Kevin Sharp Edit

Thu, 9/16 6:49PM • 52:52

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

coach, players, play, cricket, thought, people, bit, club, felt, yorkshire, experiences, years, england, final, game, team, day, o'clock, steve smith, joe

SPEAKERS

Kevin Sharp, Paul Barnett

Paul Barnett 00:00

So Kevin sharp. Good afternoon, or rather Good morning, and welcome to the guy coach's podcast.

Kevin Sharp 00:07

It's great to be here. It's always good to talk. Looking forward to it.

Paul Barnett 00:11

We're looking forward to chatting to you to love talking a little bit of cricket. And before we get into that, though, I'd like to start with something really simple. Kevin, where are you in the world today? What have you been up to so far?

Kevin Sharp 00:22

Well, of course, it's been a challenge here in the UK, like everywhere else in the world with the COVID scenario. But as we've just been saying earlier, that feel so privileged in the elite sporting world that we've still been able to continue, obviously, we had two or three months without cricket last summer, but we did get two months in September, well, August and September. And then we've been able to practice full on since December, just gone. That's when the professionals and the Academy. So when there's lots of people struggling and sat at home and not working, we've been able to do a few hours a week and the labs are in great shape, really to, to start what will be as normal as it can be English cricket season in April. Everybody can't wait. I mean, we've got some admin stuff to tie up next week, if you appraisals and some fitness testing, and then we'll be on to outdoor practice. The week after do three practice matches, and the first championship matches on the eighth of April,

Paul Barnett 01:25

I think we were very lucky to grab you then before you get super busy with the outdoor life that you'll all be enjoying in England while the rest of the world catches up. Kevin, I'd like to just start by talking to you about some of the great coaches that you've experienced. There's people like Paul for bracy. There's Chris silverwood. There's, of course, Anthony McGraw, who we've interviewed on this program. And I'd like to just start by asking what is it you think the great coaches do differently?

Kevin Sharp 01:54

I think they've got emotional intelligence. I mean, I've done a lot of reading past as well as I'm, in my own experiences that I think these lads, like the guys you've just mentioned, are the good people that communicate well, and I think that they're very good at building excellent cultures and environments, healthy ones, where people are happy, and they enjoy turning up for work. And these lads have got good humor, they've got experience, they've all done their homework. [PB1]

CPD is something that I think is really important for all coaches, and these labs will go out and grab all those experiences and talk to others communicate with others get the best from others. And they'll relate that back to their group. [PB2] But I've been known, I know, probably silvers and mags a bit more than faps. But they're just good to be around.

And people gravitate towards them. They want to talk to them, they want to communicate, they want to hear their stories, they I think for me, underlying all this. I mean, this is very much one of my philosophies of coaching as well as about building trust, and good relationships, because I believe that if you can do that with players, you can take it anywhere. You can just dies, you can put your arm around them, you can take it anywhere. And I know that coaching one to one is different to coaching a team, because everybody's different in a team. [PB3] However, I think the Greg Koch would understand that. And he would know each individual and he would have an idea on how to communicate with each person from my own experiences. I mean, with some players that we talk a lot, we'd sit down and talk with other players, we might just be on word, there's still a healthy respect there. So that would be kind of, for me the foundations. I met one or two notes here, because your questions are quite challenging, Paul. So I have met him just trying to just quickly Have a look at my notes to make sure I sort of missed anything there. But there is one thing that I did a couple of things. One is a great listeners. This is something I learned very much. In the early part of my coaching career I was told by a great guy called Gordon Lord who ran a CB coach education for many years. When I first did my advanced coaching award and I was doing my exams. He said curvier good chocolate, you don't listen very well. So right. And that was something I learned very early in the piece is about hearing what people say, That's not always easy, especially if you're a chocolate. The other thing I got written down here was they give ownership and trust not to just the players, but perhaps the coaching team around them as well. And that's something that's one of the questions later in the piece. I know one of your questions was about when was the shoe on the T 20. A couple of years ago and when I was head coach and and i think that giving trust to others and not breathing down their necks, trusting them to do the job is also breeds motivation and confidence in other people

