situation. His recommendation would be accepted by all, and binding on the players, SACA and the Franchise, and it would dispose of the current dispute”, said Irish. “The Franchise has however rejected the proposal out of hand without proposing any alternative, despite having indicated to us that they were in favour of some form of monitoring.”

“It is very obvious that the Franchise team is in disarray and the Cobras are currently rooted to the bottom of the Sunfoil Series log. In addition Alan Dawson, brought in as the convenor of selectors in an to attempt to beef up the structures around the coach, has now resigned citing that he believes it is impossible to work in an environment in which there is a fundamental problem between players and coach. The most frustrating aspect is that it appears that the board of the Franchise simply refuses to acknowledge that there is actually a problem at all, despite everything that has happened, and is now happening, around it”, said Irish.

SACA will seek a certificate of outcome from the CCMA confirming that the dispute has not been resolved. The issuing of this certificate will enable players to embark on lawful and protected industrial action (such as a strike), following proper notice to be given, should the players elect to go this route.”

“Any kind of industrial action is always a very last resort for players and we hope it doesn’t come to that”, said Irish. “However the players have been asking the Franchise to properly address this issue for many months, but to no avail, and have exhausted every constructive process available to them with the Franchise. We will now seek CSA’s assistance and intervention before considering what further steps to take.”

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CAPE COBRAS PLAYERS GRIEVANCE REFERRED TO THE CCMA

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) confirmed today that it has referred the Cape Cobras players’ grievance to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

“The players have exhausted the internal cricket process for dealing with their grievance and now have no option but to refer this to the CCMA”, said SACA chief executive, Tony Irish. “It is the only way that they can deal with it further and keep shining a light on the issue with the franchise. They are not able to seek a binding order from the CCMA but are able to have the grievance conciliated in that forum.”

The grievance relates to a breakdown in the relationship between the majority of the Cobras players and the head coach, Paul Adams. It involves a fundamental loss of confidence by the players in the coach’s ability to lead the coaching of the team arising from his inability to create an effective team culture, poor communication and man management skills, lack of tactical and technical knowledge and disorganisation in running proper practice and training sessions.

“Some people have been quick to point out that the team won trophies under the coach in the period after he took over” said Irish. “According to the players however the coach’s shortcomings back then were compensated for by the role played by senior players at the time and the situation has got progressively worse. It in fact deteriorated to such a point last season that in December 2015 the franchise itself surveyed the players on the issue and the outcome of several of these highlighted the seriousness of the breakdown. The problem wasn’t however addressed by the franchise and in May 2016, when the players heard that the franchise was planning to renew the coach’s contract, 10 out of 17 contracted players most of whom are senior players, raised a formal grievance and thereafter sought the players’ association’s assistance in dealing with it. We also know that players outside of the 10 sympathise with the grievance although have not put their names to it.”

“There is a quick and simple process in cricket for dealing with player grievances, but this was delayed by the franchise and it has now taken more than four months to process this grievance. In the recent mediation process the independent mediator, Paddy Upton, who was nominated by the franchise itself and is an internationally recognised expert on coaching and team dynamics, made a clear recommendation to the parties that the coach should stand down from the team, and be re-deployed in a different capacity if possible. Despite this however, the board of the franchise proceeded to confirm the coach’s re-appointment and stated that Upton’s report was deficient. We and the players concerned strongly disagree with this suggestion of the report’s deficiency. Upton was brought in to get an understanding of the grievance and to assist in resolving it, and he was specifically empowered to use whatever approach he deemed appropriate in doing so. He looked at the documentation, including the surveys, interviewed the individuals he considered relevant and produced a thorough report with a clear recommendation to the parties.”

“The players care about the Cobras team and its ability to perform going forward,” concluded Irish. “They are however extremely frustrated by the way their very legitimate concerns, which were clearly evident over nine months ago, have been dealt with and the length of time it has taken. They want the franchise to address the issue further.”

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FRUSTRATED COBRAS SEEK WARRIORS REDEMPTION

The Cape Cobras did everything right in their last Sunfoil Series outing against the bizhub Highveld Lions over the weekend.

They made runs, they took wickets and they had their opponents on the ropes for most of the final day. But they lacked the knockout blow in Paarl, one that would have given them a first win of the competition this season.

Instead they had to settle for an exasperating draw, which did snap a two-game losing streak, and they will be looking to build on that when they travel to St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth to face the Warriors in a bottom-of-the-table clash starting on Thursday.

They have had plenty of things to work on since Sunday, according to coach Paul Adams. “We had to work very hard during that game,” he says. “The bowlers were quite short and it’s something we’ve had to work on afterwards.

“For us it’s mainly been about recovering since then. We know we’re on the right track and it’s about following those same processes going forward, making sure we’re fresh and ready come Thursday.”

Adams feels there are many positives to take away from the result and hopes they can build on them in the Eastern Cape. “A draw in the game was as good as a loss, we get the same amount of points,” he added. “It’s important for me that we can pick it up from here and continue with that momentum.”

Richard Levi is fit again after a foot injury and is expected to come into the middle-order for JP Duminy, who marked his return to form with an outstanding 260 not out at Boland Park.

While the Cobras were left frustrated by the Lions’ tail – they were one wicket away from victory – their opponents, the Warriors, were thwarted by the rain.

But just like their opponents, their washout against the Sunfoil Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg, ended a two-game losing streak start to the competition. “It was frustrating what happened, but at least our bowlers got some rest and we hope that will assist us going into this game,” coach Malibongwe Maketa stated.

