Watching four young batsmen taking on an attack with first-class credentials was all Tim Coyle needed to justify the Greater Northern Raiders program.
The Raiders men's coach watched on with pride as four of his youngest players top scored in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League fixture at UTAS Stadium on Saturday.
"This has got to be the focus of what we do," said the multiple Sheffield Shield-winning Tasmanian coach who has been the driving force behind the initiative to assist the North's best players.
"These guys will own this team for the next 10 years and they're very keen to be involved at this level.
"We've struggled to get commitment from more senior players and if they want to focus on club cricket fair enough. But this group are invested and want to get better. That commitment is really strong and we'll keep investing in them."
Coyle said that facing bowlers with national and even international experience on a weekly basis will do wonders for the development of players who might stagnate if not challenged in regional leagues.
"It's a heightened competition for them. They might not always get as many runs or wickets as they'd like and we would expect some inconsistency from them.
"But consistency will come when they start to believe they belong at this level and we're starting to see that with guys like Cooper Anthes, Spencer Hayes, Alex Wynwood and Sam O'Mahony.
"Sam in particular is someone who should be looked at really closely by Cricket Tasmania. I don't see many people hit the ball as hard as him."
Against an attack including Tasmanian Tigers and Hobart Hurricanes spinner Clive Rose, Anthes accumulated an impressive 83, Hayes 34 and O'Mahony 27 before left-hander Wynwood upped the strike-rate with a swashbuckling half-century including a huge six straight back past Rose.
Coyle said such young talent needs a bigger challenge than Cricket North can provide.
"Our grade cricket across the North is not like it used to be. The strength of teams drops away quickly. But at this level, consistency is good across the board. You're always facing good bowlers or bowling at good batters so it is a big step up for these guys.
"Having the Premier League has been a great result and then there's Futures League and the highest level beyond that, so there is now a genuine pathway and we're giving our young players the best chance to be recognised and also playing on wickets like UTAS which are outstanding.
"Will Bennett is another example, an 18-year-old leg spinner learning his craft in a tough environment which will be really good for him."
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