Paul Barnett 04:59

well Up to that was to share question if that's okay, because I'd like to lay the foundation a little bit first because I've got this great question. Rather, I have this great quote that I found. And I'd like to read it back to you before I ask the question. And it says, if you were to ask me what I enjoyed most, I do love being the batting coach, but also what I call the cradle to grave stuff. And it got me thinking, could you explain what the cradle to grave stuff is and why you enjoyed so much? Well, I

Kevin Sharp 05:27

can give you a fantastic example. And he's, he's out in India at the minute the England test captain, Mr. root. And I think I mean, before that, I'd like to talk about Joe a little bit because I knew him from 12 year old and very special that they kind of walk through the door. So but we'll go on to that. But I think the cradle to the grave. And what I love is, I mean, I've had different jobs in cricket, I've been the batting coach. And in the second team coach, I've been the first team coach in the headquarters, but probably where I've been more suited, and at my best is right in the middle of a club, where probably not the lead coach, but it's almost where I've had a foot in the players camp, and also the coaches camp, and perhaps my personality suits up. So it's kind of like you get the trust and respect to the players. But also, you've got your relationship with all coaches. And I know I've had experiences where particularly early on in my career where the lead coach wanted me to share information. Some of the players have shared with me and I wouldn't do it. It's not to do here, but this cradle to the grave. Going back to that Paul is I absolutely love seeing the young guy turn up at 12 year old into the system into the youth system. And then part of their journey from going from youth cricket into Academy cricket into second 11 cookies into first team cricket, and then seeing them flourish and go on. And for some play international cricket. [PB4]

Young Joe walked through the door at 12 years old was about three foot tall, blonde, good looking at a good big smile on his face. And I'd never met him up to them.[PB5] What happened with him is he been put on a scholarship by the youth coaches and scholarship was really a sort of a recognition of talent that free get that sort of stuff. And we think you're a good player and show us what you can do. So I was actually batting coach at Yorkshire at the time when when Joe first turned up. So what I did was any young player who came on a scholarship, I would invite them to Headingley, meet them have a chat. And if they wanted to do some work in the nets, that's great. And we get to know each other. And I wanted to make them feel welcome at the club. So I'd arranged to me, Joe at five o'clock when he met his dad Matthew brought him from school. And prior to that I was working with Anthony set four o'clock for an hour and magazine. I was having a very, very sort of challenging session with a new ball. I was basically trying to knock his head off. And unbeknownst to me, Joe, and his dad had turned up early, and then we're watching at the back. So Max, when I met john at five o'clock, he came into my office, he's deadlifting with me. And in command. He said, Now you're on it. So and he came in, I promise you it was like having a conversation with an adult who's 12 years old, and it could have been 25 years old. His knowledge of his strengths and his weaknesses were quite phenomenal. So I was my beans were going because I'm thinking I've never experienced this before with a lot of this age. So I said to him out, we've got half an hour, do you want to go down into the nets and do some work together? He said, Yes, please. So I said, Okay. I said, What do you what do you want to do? And he looked at me and he smiled, he said, I want you to challenge me. And I was like what he said, I said, What do you mean by that? He says I want the same session Anthony McGrath just had and I said well, I can't do that because I'll hurt you. If you're on the 12 year old I lose my job. He said No, me. All right. So he absolutely I was like sort of bursting at the seams. I'm thinking what is going on. So we got down on the shop floor set a picture, eight yards, new ball, three selection, gourmet shot like, and I threw at him and I could throw that. And he was just technically superbe. And the little voice said bouncing volume a bouncer. And the other voice said now he can't do that you'll hurt him and then told him about the voice gave that to call him a bouncer. And he swayed out the way of He smiled and he nodded and he looked at me and he said Oh, he said that was a good one too. And I knew straight away that we got something special.[PB6] And I remember saying to the academy coach after that, I think this level button the button for Yorkshire One day, the rest is sort of history. So it was great to be part of his journey and and when I left the club, he just started to play first class cricket. And so it was great to be part of that sort of a 12 year old to 18 year old journey for him. And I think he's something from that day onwards. It's something I've always been passionate about. The fact is that I love working with the young players, as well as the professionals. And when you find someone we've got labs around, we've got some really high potential and I can't help but want to be there and see him walk out on in their debut in a first class game when you've known him since so small. So that's what I call my cradle to the grave. Paulo that explains it.

