The Cape Cobras have filled two senior roles adding Ashwell Prince and Alan Dawson to their staff.
Prince, a former South African selector and Proteas batsman, has been appointed as the Cobras’ assistant coach while Alan Dawson joins the franchise as Convenor of the Cape Cobras’ selection committee.
Prince resigned from the national selection committee to ready himself for a coaching role. He also recently gained experience as batting coach of the SA A team on their tour to Australia.
Dawson said his main focus would be consistency in selection and an open door policy to players.
He would like to assist in making Cape Cobras a domestic powerhouse and helping them to return to the summit of the logs.
He also believes in frankness and openness and liaising with former colleagues and members of the extended family of Cape Cobras players in assisting where needed to make the Cobras an even greater force.
Dawson played 98 first-class matches taking 302 wickets. He represented South Africa in two Tests and 19 One-Day Internationals, and was part of the South African team that reached the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup in 1999.
Prince said his premier role would be to assist the Cobras in winning trophies again.
He is also determined to mentor the younger players in making the step up and to fulfil their potential, propelling them to the international level.
Prince was philosophical about playing style. He said although he put a high price on his wicket, he won’t expect players in the Cape Cobras’ set-up to play similarly. He would rather see them express themselves in a way that does justice to their own characters.
Yet, they also have to assess the game situation accurately and play accordingly, he added.
Prince believes age is just a number and does not determine the degree of a players success.
‘Age is not a factor. The senior veterans in the Cape Cobras team have been around the block and they know what is required to achieve success. The most important characteristic is the motivation to reproduce the goods.
‘I would like us as a team to play for one another and to work as a strong unit. It is a game of small margins, and when it is tight, the scales will tilt in the direction of the team with a strong cohesion,’ he added.
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