When Adelaide came calling - Part One

What life has taught me to date is that some of the truly enjoyable experiences can only be found after a period of introspection and soul-searching.

Certainly, one of the most influential experiences of my life was the six months I spent in Adelaide, South Australia in 2008-09.

Here's the story from the moment the idea was first suggested, through until a completely unexpected opportunity made me reconsider everything.

Not quite where I expected to be

I spent the 2007/08 summer playing in Dunedin where I was completing my third year and then beginning my fourth and final year at the University of Otago.

It was a disappointing season for me on the whole.

I topped the run charts in the Dunedin Cricket Association club competition for Carisbrook-Dunedin, where I made 850 runs at an average of 37, including three hundreds.

However, in the most important matches of my season for Otago ‘A’, I had failed miserably making 12 runs in three two-day innings and was subsequently axed.

I ended the season feeling rather deflated about my aspirations as I had high hopes for the summer given I’d averaged 45 for Otago ‘A’ in the previous season and felt I might have been close to getting a crack for the Volts.

However, an old Auckland and New Zealand age-group teammate of mine, Jason Donnelly, had just finished his second season playing club cricket in Adelaide, and we’d agreed to meet up in Christchurch at Mike Shrimpton’s house.

A thought-provoking experience

So, a couple of weeks after the season had ended, I took the four-hour journey up State Highway One in my Nissan Primera to catch up with them.

It was great to see them both again.

Their passion for the game was as evident as ever.

I wasn’t in the door long before Jase started talking about how much he was enjoying Adelaide.

The weather was warm and dry.

The quality of the pitches was second to none.

The standard of umpiring was high.

Every ground had sight-screens (we had none in club cricket in Dunedin) patrolled by club members where necessary.

The scoreboard was constantly updated by another volunteer.

All the players had to focus on was their own performance.

He then asked how things were going for me.

The reality of Dunedin club cricket

I’d won the award for the best club batsman in Dunedin, but I was well short of being in contention to play for the Volts.

Essentially, my bread and butter (club cricket) wasn’t preparing me to play provincial ‘A’ cricket, let alone first-class cricket.

When I did well for my club, I was fulfilling expectation, so I didn’t get any real credit for it.

When it didn’t go well for me at club level, questions were raised.

I felt like had nothing to gain and everything to lose each week as I trudged out for my turn at bat.

The realities of senior men’s cricket were also beginning to take hold.

I knew I could play at a certain level, but I didn’t know what I needed to do to bridge the gap between my skill-level at the time and where I wanted to be.

Looking back now, I was torn by what tempo to play at – how much should I attack and for how long do I need to defend?

I had had the majority of my success playing positively, yet I was now opening the batting in three-day cricket and I was unsure how to go about my innings.

Should I drive the swinging ball?

My stump awareness wasn’t where it needed to be which meant I was playing and sometimes nicking balls that I didn’t need to play.

It all led to a rather confused state of mind.

I certainly wasn’t enjoying my cricket.

Was it time for a change?

A good coach knows exactly what to say

Shrimpo had been quietly listening and observing the conversation between Jase and I.

I turned to Shrimpo to get his thoughts, because Jase’s modus operandi was rather clear – ‘come and play alongside me in Adelaide.’

Shrimpo knew exactly what I needed, and he never put himself at the forefront of his communication with me.

He made me question the pros and cons of staying in Dunedin, and suggested I begin considering the pros and cons of making a move to Adelaide.

I’d be able to bat on better pitches, face a better and more consistent standard of bowling and I’d be able to truly be myself without the shackles of expectation as a former New Zealand Under 19 captain.

I would be able to find my best method in my own way and in my own time.

I could live with Jase and have him to show me around the city and help me become accustomed to life in a new country.

The one thing I recall Shrimpo questioning was the limitations of professional cricket in New Zealand at the time.

He used the example of Neil Broom.

He felt that in the four or so seasons since Broomy had made his first-class debut, he hadn’t necessarily improved as a player.

Shrimpo discussed the idea of aiming to reach our full potential as players and questioned whether the domestic game in New Zealand at that point in time allowed that to happen.

He was eluding to the fact that leaving the New Zealand system for a period of time might not necessarily be a bad thing in the context of my career.

Best case scenario, I could spend a season or two over there, learn as much as I possibly could and then come back home more resilient and ready to make a successful push at professional cricket.

A gut feel

The two days I spent with Jase and Shrimpo were brilliant.

Jase left on the second day and Shrimpo took me down to his local club for a hit.

He always made me feel good about my game and this net was no exception.

I felt pretty strong about the idea of taking the plunge and heading across the ditch to join me old mate, Jase, in Adelaide but I wanted to stew over it for a few weeks before finalising the decision.

Deep down, I knew it was the best way for me to progress as a player.

I knew I needed to be put outside my comfort zone to really see what I was made of.

Communicating my decision

In May, I met with Otago Volts coach Mike Hesson to talk him through my decision.

I wanted to make sure that he heard it from the horse’s mouth first given it was quite a significant move and in his own way he had invested some time in me over the previous couple of seasons.

I also wanted to let him know that I was grateful for the opportunities I had received.

He was surprised with my decision but wished me all the best and encouraged me to keep in touch.

Wait, what about my degree?

The plan was that I would complete all of my university course work early, including my dissertation, so that I could arrive in Adelaide in the middle of September for preseason training and matches ahead of the competition starting at the beginning of October.

That would allow me four or so games before having to return to Dunedin for my final exam towards the end of October and then flying back to Adelaide for the rest of the summer.

Little did I know, something completely unexpected would make me seriously question my future in the game.

Stay tuned for more

I thought 6000 words would be a little unfair to ask you to consume all in one sitting.

There’s plenty more to come in this three-part series, so keep an eye out for part two next week!