Paul Barnett 10:13

Fantastic answer. I loved it actually want to pick up on the Anthony Vergara story if we can, because we, we interviewed him recently. And he, he talked in depth and with a lot of passion about the influence that you had had on helping him build a better internal voice. And he described the idea of a self talk diary and how he had kept one for the rest of his career, and how he often shows it to other players. And I thought it was such a simple, but effective idea. And I was wondering if you could explain the process that you use to help players improve their inner voice.

Kevin Sharp 10:50

Well, perhaps I should tell you the story of what happened with mags on the first day I met it because that's where it all began. And it came at a great time because this was just before I'd gone back to work for Yorkshire as a coach, I was coach for the Leeds Bradford University. So I did just start at the MCC your stuff. And my office was in Bradford and mags is a Bradford lad. And he he came along to see him and Ozzy man was actually we were playing an Australian sort of representative side and magazine, one of the Aussie lads and he came across to see this guy and we bumped into each other by accident and started chatting. And he asked me if we could come to the union, could we do some work together. And I just started my sort of level four coaching award and we've done some terrific stuff. And we just had the session, the psychology module with Dr. Steve Bullock did an awful lot of work with the with the ECB for many years. And I was I've always been particularly intrigued in the side of things. So not what it was because I had some difficulties myself as a young player that confidence levels and our loss of belief and all those things that probably affected my performance at times. So I was always quite keen to find out about it and how I could not only help myself, but help others. And so 90 turned up. And we did a bit of batting together and we looked at one or two technical things that might help him and then I said to him, I said, What would you put Oh, do you play next? And he said, Oh, we've got roses match against Lancashire on the weekend. I said, Okay, so what's your thoughts about that? He said, Well, Glen chapel gets me out. I said, Oh, says Well, that's it. And he says, What do you mean? He says, Well, yeah, already. He's already got out before the weekend, if that's what you're thinking. So he says, Well, what can I do about that? And I said, and we wrote down, right? I said, Okay, negative column, lead chapter will get you out. So we had a negative column and a positive, negative column. Glenn Chappell getcha, I said. You ever played well against Blanchett, and he had to think for ages? And he said? I did. All right once. Yeah. Old Trafford. How many did you get that? 30? Okay, so remember that? Yeah. I said, Did you ever reach him for for? You have to think for a minute. So again, he said, Yeah, I did want to do the covers quite a good shot. I says, Can we think about that shot? It's an intro that covers for for, rather than getting you out? So it says, Well, how do I do that? Etc. As you challenge so so what we actually put in the positive column was uploading a played well against Glen chapel before I can do it again. So those were the two columns. So I said, right, there's a challenge for the next three days prior to the game. You've got to ask yourself the question 100 times, what do I think about when we play lanky shit, and I see your natural default will be when shuttle gets me out. And I said, I want you to pause that. Stop that thought and replace it with I played well against you before I'm gonna do it again. I said all right. Anyway, so that was that. So the following weekend, Saturday, I kept an eye on the teams and the task of me because I live about I live then about half an hour from Eddie. So I kept an eye on the James and the charts and Yorkshire. Were going to bat first. So I jumped in the car and drove to Edinburgh. And I got there just after the start of play, and about 20 past 11 max came out about 15 for one, Yorkshire, something like that, but in number three, and it was bowling lane chapel and the back of the stand and it was it could have got out any ball for the first 20 minutes. It couldn't go out anymore for the first 20 minutes. And it could see him in between bars. He was walking away and he could see him physically thinking you could actually he was going through the process. Anyway, the bottom line is he got through that spell he got through his second spell after lunch and it came to a unit that that next week for another session. So we sat down and he smiled and I said, Come on and talk me through it. He says it's the hardest thing to do. He says because when he was running into bowl, I just got this, get me out and then had to replace him and they sort of thought I can play well against you and then bang you play the shot. So be throwing balls, he was going away trying to replace this negative with the positive and he said I was in bed at seven o'clock that night. I was so mentally tired. It made 100 bucks for four hours. But he says I was so mentally tired. I was in bed at seven o'clock and I slept for 12 hours. And so that was the start of all that[P7] and I think that I didn't know as a player what visualization was what positive self talk I had no idea I mean, I can remember as a 17 year old making a fantastic 50 against Middlesex on a minefield of the wicked were virtually a test attack claim for Middlesex your when Daniels you, Mike so visit john MBA, Phil Edmonds, all these people were playing for Middlesex and Amanda, a great 50. And I can remember thinking after that innings that no matter what happens in my career, I know I can do it. I've done it today on this horrible wicket against this, these fantastic moles. So I know I can do it. And I didn't realize what I was doing. But for the rest of my career, there were times if I was lacking a bit of confidence or self belief, I will pretend I was battling against Middlesex at Sheffield and it filled me with confidence. I could almost be anywhere I could be back in in Brighton, Newcastle, Bristol, Birmingham, but I pretend there was button at Sheffield against Middlesex. It just helped. So but I didn't know at the time because nobody ever did psychology back in the day when we didn't know what psychology was a psychologist was it black or white a white coat and took you away in a van. But of course, in today's day and age now, I mean, our times have changed and there's been so many players have been so open to difficulties of stress, anxiety, depression, I mean of leg you know, you've legs like Marcus just gotta go wrote a fantastic book on these issues that he had pretty Flintoff been quite open about that other players sin. So there's not the stigma attached now to having difficult times and struggling a little bit. I mean, I've done an awful lot of reading over the years and trying to find out I've done an NLP course neuro linguistic programming, I did the master practitioner, and I just wanted to find out more and more on how you can not just well help yourself as well as others.

