'My Story' - February 2025

My Story

I spent fifteen years as a professional cricketer with Lancashire CCC (1986-1997) and Durham CCC (1997-2001), captaining Durham in 2000. My standout year? 1992.

Post-playing, I transitioned into coaching. I spent several formative years in Victorian Premier Cricket, working as the Senior Assistant Coach, Batting Coach, and Analyst with Melbourne Cricket Club (2008-2016), winning premierships in 2009-10 and 2012-13. My coaching journey continued as Head Coach of Dandenong Cricket Club (2017-2020), winning the 2017-18 premiership. Most recently, I was Head Coach at Geelong Cricket Club (2020-2024). These experiences at the level just below first-class cricket bridged the gap between my playing career and U19 high-performance coaching.

The transition from player to coach felt natural. More recently, I've enjoyed combining coaching with writing through my Substack, SpeakingNick. Collaborating with writer/editor Charlie Happell, who brought his expertise from The Age and BackPageLead, helped me get started.

Today, I am part of the Victorian U19 high-performance program, helping young players transition from pathways cricket to professional careers. My coaching philosophy is simple: create a safe environment for growth and learning, built on sound fundamentals, high standards, and clear expectations.

Looking ahead, I am developing HeyCoach [link], an online platform launching in March 2025 to extend coaching knowledge beyond location. It's about authenticity—no fluff, just the essentials—drawing on current and former coaches.

I'm also working on my first book, tentatively titled Just Another Cricket Book. It's a blend of humorous memoir and coaching insights for players, coaches, and cricket enthusiasts seeking wisdom and humour in the game.

When I’m not coaching or writing, you’ll find me focused on the present—channeling lessons from my playing days to inspire the next generation.

Thank you for reading.

Nick