In this instalment of the Don't Bowl There cricket blog, I have had the privilege of being able to interview Northern Knights and Lisburn all-rounder, James Hunter. James has been spending the last few months in "the land down under" representing Lane Cove Cricket Club in 1st Grade cricket in Sydney, Australia. During the course of this blog post, James will discuss his experience travelling and playing in Australia along with what his goals are for the 2024 Premier League season.
So, James, what made you want to apply to join the ICP Cricket Programme?
I felt that it was important to join a cricket programme whilst having a season away as it provides more structure and training volume than simply relying on club cricket training. I think one of the main attractions to the ICP is that it is based in Sydney. Not only is it a very impressive city, but it has a high quality club cricket. More specifically, the ICP seems to be a more intensive setup than most other programmes with quality coaching and a good structure. I had seen a number of other young Irish players progress after spending a season in Sydney and joining the ICP.
After scoring your first 1st Grade hundred in round 2 of the league for Lane Cove CC, what do you hope to achieve in the second half of the season?
As the season is progressing towards the latter stages, the main goal is to help the team progress as far as possible in the league competition and hopefully win. On an individual level, I would like to contribute to the team with big scores on a more consistent basis than the first half of the season.
What has it been like working with the various coaches on the ICP programme?
The coaching so far has been very helpful, especially from their batting coach Phil Jacques who had a long first-class career and played successfully for Australia. It has been interesting to see how coaches from Australia compare in their approach to those in the UK. Over the season, I have heard insights and advice on my game that I have never heard before. While they may a slightly different vocabulary and approach to technique, I think it all boils down to different ways to approach and resolve the same core problems of alignment, weight transfer and good decision making. However, I have noticed the influence of club 2-day cricket on the tactical advice that I have received. With an emphasis on taking time to assess conditions and to stick to game plans for a longer period of time.
What advice would you have for any young cricketers wanting to spend a season away?
I think it depends where you are with both your cricket and your life. For many young people it is important to have some structure to your cricket outside of whatever club environment you are stepping into. Not only has this given me an opportunity to meet other people within cricket and establish myself in a new city. Also, I think it is important to get involved with your club any way you can. I have been lucky to find a club where I can do some coaching and help out with the grounds when needed. This has helped to give me a purpose within the club outside of my playing and has allowed me to get to know my teammates and other people at the club.
How have you found living in Sydney compared to Belfast?
I have really enjoyed. It has been quite a big shift to move from a small city like Belfast. The experience of going away to England for university definitely made this transition much less daunting. It has been eye-opening to see the importance placed on not only cricket but all sports. The good weather means that there is an emphasis on being outdoors and being active. As someone who has enjoyed a lot of outdoor sports over the years, this has been great. I have also been lucky to find a club with a number of great guys around my age. I recently read an article that found that Sydney was the third worst city in the world to make friends. Thankfully, this hasn't been the case for me.
How much of a difference have you noticed in the playing conditions in your league in Sydney?
The conditions have been quite different to those at home. The pitches are drier and bouncier than at home. Further, the format of 2-day means that I have had to contend with the conditions changing quite dramatically over the course of a single game. The outfields are appreciably bigger than any of the club grounds at home. Whilst this has little effect on 2-day cricket, it has forced me to adapt how I play my white-ball cricket with less emphasis on clearing the ropes and more on finding gaps or hitting pockets of space as well as shift in my bowling approach.
What do you hope to achieve from all your hard work which you have put in both from a personal perspective and with Lisburn in the upcoming 2024 Premier League season?
I hope that my work in the off-season has helped to develop my game from a technical standpoint which will serve me throughout the coming season. Additionally, the challenge of adjusting to the different conditions has tested me in different areas than Belfast club cricket hopefully leading to a more rounded game. This should put me in a better position to score more runs and contribute for Lisburn CC in the coming season. As a team, Lisburn placed well last year in the league and had some decent runs in the cup competitions. Hopefully, with my development among the rest of the team, we can make a good effort at winning the Premier League or another competition this year.
I'd like to thank James for taking the time to answer these questions and wish him the best for his remaining time in Sydney and for the upcoming 2024 NCU Premier League season.
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