Paul Barnett 17:24

So you talked about self belief there a minute ago, because you of course, Captain young England at 19, you were on the verge of seeing the selection. But it never quite happened. And I've seen interviews with you where you've talked about the issues you had with confidence and self belief. So with all this knowledge you've acquired now on this great story, and this great example with Anthony McGraw that has reverberated around the world because he's gone on and use that with others. And since I've heard the story, I've shared it with at least half a dozen people. But if you could go back and talk to that person that was captaining in England, what would you say to them? What advice would you give them?

Kevin Sharp 18:01

Well, for me, I think one of the issues that I found is that up to 19, nothing ever gone wrong. Everything had always gone, right. My confidence was high, my focus was spot on. Everything was geared to making rooms and doing well. And I've not had a great upbringing. My parents weren't wealthy at all, but they gave me everything I needed to set me on the way so I had a great upbringing and a very healthy one. And I was so like an always fast chat. As a kid, I was I was playing I played for your children and teens. When I was 14, I was the youngest third player to at the time to play for Yorkshire at 16 years old. So everything was kinda like, I just naturally thought that everything was gonna just go from one to another, and I'd be a test player. That's what I thought. And there's no reason why I shouldn't think that because it was just real positive thinking. I didn't know anything else. Really, I was so happy. And they're not just things went wrong for me off the field. And it wasn't anything sort of like unusual a relationship first relationship with a female, I'd never had one before. That meant anything. And that didn't go so well. And I struggled with it. And I've never had this before. And then it just started going to affect my performance. Because my concentration wasn't as good. I didn't feel as confident I was thinking about other things off the field that affected my kind of performance on it. And that was tough, because I didn't know how to handle it. Because I've never been there before. It was almost like unexplored territory. What do I do about this? And I think in those days really, there wasn't many people anyone to talk to really didn't have the lifestyle managers now are sports psychologists that the players can relate to and talk to. So I felt lonely. I felt on my own Not to manage it. And I went off the rails for a while, to be honest. And I knew that I'd never quite achieved. I mean, although I had a healthy career and did pretty well in first class cricket, I always felt I always lived with that thought of, of underachievement. Really, I made 10,001st classrooms, I made 5001 day rooms. But somehow my max went unemployed for England and I, I struggled with it, because I thought it should have been made.[P8]

