Premier Cricket: Ex-NSW coach Trent Johnston joins Greenvale Kangaroos

AN ARCHITECT of Ireland’s rise to full ICC status, Trent Johnston is hoping to achieve a similar feat in his new role at Greenvale Kangaroos.

Trent Johnston was today announced as the new coach of Cricket NSW replacing Trevor Bayliss who is now coaching England. pic. Phil Hillyard

TRENT Johnston has been here before.

As Ireland’s captain at the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the New South Welshman led his adopted country to a famous victory over Pakistan, launching a matchwinning six to help put Irish cricket on the map.

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A decade after Johnston’s heroics, Ireland was admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council and played its first Test match in May.

Johnston, who was coach of New South Wales for three years after his playing days finished in 2013, was appointed director of coaching at Greenvale Kangaroos last month.

Trent Johnston was coach of New South Wales for three years. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Premier Cricket club finds itself in a similar position to where Ireland was 11 years ago.

Based in one of Melbourne’s fastest growing municipalities, the Roos were formed as a result of a merger between Greenvale and North Melbourne which was ratified in 2013.

Much like Johnston’s Ireland, the Roos have battled against the odds in recent years to gain a foothold against more established teams in the state’s pre-eminent cricket competition.

While First XI wins have been rare, 44-year-old Johnston has been buoyed by the level of talent present at pre-season training since his arrival.

“There’s certainly some talent there,” Johnston said.

“We probably won’t be looking to win (the title), but we’ll give teams a good run for their money if we keep all our top players fit.”

Trent Johnston celebrates a wicket during the World Cup against India.

Johnston forms part of a new-look off-field structure at Greenvale Reserve, led by playing coach Matthew Love and director of cricket Peter Di Venuto.

Johnston was attracted to the club by Di Venuto, a former coach of Carlton and Prahran, and said he was determined to help Greenvale prosper.

“It’s a pretty exciting time,” he said.

“You have the experience of coaches they have out there.

“It will be interesting to see how we can put things into play to make the club a better club.”

Surrounded by paddocks and booming housing estates, Greenvale’s home ground is a long way from the idyllic surrounds of Kingston, Jamaica, where Johnston led Ireland to its historic one-day international victory.

Ireland captain Trent Johnston celebrates the six which earned his team a historic World Cup victory over Pakistan.

The former fast-medium bowler and lower-order batsman said “contact time” would be the biggest difference between the role he held with New South Wales and his position at Greenvale.

Where he would work closely with the Blues’ players most days, Johnston recognises cricketers at his new club will be juggling work, study and families with cricket.

“You have got to understand these guys’ primary source of income is working, or they are at uni,” he said.

“They play cricket for a bit of fun or to be out with their mates.

“At the other end of the scale, you have got the guys that play first grade and want to progress, better themselves and go through to higher honours.”

Johnston said his role would be hands on and involve match-day duties, hoping to assist Greenvale’s improvement with the same enthusiasm he did Irish cricket.

“I will be working with the players and we will be sitting down, myself, Peter and Lovey, to work out how we are going to move the club forward and hopefully have a successful season,” he said.

Greenvale is scheduled to start its campaign with an away fixture against Melbourne Uni on Saturday, October 6.

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