INTERVIEW: Franks adds value to UAE campaign

Denzil Pinto 11:05 29/01/2015
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  • Big Boost: Paul Franks will help UAE's cricket team to prepare for the World Cup.

    Just three weeks remain until the UAE open their World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe in Nelson, New Zealand on February 19.

    – #360win: WWE LIVE Abu Dhabi tickets and Superstars meet & greet
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    And to help with the team’s preparations Down Under, former England international Paul Franks has been roped in as assistant coach for the tournament.

    The 35-year-old is no stranger to the UAE players having worked with head coach Aaqib Javed’s team in a three-week High Performance Camp at the ICC Academy in November.

    The all-rounder, who is on loan from Nottinghamshire, spoke to Sport360° about what he hopes to achieve from this stint, his long-term coaching targets and his thoughts on the World Cup.

    You’ve been appointed as assistant coach for the UAE until the World Cup. Do you hope this role can help make an impact in your career and perhaps manage an international team one day?
    Who knows what the future brings. Opportunities can come from anywhere now. World cricket is open to anybody. 

    I’m ambitious and I want to go and coach at the highest level one day. But I've also got to learn along the way and with that in mind I look at this job as a stepping stone to gaining more opportunites in the future.

    Was it an easy decision to accept this role, given that you hold a coaching job at Nottinghamshire?
    Yes it was. I had to get permission from Nottinghamshire to come and they were happy for me to come out to the UAE for two months and that was very nice. It’s a new challenge and a new environment and I'm looking forward to it.

    To be invited to the coaching team and add some value to it is very honouring for me and a big challenge for me at the same time. It’s certainly one I’m looking forward to and it’s an exciting time for everyone involved in cricket in the UAE.

    You were part of the training camp in November for three weeks. Did that play a role in taking up this position?
    I didn’t need much convincing. Every time you go into a new environment, it’s important that you go and add some value. I did that in November and am pleased the Emirates Cricket Board decided to bring me back and I will give my best right up until the end of the World Cup.

    "My goals are just to make the team as good as they can be during the games."

    What will your job responsibilities be for the UAE?
    Aaqib has asked me to look after the fielding preparations, not necessarily fielding coaching but overall preparations. 

    That means structure and drills, making sure the guys work hard in short periods and adding value to team practices and team meetings where possible.  

    I can also offer my knowledge on certain teams that I know and think that could be useful as well. I will offer my ideas and tactics on each game and make sure 100 per cent Aaqib’s got the right recipe.

    What do you hope to achieve from this stint with the UAE team?
    Personally, my goals are just to make the team as good as they can be during the games. It’s our responsibility as coaching staff to make sure that the players are well prepared, both mentally and physically to give them the best chance of playing well.

    Fielding has been a major concern, according to Aaqib. What are the ingredients to succeed in fielding?
    It’s a difficult one. You’re trying to minimise the number of mistakes to start with. They will be up against some world class fielding sides.  

    From what I’ve seen, I can’t fault them and they will be put under pressure in the field and it’s about whether they can take the chances that come their way. The key is making sure the players are relaxed and not put them under too much pressure.

    "Every time you go into a new environment, it’s important that you go and add some value."

    Are there are tips or advice you have given the players?
    Nothing in particular really. There is no magic recipe from me. 

    There are elements of hardwork that has to happen. The basics have to be in place, and once those are, you can start building on from there.

    Injuries prevented you from adding to your one ODI cap. How do you reflect back at your England career?
    It was difficult but I have been involved in the set-up quite a lot being around players etc. I’ve realised there’s a lot of professionalism needed to be an England player at the highest stage. There were a lot of things I learnt along the way.

    Looking to the World Cup, which teams do you think have enough qualities to win the trophy?
    There are probably two or three teams that can probably win it. I think if you look at India and their strength in batting, Australia being one of the host nations and South Africa with their all-round talent, they will be there or there abouts. 

    And then there’s another group of teams who feel that on their day they can beat anybody. 

    New Zealand are looking really good at the moment but there are so many teams who can beat anyone. For me I feel it’s about who puts the best run together at the right time.

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