Banik declares local innings over
Long-serving Taranaki cricket coach Debu Banik has landed a development coaching job with Northern Districts.
Banik, who finishes with Taranaki Cricket today, has spent almost two decades in New Plymouth following coaching stints in England during the New Zealand offseason, working at clubs in Kent, Cheshire and Middlesex.
Originally from Kolkata, he was persuaded to come to New Zealand by former Taranaki rep Keith Muller, who was a team-mate in England.
He built up strong working relationships at Francis Douglas Memorial College where he worked while also being a resource coach for Taranaki Cricket before he was appointed the association’s representative coach in 2013 following the resignation of Kerry O’neill.
Taranaki Cricket’s director of coaching Chris Coombe said Banik had been instrumental in the development of countless Stags, Hinds and Central Districts age-group representatives, including Mattie Thomas, Ryan Watson, Dean Robinson, Will Young, Tom Bruce and Kate Ebrahim.
‘‘His technical and tactical knowledge of the game is world class, and his dedication and work ethic make him ideally suited to a high-performance environment,’’ he said.
Doug Proffit, who manages the Taranaki women’s side, will move into the coaching role with Banik’s departure.
Banik was Taranaki Cricket’s longestserving employee following the departures earlier this year of Travis Stewart and Kurt Leuthart.