A message for all cricket players, coaches and parents

It is absolutely okay—essential, even—to coach young players on the value of a solid technique. It’s okay to teach them the importance of batting time and how this skill lays the foundation for scoring big hundreds.

It’s okay to emphasize patience—to encourage them not to feel pressured into hitting every second or third ball for four or six.

Take Sam Konstas as an excellent example. He has scored hundreds at every level of cricket he’s played. He has scored hundreds in school cricket, Green Shield (Under 16s), Under 17s and Under 19 pathways, Poidevin Gray (Under 21), Fifth Grade, Fourth Grade, Third Grade, Second Grade, First Grade, and in Sheffield Shield Cricket for NSW.

Sam has the technique to open the batting and the discipline to bat for long periods. He has a huge appetite and the mindset to build an inning and score runs. He knows you can't score runs sitting on the sidelines.

He’s arguably the next batter in line for Australian test selection, yet, in his BBL debut for the Sydney Thunder, he demonstrated another dimension of his game, scoring 56 off just 27 balls.

It’s only one game—but it highlights an important point. A batter cannot score consistently, succeed long-term, or adapt to higher levels of cricket without:

1. A solid defense.
2. A sound technique.
3. The patience and willingness to bat for long periods.

Coaches, remember: these fundamentals don’t limit players; they liberate them. A strong foundation gives batters the tools to adjust, innovate, and excel in every format of the game.

Let’s not undervalue these timeless lessons.