Isle of Man Cricket Team - Gareth Dawson Era

Gareth Dawson Era

In 2008, The Isle of Man cricket association appointed Gareth Dawson brother of former test spinner Richard as head coach of the Isle of Man cricket team. Gareth would be responsible for all age groups ranging from the junior set ups all the way to the full Senior squad.

Upon arrival, Gareth evaluated the state of Manx cricket and after a seeing after seeing a combination of batting collapses, misguided bowling and a series of fielding errors, decided a new approach was needed. He set a clear goal for his tenture ... To achieve Associate status within the European Cricket Council and to reach the world cricket leagues.

Despite Gareth's customary flair and trademark swagger, he decided that in order to reach his goals that he needed to implement some "steel" into the Manx side. He implemented a strong fitness regime amongst his players. This included twice weekly runs along the Douglas sea-front, plyometric sessions, weight training sessions as well as the occasional interval session.

Gareth also introduced improved nutrition amongst the players that even led to him outsting custard creams across the islands premier clubs.

On (Insert date), Gareth along with his second in command Mark Beardshall took his first Isle of Man senior team to La Manga (Spain) to participate in the European Division Three Championships. The team was :-

• Richard Kniveton (Captain) (Crosby)
• Nick Hawke (St Johns)
• Gregg Hawke (St Johns)
• Christopher Hawke (St Johns)
• Daniel Hawke (St Johns)
• Daniel Kniveton (Crosby)
• Jonathan Norrington (St Johns)
• Gareth Roome (Castletown)
• Alex Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
• Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
• Arne Van Den Berg (St Johns)
• Robbert Webber (Ramsey)
• Oliver Webster (Ramsey)
• Mark Williams (Castletown)

The team finished second, losing out disappointingely to Israel. The game will be remembered for a series of no-balls and run outs which led to the Israel coach commenting the Isle of Man were by far the better team but lacked the team ethos to beat the cohessive Israel side. Oliver Webster finished the islands leading run scorer with 123 runs in five games at an average of 24.60. The islands top wicket taker was Max Stokoe with 10 wickets from five games.

In 2011, Gareth coached the senior team to a second tournament, the European Division 2 championships in Belgium. The squad was :-

• Richard Kniveton (Captain) (Crosby)
• Seb Aycock (Castletown)
• Ross Berry (Crosby)
• Christopher Hawke (St Johns)
• Daniel Hawke (Cronkbourne)
• Jaco Jansen (St Johns)
• Shaun Kelly (Ramsey)
• Daniel Kniveton (Crosby)
• Peter Lewis (Peel)
• Gareth Morris (Castletown)
• Gareth Roome (Castletown)
• Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
• Arne Van Den Berg (St Johns)
• Oliver Webster (Ramsey)

The Manx senior squad were heavy favourites to progress through to Division one and albeit topping their group with a series of comfortable victories they eventually faded to a strong Austrian bowling line - up, at one point the Manx team were 10 - 7. Although they regrouped they ultimately lost the game and ended up finishing third in the tournament. Gareth Morris ended up the leading batsman in the tournament, amassing 289 runs in 6 games including a mammoth 141 not out against Cyprus. The islands leading wicket taker was Arne Van Den Berg, who claimed 12 victims in 6 games.

In 2012, Gareth coached the senior team to a third tournament, the European Division 2 championships in Corfu, Greece. The squad was :-

• Richard Kniveton (Captain) (Crosby)
• Gareth Dawson(Unattached)
• Greg Hawke (St Johns)
• Daniel Hawke (Grappenhall)
• Daniel Kniveton (Crosby)
• Phil Littlejohns (Peel)
• Russell Miller (Peel)
• Gareth Morris (Castletown)
• Gareth Roome (Castletown)
• Alex Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
• Max Stokoe (Cronkbourne)
• Arne Van Den Berg (St Johns)
• Oliver Webster (Ramsey)
• Mark Williams(Unattached )

The Isle of Man emerged victorious from the ICC European Division Two (T20) tournament in Corfu, therefore earning promotion to Division One in 2013 and keeping alive their dreams of playing in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

The Isle of Man won the tournament thanks to a disciplined bowling attack, backed up by a determined and athletic fielding unit. They held their catches at vital times, and always seemed to have a plan. Their batting had the most depth of any side in the competition, as evidenced by a number of late rallies in the final overs when they seemed in trouble.

Gareth Morris was their star performer with the bat, scoring 275 runs at an average of 39.29, which included three fifties.

Arne van den Berg was their leading wicket taker capturing 11 at just 9.00 apiece, but the real telling statistic is the fact that three of their bowlers featured in the top five economy rates for the tournament - the aforementioned Van Den Berg (2nd), Dan Hawke (3rd) and Max Stokoe (5th).