Simon Helmot with players from Echuca Cricket Club’s women’s and girls teams. Photo: Oliver Shedden
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
Simon Helmot, a high-performance coach who has helmed international and national professional cricket teams around the world, was in Echuca-Moama to guide some local teams ahead of the season.
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Helmot has spent only about a month in the country since the beginning of the year as he has been busy coaching Pakistan’s Test and world cup sides as well as T20 sides; SunRisers Hydrabad in India, Columbo Strikers in Sri Lanka and Desert Vipers in Dubai.
He coached the women’s and girls’ Echuca sides for training on Wednesday night and followed up with the men’ A-grade side on Thursday night in preparation for their season starting on Saturday, October 5. He also held a clinic for Moama juniors throughout the day on Thursday.
Simon Helmot also trained with juniors from Moama Cricket Club. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Helmot is no stranger to Echuca-Moama and has visited the twin towns in the last few years, first meeting Echuca and Moama’s presidents, John Moyle and Kirk Teasdale, at a Goulburn Murray presentation night a few years ago.
He said it is always a pleasure to visit the area and he always tries to make time to come and give some pointers to players.
Simon Helmot asked all players what they would be focusing the most for improving in the 2024-25 season. Photo: Oliver Shedden
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
“I’ve been here and done training here multiple times before and both Echuca and Moama are beautiful places, and I love coming here,” he said.
“Something I have always cherished and enjoyed is working in community and grassroots cricket and being a former club coach myself, I have a great understanding and love of club cricket, so when guys like the two presidents of Echuca and Moama give me a call I always find time in the calendar.
Simon Helmot gave the youngsters some batting tips before training.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
“What I enjoy most about working with players in this region is that they are always appreciative, respectful and hungry to learn more.”
Helmot highlighted how a return to a community cricket level allows him to refine his coaching and get back to a fundamental level that keeps him on his toes.
“With grassroots cricket you are focusing on more skill-specific coaching, you’re interacting with players of all different levels, whereas with international cricketers, there’s a prior understanding and performance level,” he said.
“But when I come here, I get to work with a range of juniors, women’s and men’s teams that keeps me fresh and on my toes, and it allows me to return to fundamentals and get some purity in my coaching.”
