19 truths I wish I knew as the NZ U19 captain

2025 is my 22nd season as a Premier Men's player and in that time I've learned plenty. All of the failures provide an opportunity to learn and improve. However, that's not something I've always fully grasped. I'm planning to make the 2025 season one of my best yet, but it got me thinking, wouldn't it have been great to know everything I now know, back in 2006 when I was the New Zealand Under 19 captain? If only.

I've written a list of 19 truths (there are actually 24 but 19 sounds better) I wish I knew back then. If you're in and around that age, hopefully you can learn these truths as soon as possible. Here you go:

1. Watch the ball. Nothing is more important. Practice it at training. Do it in the middle. If you're not batting well, this should be the first aspect of your game you should review.

2. A low score does not mean you’re shit. It just means you have work to do.

3. When you feel out of your depth, it’s a signal that you need to work on that part of your game.

4. When you fail, you’re one innings closer to succeeding.

5. You will have days where you’re well below your best. Accept it quickly. Try to learn from it and focus on preparing for your next innings.

6. A good score does not mean you’re great. It just means that you had the opposition covered on that particular day.

7. The shit that comes out of the opposition’s mouths is more a reflection on them than you.

8. Facing a bowler is like a game of chess. Whichever square the bowler lands the ball in you need to have a solution for. If that solution is a dot ball, that’s fine. But the more squares on the board you can hit boundaries from, the better.

9. Dealing with pace bowling is simply a matter of exposing yourself to high speeds.

10. Get outside your comfort zone in training. If you’re always comfortable in training, how are you going to deal with being uncomfortable in the middle?

11. Ask your teammates and opponents how they’re trying to get you out. It’s the fastest route to building your training plan and improving your game.

12. The four pillars of the game (technical, tactical, mental and physical) all need to be worked on consistently each week in order for you to improve.

13. Think in compounds. By training one of the four pillars today and stacking training up day after day, the benefits of that consistency is limitless.

14. Ask yourself every day: how am I getting better today?

15. Superstitions are meaningless. Don’t waste time and energy on them.

16. Speak to batsmen who you respect: what do they focus on during their innings and how do they maintain concentration?

17. A mental routine is well worth the time invested in developing one.

18. Master the pull shot. It forces the bowler to bowl fuller.

19. Stretching is the key to staying on the park. Do it every day.

20. Never be satisfied. You should aim to leave the pitch with the umpires.

21. Visualise doing well against all opponents. It’s a cheat code for a consistent level of confidence.

22. Every innings gives you the chance to find rhythm. If you don’t find it early, hang in there. Watch the ball. Breathe. And trust your instinct. It will come.

23. Becoming a top batsman takes time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

24. Use your analytical mind to assist you in reflecting on your performances, identifying what needs to improve and map out a path towards being a more well-rounded player.

25. Learn to enjoy the weekly process of preparing for your next opponent. When you can truly appreciate your craft of turning up to train and focusing on getting incrementally better one day at a time, the outcomes appear less daunting and you feel less pressure to get it right on game day.

What would be on your list?