South China Morning Post

WILLIS TARGETS A ‘WINNING CULTURE’

Tough task for head coach as Hong Kong face hosts Oman today in Premier Cup T20 semi-final

- Paul McNamara paul.mcnamara@scmp.com

Hong Kong are tantalisin­gly close to a prized berth at next year’s Asia Cup, but head coach Simon Willis’ mission to change the team’s “deep-rooted culture” will take much longer.

His side will face hosts Oman in an ACC Premier Cup semi-final today, after Babar Hayat humbled Malaysia’s attack on Wednesday to spare his team the indignity of a group-stage exit.

The reward for beating Oman will be a spot in Sunday’s Twenty20 final against Nepal or the United Arab Emirates. The winners of that match qualify for next year’s continenta­l event.

Hong Kong began their Premier Cup campaign with victory over Qatar, but defeats by lowly Saudi Arabia and Nepal, the tournament favourites, left Willis’ side needing to beat Malaysia by a handsome margin – and rely on Nepal to beat the Saudis – to progress.

Babar struck nine sixes and two fours in a 35-ball 83 as Hong Kong reached their target of 141 in 12.1 overs to leapfrog Qatar on net run rate, before the Nepalese did their bit.

“The 11 players on the field, and three off it, were fully focused,” Willis said. “In the past, we have not always had that self-motivation, focus and commitment, and we have been punished as a result. It shows what this team is capable of when it has its back to the wall.”

Asked if every individual has maintained the requisite level of engagement in the ongoing tournament, Willis said: “The results show not.

“It can take a long time, and a number of factors, to change a deep-rooted culture. You need the right people in the room and we have made a few changes [towards attaining that goal].

“Individual­s need to understand why they’re playing the game of cricket, and to have a purpose, individual­ly and collective­ly.

“There has to be the motivation to improve every day; to not think what worked a few years ago is going to work today. We have to be honest with ourselves … and move with the modern game.”

Captain Nizakat Khan is averaging 63.67 with the bat in Oman. He finished unbeaten on 47 against Malaysia following a decisive stand of 109 with Babar, whom Willis called a “supertalen­ted individual, who can win matches on his own”.

Nizakat has moved from his familiar opening spot to No 3, but came in at two-down against the Malaysians, after Babar was promoted to maximise his time at the crease. “The senior players have been outstandin­g, they have led from the front ... but maybe we haven’t had all 11 in the same place,” Willis said.

“It is probably the most diverse changing room I have worked in with regard to different cultures and individual­s. That makes the job more challengin­g, but it was one of the attraction­s for taking it on. You have to keep finding the tools to unlock the door.

“It worked quickly for some players after I arrived, for others it is a work in progress. Hopefully, in time, whether that is six months or two years, we will reach the destinatio­n we are aiming for, which is a winning culture.”

Willis said the matter of whether he would have been grilled by his bosses in the event of an early exit was “a question for the board”. In the post since March last year, he has overseen a slight uptick in results, while trying to implement changes to preserve the long-term health of Hong Kong cricket.

“As a head coach, you understand the number one priority is to win matches,” Willis said. “But you have to be realistic about the resources you have, and what is achievable with them. I have constant dialogue with the director of cricket, the national selectors and the board about that.”

In the past, we have not always had that self-motivation, focus and commitment, and we have been punished as a result

HONG KONG MEN’S CRICKET COACH SIMON WILLIS, TRYING TO GET EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE TO DEVELOP A WINNING CULTURE IN INTERNATIO­NAL TOURNAMENT­S

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