Paul Barnett 20:26

So what would you say, Kevin? If that young person was sitting opposite you now? Yeah. What would you say to them?

Kevin Sharp 20:33

Well, I'd set up to me share how you feeling? Just me, because you're young, and you're inexperienced. And it's okay. To feel how you feel. It's not unusual, there's nothing wrong with you growing up. That's what's all that's happening is that you're finding out and growing up and, and that can be massively challenging, especially when you get into unexplored territory. So if find someone that you can believe in and trust and talk to them, and let them help you, because I found that I had some counseling when I was 34 years old. And it's the best thing I ever did. Because it set me on the next part of my career, all those things from being 20 year old, up to 34, that were hard to manage, they'll open built up over a period of time, until eventually I had to go talk to someone about it. And that was, all I did was talk.[P9]

And, and I think Paul, I mean, it's kind of I have these conversations every day we lads now who might be finding it difficult and struggling a little bit, it's okay. It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to get it wrong. It's good to have a good day. But it's also actually, whether you believe it or not. It's also quite good to have a Nazi Good day when you don't get it right, because that's where you often learn best if you get it wrong. problem is if we keep getting it wrong for 10 years.[P10]

Paul Barnett 21:58

Right? So Kevin, I can, I can see why that experience has helped you become the coach you are today. But there was also another experience, I wouldn't mind bringing up with you that I think may have helped shape you as a coach too, because from 18 to 24, you were lucky enough to play cricket abroad Australia in South Africa, and just a minute ago told me that you boarded in Australia with possibly one of the greatest coaches of all time, at least in this part of the world. Ric Charlesworth must have been such a great learning experience. How do you think it's shaped you now as a coach?

Kevin Sharp 22:28

Well, I mean, that first experience living with Rick and talk to you about traveling with the Western Australian side with my scholarship I was on, I was so happy and full of confidence and belief. It was just like living the dream. I can remember turning up in Australia at midnight and Rick and Chris tabouret picking me up from the airport in Perth. I was I got up at five o'clock in the morning, and there's pilots flying around. I've never been out of England. So now early experiences are special. And then it got a bit more real really because a lovely town to play for subi Aqua Floria in Perth then. And then I went back there and had another two seasons there. But some really challenging experiences on the way to be honest, because in my second season, I had to come back with a back injury. And I had to spend three months at St. James Hospital in Leeds with a back problem, which was difficult. And then I went back and then during that time, is when I saw the stage to have some difficulties off the field. And that's a bit of confidence. So the third year I went back to Perth, I had an incredibly challenging season, I met no rooms at all from October to Christmas. And I was getting abused, left, right and centers by these houses calling me a useless bomb because you're supposed to be a professional and you don't know about and all that sort of thing went on for three months. But somehow there was something in there that there was this in some sort of resilience building, I think, an inner belief that said no, you can do this. And I can remember even over the Christmas period that when it was holiday time I practiced every day, and getting ready for January, you know, like two or three week break in Australia, my first knock in January. So nervous thinking I've got this don't happen again. But I made 500 in seven innings and won the batting average. And I think I think what I'm trying to say with all this is that then away from home, having to fend for yourself and spending a lot of time on your own[P11] . It was quite lonely at times. And then it followed by three winters in South Africa where I was in the middle. I worked for De Beers the diamond company in Kimberley, and it was a quiet place and I was a young lad of 20 to 21 years old spending hours and hours on my own playing cricket a weekend and there wasn't masses to do socially. Fortunately, I met some very good friends at the Cricket Club and they'd often invite me around for the Bri and all that sort of thing. I think I had to do me on Washington at times and I have to remember shrinking the cricket jerseys in a washing machine. And now I'm in any for the weekend and I'm gonna go to the spark shop and buy some on a Saturday morning. We thought cricket and just those those little life experiences, I think, I think the answer to it Oh, is it build resilience? Because there were it wasn't always hunky dory if you like it wasn't always from, although some great times in there. And[P12] I think it just it matures. You know, I think that through all the years that resilience that started to build, I think has been probably the foundation of of helping may still be in a game now 61 years old and still enjoying doing what I'm doing.

