By Alesha Capone
Hoppers Crossing Cricket Club has appointed a new batting coach and assistant coach for its senior side ahead of the upcoming season.
Ajay Bhatt has been announced as specialist batting coach, level two coach and First XI player, while Craig Swan has been named assistant coach.
Bhatt comes to the HCCC after serving as a captain and coach for Carnegie for the past two years, following a move to the western suburbs.
Hoppers Crossing director of coaching, Steve Frenkel, said that in addition to helping with batting skills, Bhatt has an impressive focus and determination which he can impart to senior players.
“After chatting to him, we realised we’ve got someone pretty special with his mindset and how he approaches the game,” Frenkel said.
He said that Swan has been welcomed back to the HCCC following a successful stint at Altona.
Frenkel described Swan as a “stalwart” of cricket in the west and a “fantastic appointment” given his long-standing connection to HCCC, where he also played with the veterans’ team last year.
“It’s great for the club to have someone of his calibre,” Frenkel said.
Frenkel said that he, Hoppers Crossing head coach Anthony Williams and Bhatt have gotten in early for the pre-season and already decided on a structure to help players with their training.
“We will go into the season and look for areas we could improve in and also celebrate our achievements as a club,” Frenkel said.
“We’re just looking to improve and bring some further development to players, and the results will come together and show for themselves.
“We hope that’s a good formula for success, we’re looking as a club to retain players and also attract players.”
