The Coaches at SC Cricket Coaching

STEVEN CHAPMAN

Head Coach

A former first class cricketer and current ECB level III cricket coach. Steve is the Academy Director and is responsible for the day to day running of the Academy. His playing and coaching experiences have taken him around the world, working and competing with and against some of the best players and coaches currently operating within the game, giving him both the knowledge and experience to be able to work with players aspiring to play professional cricket. Having played as an overseas player for more than 10 years in Melbourne Steve can provide a sound understanding, from first hand experience, of the problems young players may encounter during their time down under. For more information on Steve, click here.

FRANK WELBURN

Sport Psychologist and Fitness Consultant

With his sports psych background Frank has worked with a diverse range of elite level sports people, with the sole aim of making good people better. He is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and has created and implemented sport psychology and cross training programs for elite sports people from AFL football, swimming, (National and State Water Lions) cricket, softball, basketball, triathletes and ultra marathon swimmers. His own sporting background is one of an elite level sportsman. Frank is a 4th Dan karate black belt and has trained World Champions in martial arts, as well being Head Coach of the Australian Team at the prestigious World All Styles Organisation (WASO) World Championships. Frank currently travels the country giving presentations for numerous types of sporting clubs.

NICK SPEAK

Batting Consultant

A former First Class cricketer in the UK, firstly with Lancashire CCC (1986 – 96) and then Durham CCC (1997 – 2001) where he ended his illustrious career in the professional game as Durham CCC captain. Nick has an outstanding record in the English County game, boasting nearly 10,000 runs, inclusive of 15 centuries and a high score of 232. His knowledge and experience from within the game has been built from a career playing alongside the likes of Michael Atherton, Wasim Akram and David Boon, and as most pros do, spent off season time in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia developing his passion to excel at the highest level and helping as many other players as possible along the way. Nick currently resides in Melbourne and spends some of his time employed as a batting consultant to some of the elite club sides within the state, preparing young elite players, both technically and mentally for the demands of life as a professional cricketer.

DAVID SAKER

Fast Bowling Consultant

Since leaving First Class cricket in Australia in 2004 with 247 wkts from 72 games for both Victoria and Tasmania, David has become an outstanding fast bowling coach. Currently he is assistant coach to the Victorian Bushrangers under Greg Shippard, and is responsible for Cricket Victoria’s High Performance Unit.

ATHULA SAMERASEKERA

Batting and Bowling Consultant

A former Sri Lankan Test Cricket All-rounder, with an international career spanning over 15 years, Athula brings with him an abundance of experience of cricket at the highest level. His career has taken him around the cricketing world competing against some of the best players in recent history, and has had no greater honor than representing Sri Lanka in 2 Cricket World Cups – 1983 in England and in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand. His First Class debut in 1982 at the age of 21 was made against the fearsome Aussies, which included Dennis Lillee and Rodney Hogg. Now resident with his family here in Melbourne, Athula still plays recreational cricket in the suburban leagues of Victoria and is heavily involved coaching throughout the year for various teams in Victoria.

RAY BRIGHT

Spin Bowling Consultant

A former Australian and Victorian captain, Ray played 25 Tests for Australia and 114 first class games for Victoria as a left arm Orthodox spinner. He ended his first-class career with 471 wickets at an average of 32.08 and scored two centuries. His finest moment in international cricket came in the famous tied Test in Madras against India in 1986, when he took 5 for 94 in India's second innings. Ray played in both Centenary Tests and also in World Series Cricket. Since retiring from playing professionally after the 1987-1988 season, Ray has served as a selector for the Victorian state team.

DREW MCGUINESS

Sports Physiotherapist

From a 1st Grade cricket background, Drew joins the team for the 2007 - 08 Academy. Outside of his work with the Australian Winter Olympics Team, Drew is strongly linked with the head physiotherapist of the Victorian Bushrangers and specializes in sports injuries, both treatment and prevention. Drew will be responsible for spinal and peripheral screening and biomechanical analysis for injury prevention and technical enhancement. Once assessed, a full report can be submitted to the strength and conditioning coach, to ensure a structured training program be devised to suit each individual, aimed at keeping injury to a minimum.