After a comprehensive selection process with an independent interview panel, Paul Adams has been appointed as the semi-professional coach at WP Cricket.
He succeeds Salieg Nackerdien, who was recently appointed as assistant coach of the SA Women’s team.
Adams’ appointment to mentor the senior provincial team means a resurrection of his career as first-class coach after a season spent at the helm of the WP Academy and WP Under-19 team.
Adams (41) is an experienced first-class coach, who presided over the Cape Cobras during a golden period which yielded five trophies.
He spent more than 18 months as coach of the provincial academy and the Western Province Under-19 team, and says the exposure to that environment taught him the importance of the pipeline structures to develop and nurture new talent.
“I was quite excited when I got the call from Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of the WPCA, that I had been appointed.
“I see my role at senior provincial level as one in which I have to learn what each player’s individual goals are, to help nurture a team culture and to get each player to perform at optimum level,” he said.
Adams understandably wants to fill the trophy cabinet again, but adds that solo talent won’t win you trophies.
"You need to tick other boxes like the motivation of the squad, unlocking the potential of every player, understanding what drives them and having the right work ethic,” he adds.