Interview - Pete Johnston - 21 June 2024

The head coach of Emerging Ireland, Pete Johnson, discusses the key moments and emotions in the final innings of the cricket game. He emphasizes the importance of staying focused and getting the job done. He praises the performances of Carmichael, Chris De Freitas, and Morgan Topping. He also commends the bowlers for their efforts despite one being injured. Johnson expresses his satisfaction with the team's performance in the four-day cricket match and highlights the value of giving young players opportunities. He concludes by acknowledging the learnings gained from tough times and the growth of the team. We're here with Pete Johnson, head coach with Emerging Ireland. Talk us through some of the key moments and emotions there in the final innings. Yeah, I think it's just the combination of a good four days cricket. It all comes down to this morning, which is where you want to be in a game like this. I think we were very aware that they had two good batters there in Young and Joshua Bishop and the partnership was always, there was the potential for a partnership there but I think it was just important that we stayed with it, stayed to task and then got the job done and once we got that breakthrough, the rest of the wickets came fairly comfortably for us. So, very exciting finish and great four days cricket with lots of learnings for our players and also their side. Okay, Carmichael, what a performance. Yeah, he did really well. I think the bang on the head maybe woke him up. He crunched one through mid wicket shortly after that but again, I suppose, showed a bit of resilience just coming through that bang and playing so well. So, he was fantastic and I think Chris De Freitas played an equally good knock in the first innings. Morgan Topping as well faced a lot of deliveries and took time out of the game for us, which allowed our spinners to come into play on day four here with the ball spinning and the pitch deteriorating slightly. It was a really good pitch but those sort of innings are crucial as well and we had two big partnerships in the game. Gav Hoey played his part with Cade and then Chris and Morgan as well. So, yeah, just really pleased with the batters. One bowler injured, so very impressed with you with the bowlers that you had. Yeah, absolutely and look, I think Tom Mayes had a really good effect on the game and the impact as well. Seems to be hitting deck a little bit harder, running in nicely with good rhythm. So, it was unfortunate for him to get injured and he played his part with the bat as well but credit to the guys, as you say, just having the three seamers and for Fozzie and Liam then to go out and back it up and then our spinners as well. It was a fantastic team effort. Four-day cricket, it's a bit different, it's special. How have the camp enjoyed it? They've absolutely loved it. I think over the last couple of weeks it's been brilliant to see the value of giving our young players opportunities. I think certainly in the last one-day squad there, the average age was around 20 and to win the series 3-0 was fantastic. Four-day cricket doesn't come around a lot. We obviously had some tough times in the West Indies but those tough times are often the good times and you learn a lot and I think for the guys that were in the West Indies and then to come back here and show how they've moved the game on, obviously different conditions but I think you can see some real learnings the more we play it and it's just great to see guys get the experience, put those learnings into action and put in performances like we've seen here over the last four days. That's brilliant, thank you very much and congratulations. Thank you, cheers.