From ISCA to the IPL: Kerr aims for international success
Ian Evans
Congratulations to our @iscaustralia cricket coach Hayden Kerr on signing up with new Indian Premier League franchise the Lucknow Super Giants! Hayden had an amazing season with the Sydney Sixers over the summer, with the all-rounder also recently signing a three-year deal with the NSW Blues. Read more about Hayden’s meteoric rise at our website – www.iscaustralia.edu.au/news
Hayden Kerr was working as a physiotherapist and running our @iscaustralia cricket sessions from Sydney University before that summer – a stunning season with the Sydney Sixers in the BBL that saw him make the BBL team of the year and score 152 runs and take 25 wickets in last season’s competition, including hitting the winning runs in the final over twice!
He now rubs shoulders with some of the world’s best T20 cricketers as part of the Indian Premier League. The right-handed batsman and left-arm pace bowler is enjoying his time in India under assistant coach and former Aussie international Andy Bichel, and counts KL Rahul & fellow countryman Marcus Stoinis as his team-mates.
Not a bad result for the 25-year-old who took leave to travel to Darwin last winter to get some much needed practice during Sydney’s prolonged COVID-19 lockdown.
Hayden is now fully signed for three years with the NSW Blues, his first State contract and a fitting reward from the boy from Bowral who started playing cricket at Sydney University in fifth grade.
We sat down with Hayden and asked him about his cricketing journey:
Hi Hayden, what has been the highlight of your sporting career thus far?
Hayden: I’d say making my debut for NSW in 2019 was a great highlight for me, as well as making my BBL debut. Growing up, I was never the best cricketer – I was ok – but I played low representative cricket during school, so making my debut for NSW was something very special.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Hayden: without doubt being able to call my childhood heroes team-mates is amazing and to call them friends is even better.
What are your main sources of inspiration?
Hayden: without doubt my family are my biggest source of inspiration. They have sacrificed a lot in their lives to help me be in a position where I can try and achieve what I want from myself.
And what about motivation – how do you keep motivated?
Hayden: I guess just being able to chase the best version of myself everyday, not just in the sporting context but more importantly life in general. Throughout my grade cricker career, was always just trying to get better everyday and strive for consistency.
You’ve completed your studies in physiotherapy whilst playing cricket for Sydney University & the Second XI (for NSW), what tips can you give aspiring young athletes who are trying to balance their studies with their chosen sport?
Hayden: Without doubt being able to manage your time and narrow your focus during studying and training is very important. Being specific about what you are trying to achieve at any moment is important and you’ll find yourself being more productive with your time with greater focus.
Finally Hayden, for young people looking to enter into a coaching career, what are some of the lessons you have learnt from coaching staff that you have applied to your own coaching style?
Hayden: Probably upskilling myself in the psychosocial space of sport – I like to look at different ways a coach can communicate with their athletes and the language they use is very important – and topical – at the moment.