Seamers Basheer Walters and Sisanda Magala are both carrying niggles and face late fitness tests.

Maketa is expecting a tough assignment against their Cape rivals, adding: “It’s always a good challenge against the Cobras, who are a very good side. Having come so close to a victory in that game last week, they’ll be determined to set the record straight.”

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COBRAS COUNTING ON EXPERIENCE OF KEMP AND PETERSON

The Cape Cobras will fall back on the experience of an old hand in Justin Kemp as they look to overcome the loss of overseas star, Kieron Pollard, in Sunday’s crunch RAM SLAM T20 clash against the bizhub Highveld Lions at Bidvest Wanderers.

Pollard was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after injuring his right knee during last Sunday’s win over the Knights in Paarl, handing the Cobras their latest blow in a campaign beset by injuries and non-availabilities.

Wayne Parnell, Rory Kleinveldt, Robin Peterson and George Linde have all spent time on the sidelines during the tournament, while Pollard was absent for a week when he was called up to the West Indian Twenty20 side in Sri Lanka.

“We’ve been in the wars in this tournament,” said Cobras coach, Paul Adams.

However, Adams had three causes for cheer this week, two of them on the injury front as Parnell showed promising recovery from his foot injury and Peterson also improved swiftly enough to suggest that he will be available on Sunday.

The third fillip is the depth of the Cobras’ resources, which allows Adams to call on someone like Kemp – who will play his 100th T20 match – to fill the gap left by Pollard.

“Kempy has been around very much as a mentor, practising with the guys and staying in touch with the game, so for us it’s about bringing in that experience,” said Adams.

“Also Robbie has recovered nicely so it’s a very experienced side that we take into the weekend, which is at the business end, so hopefully some of their calmness will rub on to the younger players.”

The Cobras currently sit in third place, but could lose that position if they lose to the Lions, who are just four points behind.

The Lions had the opportunity to draw level on points on Wednesday night, but blew their chance by losing to the Knights, making Sunday’s game all the more important.

“Everyone knows where we stand,” said Lions captain, Thami Tsolekile. “If we had won on Wednesday night then it would have taken the pressure off, but now every game has become a must-win.”

Tsolekile acknowledged that batting remains the main problem for the Lions, but suggested that they wouldn’t want conditions to try and make up for that in Sunday’s game.

“Ideally we don’t want the wicket to be too quick, because our spin bowling has been one of our main strengths,” he pointed out. “That said, the Wanderers has always got pace, even when it’s turning.”

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POLLARD TO MISS OUT DUE TO KNEE INJURY

Kieron Pollard, world-class all-rounder of the defending RAM SLAM T20 champions, the Cape Cobras, won’t take part in the remainder of the domestic T20-showpiece due to an injury to his right knee.

He will fly back to the Caribbean on Wednesday.

The injury occurred while the 28-year Pollard was fielding in the T20 match against the VKB Knights at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday.

Despite experiencing some discomfort, he hammered an unbeaten 22 off 13 balls to power the Cobras to a win to entrench their third position on the log.

“We are severely disappointed about the loss of a stalwart like Kieron,” said Paul Adams, the Cape Cobras coach. “Kieron has given his all. The fact that he went out to bat after he got injured, underlines his dedication and commitment to the team. He has been an inspiration to the whole squad.”

Adams said Pollard’s record speaks for itself. He was the domestic RAM SLAM T20 Challenge player of the year in the 2014/2015 season and was at the summit of the Cobras’ batting averages (he averages 51.50 in the T20-format) at the time of the injury.

Yet mere statistics don’t do justice to Pollard’s contribution as his ability to change matches with his belligerence as a dashing batsman or with his expert change of pace with the ball, gave the Cobras the ascendancy in several matches the past season and a half.

Pollard had been on record saying the difference between winning and losing in RAM SLAM T20 Challenge matches is about “who blinks first”. The lanky all-rounder was almost always the one to emerge victorious when the dust settled, as he showed during his stylish display on Sunday.

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COBRAS SPINNING RESOURCES PUT TO THE TEST

The Cape Cobras head into their crucial RAM SLAM T20 clash with The Unlimited Titans at PPC Newlands on Friday without their best two spinners after George Linde joined Robin Peterson on the injured list.

Linde fractured a finger on his bowling hand during the five-wicket win over the Dolphins on Sunday, and so the Cobras have called on Siya Simetu for their two upcoming games this weekend.

The Simetu was a regular fixture in the Cape Cobras side during the 2013/14 RAM SLAM, but did not feature at all last season and will need to adapt to the pace of the competition quickly.

The defending champions currently sit third with 12 points from five games, and will need to rein in the Titans after their bonus-point victory over the Dolphins on Wednesday put them top of the table with 21 points.

“This is a key game – we need to take some points off the Titans now that they’re top of the log. We need to make sure that we’re ticking,” said Cobras coach, Paul Adams.

“We haven’t had the perfect game yet, and that’s what the players are striving for. We keep presenting that in front of them and hopefully it comes as we get close to the end of the league phase.”

A big part of the Unlimited Titans’ success during their winning streak, which stretched to five games on Wednesday, has been their ability to think on their feet.

“We’ve played on some funny wickets so far – some turners and some up-and-down wickets – so we’ve had to adapt our bowling plans on the field and I think that’s one thing we’ve done well so far,” reflected Titans captain, Albie Morkel. “We’ve assessed the situations quite nicely.”

Lungi Ngidi missed Wednesday’s game because he was writing exams, but has joined the Titans squad for the game against the Cobras.

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