Paul Barnett 25:37

Kevin, I heard an interview with you recently, where you very briefly in the interview, you talked about the ideas of Buddhism and how they connected with you, but then you jumped on very quickly. And I was intrigued by that. Because I've also heard you talk about anxiety, and the fact that it can actually bring out the best in people in a player. I wanted to ask you how do you find that balance? How do you coach someone to find the right balance between too much anxiety? and not enough?

Kevin Sharp 26:03

No, I don't know. I don't think you know, if you've done it all? No, I mean, looking at some of the players that I've worked with, the ones who have managed that best are the ones who enjoy it most the ones who live in the moment. And it's kind of like they're enjoying being there. And they're not concerned about there's no fear of failure. I've known players who almost they care too much. And if it hasn't gone to plan, it hurts too much. And it lasts for too long. And they get the cells in a little bit of a tears. I mean, I know I'm thinking I'm right in saying that when I talk about living in the zone and enjoying it and not been living in the past or the future. I think anxieties is excellent, because I think that the right level of it is allows you to be at your best. I was anxious before I came on here with you. Because I want to do well. I want to give some responses to your to your questions. But I think it's healthy, because it kind of focuses the mind a bit. And once you get going, you kind of relax a little bit, then you get more and more focused[P13] . I think as you go along, I can think I can give one example of living in the zone. And in the moment. I believe that when my friend Mr. root, played his first test match at Brisbane in the ashes a few years ago. Now. I believe I'm right in saying when you think of the area, so it's midnight, in England, it's Brisbane, it's the first part of the ashes. The whole cricket world is watching. Everybody in England stayed up till 12 o'clock to watch that first ball come down. And I think it wasn't long. I don't think it was long before Joe got to the crease. But I believe he was greeted by Mitchell Johnson, who very early in the piece smashed him in the chest and said a few choice words to him. As an Australian would said, welcome to Australia, Joe.

Paul Barnett 28:08

Let me just repeat No comment.

Kevin Sharp 28:10

No comment is hit him in the chest. He said a few choice words. And Joe has wandered down the pitch. Bearing in mind is not played a lot of Test cricket. Yeah, this is the first game of the ashes. And I think I believe we looked up at Michonne Johnson and said, it's great out here. And he said to it, we played Test cricket menu outright. And I think Mitchell Johnson must have looked at him and said what? And then he went to walk away. And then he came back to Joe. And he said to him, and what's more, we're on telly as well. So he would have been anxious and nervous yet, but he still had the balance of be able to live in that moment. And enjoy that moment. I would call it smell the flowers if you like. And you know that obviously we we get closer to amateurs and that you know what color I think I've seen, sometimes what can happen to players is that as a kid when they're growing up, they enjoy it. And they play to their potential and they're living in this zone and they're doing I would often ask the player when you made that 100 What were you thinking what were you doing? What was going on upstairs? And they generally say I really just enjoyed it smell the leather and really felt my body movements and the hands in your head getting into the shot and all those things when a player's had a good day. He would say those things. And I think one of the issues that we might have for some is that they've got this as a kid, but when they get into the professional world, it becomes a job. And it's kind of like I've got to pay the gas bill now. I've got to pay the mortgage. I've got a car to perform. I've got food to buy. I mean somebody once said to me, I'll never forget this ever forget this. They said to me when you're 20 you've got Got the fish you were born with, when you're 40, you've got the first that life gave you. And when you're 60, you've got the fish you deserve. Well, I'm 60. Now, so I don't know what you think but, but I think what they were trying to say is up to 20, you get everything generally put on a plate for you. And then in between 20 and 40, that's where you do it. It's learning to calm for all the responsibilities that you get in life, jobs, bills to pay, but it's only 40 you should have sorted that out. And you should be able to have a decent life from that. But I think that there's a lot of pressure comes on when it becomes for real for a job. And that creates more anxiety. And all we can do is provide support, empathy, and understanding. There's more. It's not just coaches, coaches are not psychologists. We do our sport psychologists wherever every club as it sports psychologist, every club has its welfare officer works for the PCA. So any player now has got all sorts of routes to go down to help them deal with such issues.[P14]

