Gold Coast Dolphins coach Jerry Cassell says shift in mental approach key to two-day success

A SHIFT in mental approach could hold the key to Queensland Premier Cricket success for the Gold Coast Dolphins as they embark on their two-day campaign against Valleys on Saturday.

A SHIFT in mental approach could hold the key to Queensland Premier Cricket success for the Gold Coast Dolphins as they embark on their two-day campaign against Valleys on Saturday.

After two losses and a wash out from their opening one-day fixtures, the Dolphins will head to Ashgrove’s Peter Easton Oval at 10am desperate the begin the two-day competition in style.

They missed a golden opportunity to register their first win away to South Brisbane last weekend, collapsing to 214-all out chasing the hosts’ 6-231.

DOLPHINS CONFIDENT THEY’RE HEADED IN RIGHT DIRECTION

At a time when Twenty20 cricket has redefined the expectations on the strike rates of batsmen, coach Jerry Cassell said the old-fashioned approach of patience and hard work would be the Dolphins’ ticket to two-day success.

“Talking to other coaches, we’re all dealing with guys that play lots of shots now instead of batting for time,” Cassell said.

Dolphins coach Jerry Cassell. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“It tends to be that the clubs with the oldest players are the better batting sides. At the moment, because (our squad is) so young – the average age is 20, which is probably the youngest group I’ve ever seen – we’re just getting them to play good cricket and obviously as their confidence grows the results will too.

MAX EFFORT IN CAPTAINCY CHALLENGE

“I think the guys are starting to understand and realise you can’t just hit every ball for four and six.”

Two-day minor premiers last season, the Dolphins’ second grade side will play their first two-day fixture against Valleys at Cheltenham Oval on Saturday before facing Sunshine Coast in the quarterfinals of the one-day competition on Sunday.