Tony Goodin earns maiden Professional Contract

Posted: Friday, 9 August 2013

The return of Scott Styris and James Baker and induction of Tony Goodin completes the new-season list of contracted SKYCITY Northern Knights, announced today.

The final three additions bring the number of contracted Knights for 2013/14 to 14, with right-arm pace bowler Goodin rewarded after a consistent Northern Districts A season and outstanding Hawke Cup campaign with Bay of Plenty.

Goodin, 24, appeared briefly for the Knights in the Plunket Shield at the beginning of last season. He made his first-class debut stepping in for Graeme Aldridge, who was recovering from ankle surgery, against the Otago Volts at Seddon Park: his sole first-class appearance to date. But SKYCITY Northern Knights head coach James Pamment says Goodin's consistent pace and attitude has kept him on the radar.

"We wanted to add another seam bowler to add balance to our core group and Tony was very clearly the next cab off the rank," said Pamment.

"Although he may not be as well known to our supporters, he has been in and around the squad for the last three years, and enjoyed an outstanding season last summer for Bay of Plenty. He broke the Bay of Plenty wickets record by delivering good, straight line and length consistently and since then he has impressed us further by getting really stuck into his winter strength and conditioning programme. He is looking really trim and strong in our preseason trainings and we expect that to bear fruits."

Goodin debuted for Bay of Plenty in 2007/08 and rounded out the 2012/13 summer in head-turning style with a match-winning double of 7-42 and 5-91 - against South Canterbury on a slow, turning Smallbone Park (Rotorua) pitch that did little to assist pace bowlers. He took the first three wickets of the match without a run being scored and his ultimate 12-wicket haul helped ensure undefeated Bay of Plenty retained the Hawke Cup for next season.

Scott Styris, an overseas player for the Sussex Sharks in England's T20 competition this winter, contributes an invaluable wealth of experience and all-round competitiveness to the Knights' T20 side.

Styris, 38, is delighted to be returning and is already fired up to attempt to win the HRV Cup with the Knights for the first time.

"I've loved playing for the SKYCITY Northern Knights ever since debuting for them in 1994 and I can't wait to have another crack at the HRV Cup this summer," he said.

"It's been the elusive title for us yet there's no question that we have played some outstanding T20 cricket. The challenge to nail it this summer is one we are all very fired up for. I'm also looking forward to playing under our new captain Daniel Flynn who will do a fantastic job."

Pamment noted that the role of senior players takes on extra significance when there is an abundance of exciting youth in a squad.

"James Baker is one who will continue to shape his craft with more exposure. Graeme Aldridge, who is in the top echelon now with over 100 first-class games to his credit and who broke our Northern Districts all-time wickets record last season, has really taken the younger seam bowlers under his wing.

"I'm sure both James and Tony Goodin will benefit from his mentorship. It's also a pleasure for us to be able to reward guys who have been in our system and who have worked very hard in the training environment and at Northern Districts A level."

SKYCITY Northern Knights not to have been recontracted this season are the long-serving Joseph Yovich, Brett Hampton, James Marshall (retired), Bradley Scott (transferred to the Otago Volts) and Brent Arnel (transferred to the Wellington Firebirds). Corey Anderson was also a contracted Knight last season, but is now a BLACKCAP and centrally contracted by New Zealand Cricket. However, Northern Districts CEO Peter Roach emphasised that players do not need to be on the contract list to be considered a valued member of the squad.

"The SKYCITY Northern Knights remain committed to selecting any player who puts their name forward for selection with strong performances. This of course includes Brett Hampton and Joey Yovich - who delivered two first-class centuries for us as an opening batsman last season.

"Joey remains part of ND's plans, but unfortunately missed a contract this time around. This is a result of Major Associations having to rank players in each form of the game. Joey represented the team in the longer form only last season, which ultimately made it difficult for us to retain a place for him on our list of 14.

"We know Joey is a committed ND man and is no less fired up for the season. We look forward to him putting himself right in the frame for selection with good early season form."

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