Boyd Relishing New Season Challenge
North West Warriors Head Coach Boyd Rankin has plenty to keep him occupied over the Christmas holidays this year, however the former International pace bowler has this week been looking forward to the 2023 Interprovincial season.
Selectors have already named a 20-man Winter Training Squad with an Irish passport-holding batsman set to be added in the New Year, however Boyd was quick to point out that the current list is by no means exhaustive.
“There will of course be opportunities for players not involved in the current panel to force their way in. There are several players playing cricket abroad for the winter while many more have been attending our local training sessions, so the 20-strong list issued last week has taken account of that.
“Playing Interprovincial cricket brings its own demands and requires a lot of commitment. I understand that it isn’t always easy, however we have to put some value on the fact that there are players who turn up week in week out throughout the winter months.”
“The perfect example of how that works in terms of pathway is Jared Wilson. Last year, Jared turned up for every training session and every gym session and he forced his way into the Warriors team.
“His performances at Interpro level saw him get his chance in the Ireland Development squad and now he has a real chance to kick on from there.”
“That’s how the process should work and it shows what can be achieved through hard work and commitment.
“Overall I am happy with our squad and have already spoken with the players who have been training this winter and haven’t been included. There will definitely be chances for them because next year looks sure to be a really busy summer.
“Our International players look set to miss domestic games as they will be on Ireland duty and there will be another busy ‘Future Programme’ to contend with as well, so there will be opportunities.
After a year in the job, the former Bready man says his new post has been ‘exciting and challenging in equal measure’.
“It’s been really busy, but I don’t mind that. I’m enjoying working with the players and a good team of coaches and while I’ve tried to change one or two things, it will take time.
“Hopefully, for example, we will over the next few years have summer contracts for Interprovincial players. That would help offset a situation where players are coming straight from work to training and it would give us some sort of negotiating position.
“All in all I’m content with where we’re at at this stage but it has to be a work in progress and there are things that we need to try to improve.
“We’ll have a short break now over Christmas and the New Year but we’ll be ready to go again after that and start building up towards the start of the new season.”
The North West Warriors are kindly sponsored by – Fleming-Agri Products Ltd
Originally set up in Donegal in the northwest of Ireland by Robert John Fleming in 1860, ownership of the company has remained in the Fleming family to the present, ranking as one of the oldest agricultural machinery companies in the UK and Ireland. The company trades in over 20 countries and employs over 100 people in their modern 6-acre site in Newbuildings. They specialise in agricultural, countryside and ground care machinery with over 100 products on offer: https://www.fleming-agri.com/
