Celebrated Northern Districts and Bay of Plenty player Graeme Aldridge has been appointed the bay of plenty senior men's coach for the 2015/16 season.

Known to most, simply as g, the recently retired professional player compiled a record in ND Cricket that is unlikely to be beaten. Longevity was a feature of the nd all rounder's career, that started back in the 1998/99 season and finished when Graeme announced his retirement from playing duties, at the bay oval in Mount Maunganui in early april 2015.

Aldridge ended his long career as the most prolific wicket-taker in northern knights history with 364 wickets. The right-armer has also taken the most wickets in the NZ cricket domestic one-day game, with 185 bowling scalps to his name.

Over 3000 runs in nz cricket first class, one-day and T20 encounters, tells the tale of a genuine all rounder who could win matches with both bat and ball. Graeme also wore the black cap uniform of new zealand when he was selected for the tour of Zimbabwe in 2011, playing two odi's and one T20 match for his country.

Graeme Aldridge said ""it is a privilege to be appointed bay of plenty men's coach. I look forward to working hard with the team to get the results we deserve".

Bay of Plenty cricket CEO Paul Read says he was delighted with the appointment. "Graeme will bring a huge amount of experience and player management skills to the role. His professional success and personal rapport with senior players will be a huge asset for the team this season"

Graeme has also secured a number of coaching roles with ND Cricket that will compliment his work with the senior men's team. He will be responsible for nd bowling roles at the development and knights level, as well as some specific high performance coaching work in the bay of plenty region. ND CEO Peter Roach said "we see the roles complimenting each other really well, especially in the Bay of Plenty. Whilst they were all advertised separately, having someone of Graeme's quality giving consistent messages and advice to a large group of male and female players, across all ages, in the region is clearly a positive."

In addition to his nd playing duties, Graeme was vital component of bay of plenty representative's teams over a long period. Graeme made his bay debut in a bay of plenty game that will be long remembered, with the home side posting 553/9 against Central Otago, in a Hawke Cup defence at blake park in Mount Maunganui. The debutant made an immediate impression, blasting 52 runs batting at number nine.

In 45 matches in the bay of plenty blue and gold uniform, graeme took 123 wickets with best bowling figures of 8/29 and smashed 975 run with top score of 137no.