Paul Barnett 31:04

Kevin, can I take you back? Perhaps to the time you're around about 44 got my maths right. You were part of the coaching setup for the England women's team. When they won the World Cup in 93. I was never coached by the pioneer and legendary coach Ruth Prideaux? What was it like working with such a pioneering and groundbreaking individual?

Kevin Sharp 31:28

Yeah, well, I mean, I don't we just finished playing, I'd only just finished my playing career. And it was very early days as a coach for me. And I was invited one of two male coaches to go spend the time to prepare for that World Cup. In England, I was pretty, I think, what naive as a coach. And when I first met Ruth, she just had presence. That's the best thing I could say she was kinda like, so respected. When she spoke, you listened, everybody listened. But she'd got such a nice manner about that she created that culture and environment that we talked about earlier, you felt as though you were actually made you feel part of a team. She gave you that trust and ownership that the other coaches have done that we talked about. So you felt really kind of like responsible and playing your part. She allowed fun. laughter. However, it had to be professional. So fun and laughter was at the right time, not at the wrong time. Because when it comes down to training and practice and preparation, get on with it now that she didn't almost have to say that he knew it. And she was adored by the girl, they thought that they would have done anything to look after her that environment[P15] . I mean, I was then involved for a month of sort of a pre tournament, and then was invited to spend the whole tournament, myself and a coach called john brown and then went right the way through to a large final. And I mean, the girls were like, the turkey does like just the part of the team. There was no male or female difference. It was just we're part of the team now. And I'll never forget that. We played debate Australia in the semi final, and played New Zealand in the final at large. And there's a bizarre thing because both teams stayed in the same hotel in London, and traveled on the same coach to the ground. Right. And I can remember our girls were so we've talked about English been a bit reserved, well, this lock wasn't. And this was the environment room for growth each year. And because they were kind of really, really up for it. And I remember having breakfast that morning. And both teams were in the breakfast room and our girls were actually like, standing at the Kiwis cross breakfast table. Like not saying anything just staring them out. And I'm thinking I said to remember saying to john, they fell on mailpoet I said there's only one winner today and I said look at this here. I said they're just staring them out over breakfast, consumer Kiwi girls couldn't make eye contact with them. And we got on this bus and all the kiwi girls were on this bus first. And then we sat at the front and all our girls got on that. Last we got on and all our girls were looking at a one for one all the way down the bus. And we went and sat at the button that was a Yorkshire Lascaux Claire Taylor room started put the read the music on the ghetto blaster, and she put one of them Tina Turner some simply the best. And she sang loud at the back. And it was like I just looked at junk. Remember saying there's only one winner today. We'll win this game comfortably and I think we pretty much did and Ruth was the hub of that. And now she sadly passed away a few years ago. Probably five I was six years ago, I guess now, but there's a wonderful memory. And I suppose that when you, and I'm so pleased you asked this question early, because I'd never would have thought about how it might have shaped my coaching. I think that the one thing that we all do is learn from others. As we go along through life, you've got your mentors and the people that you've respected and watch how they do it, and learn from it.[P16] And I'm, I would never sort of probably said, openly that, that Ruth would have given me some foundation as a coach, because it's such a long time ago, we're going back to 1993. Now,

Paul Barnett 35:39

I would have loved to have interviewed Ruth, I think she's any coach, that pioneers in the way that she did, and also wins a World Cup final at Lourdes would be an amazing person to interview. Yeah. Sadly, we won't get that opportunity. No, but talking about championships, he started off at the start by saying 2018 you're coaching Western and the T 20. Team, win the championship. And then your first year? I know what did you do in that, at the start of the season that drove that result?

