Extract from My family's Keeper

NSW Shield Squad Training

Well I couldn’t just stand around like a shag on a rock, so I took myself over to Phil Emery and asked if he needed some catches. He did, and that was the beginning of an invaluable 12 months that basically formed the next stage of my apprenticeship.

I didn’t do much catching myself with him – I was there to throw and hit endless balls to help him in his preparation. But by doing that I got an outstanding education. We built a good relationship and he answered countless questions. A lot of it was technical. He would tell me to hit balls to him in certain ways to certain spots. When we took a break I’d ask him why he’d made those choices, what he was working on. I’d also draw on his huge match experience, asking him, “What happens when it kicks out of the rough, or when it’s keeping low? Where do you stand?” He’d come back from playing a Shield game and we’d talk specifics about the wicket: “Perth bounces a lot these days, so what you need to do is…”or “The SCG turns big on the last day so the things to remember are…”I absorbed it all and stored it away in my mental encyclopedia.

Emmers also taught me a huge amount about the mental side of the game and about earning the right to play. He spoke a lot about what playing for NSW meant, about the proud tradition encapsulated in the Baggy Blue and what it signified to play for the most successful side in the world at the state/province/county level. I understood. The cap demanded success of those who wore it: they were the best in the game and as a kid coming through the ranks you had to earn the right to be around them.

Click to buy - https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781 *** ***/my-familys-keeper/