USACA’s new head coach Mark Johnson is “A Man for All Seasons”

By Ricardo Inniss

Special Correspondent

The United States of America Cricket Association’s (USACA) recently appointed as cricket head coach, for the upcoming ICC World Twenty/20 to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE),  the former International cricket club, South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA) and USA, prolific  hard-hitting, left-handed batsman Mark Johnson, who is without a doubt “ A Man for All Seasons” and a very good choice.

Mark Rickland Johnson, a trained level 1 cricket coach, was born on October 28, 1964 in Kingston, Jamaica, where he attended Kingston College. Between 1980 and 1981 ; Johnson played youth cricket for Jamaica. He also represented the Kensington Cricket Club, before migrating to New York in December of 1981. He did not play any cricket in New York, but attended Brooklyn College. He arrived in Florida in 1989, Joined International Cricket Club, and has turned out for them up until recently.

To this day Johnson holds the record of being the only batsman in the SFCA’s 45 overs competition to hit a double century, when on June 6, 2001, he cracked a sizzling  unbeaten 211 against Myrtle Grove, spiced with 13 fours and 17 sixes.

The former prolific left handed opener reckons that all told he has scored over 12000 runs including 25 centuries. He rates his century against Osswald Park back in 2001; as his best knock. The easy going Johnson, has fond memories of Touring England in 2002, and his visit to Lords. His 112 against a Yorkshire 2^nd X1, will always remain vivid in his book of notable memories. A 96, while representing the SFCA against a touring Trafalgar team from England, and 56 against Ireland in 2001, while playing for the USA, are also knocks he treasures.

When asked about the squad selected to compete in the ICC  2012 World Twenty/20 scheduled to getunderway later this month, the ebullient USACA head coach told Dream Cricket “ the squad is a good mixture of youth and experience, and is one that could easily be molded into a winning team. It is an excellent fielding team, with most of the young players coming through the Under-19 ranks.” The 6 ‘ 1” tall Johnson, possesses the ability reorganize, plan  reshape and motivate, the team into a unit made of the right stuff.On the cricket field, the former dashing hard-hitting USA batsman, was known as a fierce competitor and a formidable opponent, all of which (his know how), he will be passing on to the team. Hopefully, the new head coach will be able to improve the team’s technical skills, and impart sound discipline.