From black cap to kids coach: Vincent at ease with his role

Perhaps the only thing rarer than cricket pitches in Dubai at the moment is the sight of an ex-international cricketer coaching children.

Students of Dubai College were the beneficiaries on this occasion when former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent held an intense net session for the school’s talented young bunch of cricketers arranged by his Dubai agents Aces Middle East.

As the former Black Caps player padded up to grab a measure of what the youngsters were made of, it did sum up the radical turnaround of his own career.

Only a year ago, Vincent was taking on international cricket’s mightiest bowlers till the day he opted to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

His decision led to a harsher one from the New Zealand Board who banned the player from representing his country again back in February.

Shortly before that, Vincent also underwent a phase of depression in a case similar to fellow cricketer Marcus Trescothick of England. But it was hard to imagine this was the same Lou Vincent who looked in control and totally at ease around the Dubai College children. The troubles of yesterday seemed to be the last thing on his mind as he went about advising them on the game’s finer points. And he couldn’t deny he was loving every bit of it.

"Obviously it’s great seeing the kids of Dubai College," he said, "Where I want to specialise is my fielding coaching. This is where I can get a bit of experience, coaching the kids so it maybe starts becoming a bit of a programme.

"Maybe one day I can pop into professional teams and pass on my experience and increase the fielding standard in cricket.

"If I can pass anything on to the kids today then I’ve done my job."

He certainly did according to Dubai College senior captain Hassan Aslam.

"The advice these guys give you is invaluable," said the 17-year-old.

"I had been struggling with my balance while batting for about two years. [Vincent] just gave me one bit of advice on body balance and within half an hour, the problem was solved."

Aslam acknowledged the role of the school’s chief coach Martin Wooley in helping players develop their game but said such sessions were more than welcome. "It’s great we are getting these kinds of guys down here. Mr Wooley is a great coach but we don’t get much from outside the school."