James Franklin faced the media today (Monday, 25 February) as he started work as Durham’s new Lead High Performance Coach.
The former New Zealand all-rounder took training for the first time this morning before meeting the North East sports media along with Director of Cricket, Marcus North, & Chief Executive, Tim Bostock.
After working as a consultant with Big Bash side Brisbane Heat, Franklin arrived at Emirates Riverside in mid-February before officially beginning work in his new role today.
“It’s about trying to get the group out there on the field & competing in every game, & hopefully we’re there or thereabouts at the back end of competitions,” the 38-year-old said.
“There’s raw talent but it’s getting them to understand the nuances of the game & supporting each other through that as a group. That takes a little bit of time but the raw potential is certainly there.”
“The focus is on the process. You can always have those end targets in winning competitions & getting promoted, but the focus is on the process & how you get there.
“It’s key for us moving forward that we see we’re improving in all formats & see progression & improvement in our performances to get consistency in our game.”
Franklin will now oversee the squad’s training programme ahead of the pre-season tour to South Africa next month.