Kyle chats with Orange City Cricket Club wicket-keeper Lachlan Coyte
This week we sat down with Lachlan Coyte the young Orange City Cricket Club wicket keeper and top order batsmen. This past season he scored 333 runs at an average of 41.63 with a top score of 109. This was also his maiden century. Career wise he has played 199 matches and scored 3777 at an average of 25.87
- What is your cricket strength, what do you bring to your team / club?
I’m a wicket keeping batsmen who bats mainly at 3 and 4.
- What was it that first drew you to the game of cricket ?
Well like everyone, I started out in the backyard with my father and 2 older brothers, then I would always watch my older brother Josh play, when I got to play my first game I was 6 and haven’t looked back. It was an instant love affair.
- What has been your career highlight?
Most cricketers would say scoring there first 100 but for me it would have to be the recent season of Bonnor cup where I got the opportunity to play along side one of the best T20 batsmen in the western zone Mick Curtale. To bat along side someone as cool, calm and collected as Mick was something special, especially being a younger cricketer he definitely helped me out in the middle and made my game better.
- What has been the hardest/ worst moment on a cricket field ?
I would say having to leave the field and the game after taking a blow to the face in the semifinal of Bonnor cup, it would have to be the worst moment due to the stage of the game and the fact I couldn’t finish off the game.
- Your dad is a centrals legend and your brother also played 1st grade for the club, is there any family rivalry at home with you being a city boy ?
No, there’s not really a rivalry as dads saying is as long as your playing the game I’m not fazed which team you are playing for. I owe a lot to Orange City but there’s definitely a soft spot there for Centrals.
- You are the best young wicket keeper batsmen in the central west, what preparation goes into fine tuning your game ?
Well first I have to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to take the gloves the past 3 years. I think you just have to put it down as hard work and spending time on specific skills to do with wicket keeping and you have to have the drive to want to keep because you can spend long days in the field, it’s also your job to keep the team up though-out the game. I definitely still have a bit to go but I’m still working hard and to improve the skills, I need to get to the next stage and benefit myself in the long run.
- What’s the best and worst thing about playing cricket in country NSW ?
I think the worst thing is you don’t get to play against a wide range of players and teams because there are only a few teams, you often find yourself playing the one team a couple times though out the year. The best part for me would be improvising and adapting drills and training to suit the facilities we have in the country.
- What chances and opportunities could Orange City offer to a potential international recruit ?
Well we have a great junior system thanks to the hard work many have put in especially Dan Brincatt, to me if you have strong juniors it will lead into stronger seniors. Likewise having 4 including myself who played juniors 3 years ago in our first grade side and there’s even more spread though the many other grades. The club also offers a great social side with our major sponsor the Parkview, members from every team make there way down to the Parkview after games on Saturday’s and enjoy a presentation on the days play from each grade.
- If given the chance would you play overseas and where would you like to go ?
Well I’m actually moving to NZ this year to play cricket so I will definitely be playing over seas, id love to get the opportunity one day to play in Devon UK as that’s where my family name is from. But I’ve linked with a few clubs in NZ at the moment so I will start there.
- What are your goals and aspirations for your future cricket career?
Well as I see it, if I’m willing to put the hard work in and dedicate myself to the game and improving my game, then let your game do the talking and if I’m good enough to make it to a top level then I can owe that to the hard work I have put in to get to there.