Within this interview, Finn Lutton who is a rising star in Irish cricket and a formidable bowler for the Ireland Under 19's team and CSNI shares his insights into his cricketing passion, experience of playing at a World Cup event and goals for the upcoming NCU season with CSNI.
So Finn, how did it feel when you received news that you would be heading off to South Africa for the Under 19's World Cup?
I was in school at the time and I had felt very nervous during the day. I'd heard other people receiving phone calls which had gone both ways. I forgot to go to one of my classes as I was so wound up in hearing the news but it was a huge relief once it came and I felt immensely proud.
How helpful did you find it having two guys from CSNI (Harry Dyer and Ryan Hunter) on the tour with you as well?
Harry and Ryan are good mates of mine inside and outside of cricket and it was great to have them to speak to and take my mind of things. It was also very enjoyable to play with them, as it is at home and the tour was definitely better in their company.
Was there a specific reason for choosing to wear shirt number 5 during the World Cup?
Wearing 5 at the World Cup was not my choice, it was assigned to me by the coaching team. I had hoped to get number 21 which I wore during the summer vs England but had long before that been my favourite number.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during the World Cup?
My biggest challenge I faced while I was away was probably the disappointment of not being in the playing XI on several occasions which I tried to stay positive about. I did my best to be the best 12th man for the teams sake and I feel I managed it well and didn't let my disappointment be shown.
What was the atmosphere like in the stadiums with fans from different countries?
In South Africa the atmosphere in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom was amazing with so many school kids singing and dancing and the xylophone players in the background and the roar from the Irish contingent every time absolutely anything happened remotely positive for the team. It helped me focus more as without background noise your thoughts can get pretty loud and the atmosphere relaxed me.
Who were some of the teammates you bonded with during the tournament? Any fun memories from off the field?
In particular I became great mates with my roommate Matty Weldon, and we spent a lot of time with each other playing PlayStation etc. On the way to Johannesburg after the New Zealand game we sang the whole way home and he knew all the words to every song that was played.
Looking back on on your career what coach or coaches do you feel have had the biggest impact on your cricketing journey so far and is there any bits of advice they have offered you which you could share?
My first coach Andy McCrea brought me up through Templepatrick and introduced me to NCU at Under 11's giving me great opportunities. More recently I've done a lot of work in particular with Nigel Jones who I feel has taken my game up a notch. He understands the way I play and tries to make me the best version of a cricketer that I can be, he does this by accounting for each player individually knowing our differences and highlighting our strengths.
What are your goals now heading into the 2024 season with CSNI?
This season with Civil, I feel our squad is still quite young but with Harry, Ryan and I coming back of our World Cup we can use the experience we've gained and hopefully win some silverware. I know that with time success should come naturally to this group and I'm really excited to be back in blue this summer.
I'd like to thank Finn for taking his time to answer the questions and wish him all the best in the upcoming NCU season.
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