Thomas Thorpe - Complete Cricket Academy ICAL tour of India - July 2023
Complete Cricket Academy | January 09, 2024
Thomas Thorpe was part of the Compete Cricket Academy tour to India in 2023 organised by International Cricket Academy League – ICAL.
Thomas was captain of Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Green Shield team NSW Premier Cricket in 2021-22 and is currently playing for Wests in Newcastle.
Let’s find out more about Thomas and is experience in India.
What year were you born?
2005
Tell us about your cricket journey so far.
I started in Milo cricket through school and played for Queanbeyan District Cricket Club in Canberra before making my way to Maitland, and now Newcastle where I’m currently playing grade for Wests Cricket Club.
If you can share with our readers how you would describe yourself as a cricketer?
Batter. Used to be able to bowl but that ship has sailed.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Playing with the same group of people each weekend, doesn’t always matter if you win or lose. Meeting new people from other teams and challenging yourself against them is another thing I enjoy about cricket.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket so far?
Making my first Green Shield side for Western Suburbs (Sydney), I was surprised when I made the team and it became a massive contributor to my ongoing motivation and desire.
Who’s your favourite all-time cricketer?
David Warner, left hander like myself and his aggressive style is awesome to watch
What are the two attributes you like to see in a captain and leader?
Patience and hard-working. Being able to remain calm and stick to a plan is very hard work and requires a lot of patience.
Which singer/band would you like to see perform live?
The Weeknd or Sticky Fingers
Who’s been the biggest influence on your career so far?
Mum and Dad. Always taking me to cricket games and supporting me even since I’ve turned 18!
Where do you find inspiration that gets you through challenging times?
Music, either playing guitar or just listening to music.
Who are the three people in the world you’d love to meet and talk to?
Glenn Maxwell, Andy Samberg, Ryan Reynolds
What do you like to do to relax outside cricket?
Beach, music, see family and friends.
Do you have a favourite quote?
You miss 100% of the shots you never take – Michael Jordan
In 2023 your toured India with Complete Cricket Academy. How was the experience, what did you enjoy most?
Yes, I toured with Complete Cricket. It was the experience of a lifetime, being able to play against other people from around the world and to challenge myself on different surfaces, it was incredible. Off the field, being able to experience a completely different lifestyle that I would only understand if I had been there. I was also lucky enough to go and see two IPL games.
What did you learn about yourself as a person and cricketer playing in a different country?
It was extremely challenging, playing in an area with far lower air quality than home, playing on hard and dry surfaces and a being exposed to a different kind of heat. Finding ways to adapt to this was something I learned, on and off the field when going over to India.
How did the tour and playing in India help your game?
It exposed me to different surfaces which you may sometimes come across here in Australia and was very challenging facing opponents who play on those conditions every day and finding ways to score and win games.
Would you recommend other young cricketers to tour India and playing in the Academy tournament?
ICAL was an experience of a lifetime. The tour of India opened my perspective of what life is like in other places and how they go about the same things we do in Australia. I would highly recommend any cricketer to take part in an experience like this.
International Cricket Academy League - ICAL
Can we ask, what would it mean to you to play first class cricket?
Playing first class cricket would be amazing. Getting seen on TV doing the thing you love is definitely the goal.