Kevin Sharp 36:19

Well, I've never won a trophy as a coach before either. So that was kind of like a bit special in itself that there Edgbaston was something else, then we can go on to that. But the year before finished is difficult year for the club, because Steve Rhodes, the former director of cricket headquarters, left the club. At the end of the year, we'd been there since you were 20 year old as a player and as a coach. And you know, Steve had grown a great ship. And it was the way he did things was quite embedded in the club culture, an environment I think was, it would be fair to say that it's always been a club that's punched above its weight. And but it's not a test playing ground, where it's not an age, Bastion or Lourdes or an oval or a heading or an Old Trafford term bridges. It's a club that has been pretty successful over the years without being the ones that perhaps play on the test grounds. And we have to consolidate a bit really under thing this is the interesting thing is now Paul is nearly no aspirations at all to be a head coach. I was second team coach, I was called batting coach and Steve left at the end of the year. And I can remember thinking at the time that I can remember thinking that what the one thing we don't need here is someone coming in be in a big stick. At this moment in time, we're all we're all a bit bruised and battered here. We just need to consolidate a little bit. We got into it, of course wondering what might happen. And then I was approached by the club and asked me if I would be interested in doing the job that you respected here. The lads believing you, we think this will be a good move at this point. And I never considered myself I think probably because I always see myself sat in the middle of a club with that foot in a player's camp foot in a foot in a coach's camp and probably knowing that the lead coach is probably a bit more of a lonely place. If you're like you've got I knew what would be difficult decisions to make on players on contracts on selection probably as well would have been the one thing that I knew would be challenging for me. But they can't I was asked if I would do the job. And they were very clear in saying that you've been here for this for for five years now. And there's a lot of belief in trusting you and we want you to do it. And so the captain was shot to the captain and he he said the lads are really up for this. I needed to know that I didn't want them think you know I've gone round began in an international Have you out there or ever been there and done it, you know sort of thing but no, there was a lot of support from within and, and I think that what we did I mean Matthew Mason, who's now in Perth, Matthew also left the club just early in January. So he was like assistant coach to Steve. He went home to go to Leicester this year. I mean, he's back in Perth now. So basically what we did was we basically lost Steve and Matthew at nearly the same time. And so then I was mad at God. So then what we did, we appointed Alan Richardson as bowling coach who would come in as assistant coach to myself. And then we brought in Alex Kidman to run the secondary level. Now Alex, is from Gloucestershire play for Gloucestershire, kept in Gloucestershire in a very successful, particularly one day team. And he was starting his coaching career and he done a little bit of work with the MCC on cricketers, and I'd played for Wooster there a couple of years before and had a particularly good relationship with him when he was playing. I found him fascinating because of his strategy. In the way he thought outside the box, so I was delighted when he accepted the position of second team coach. And so basically what happened, we started to see and I said very clear to the lives that we, we brought one or two people in, we did a bit of team building, we brought a guy in from the former Army guy to do a bit of team building with very interesting. So we did some team building stuff, but are very clear to the group that I want you to take ownership for this. And I want everybody to do their bit to help us play well. And I think everybody responded to that there was kind of like a real maturity that said, Yeah, okay, we know that this is things have changed, Let's all stand up and be counted. And so we started the red ball season and we candidate Okay. And then when we got around to the 50, overcomed, I started to bring Alex Kidman into the fold to start to help run sessions because of his experience in one day cricket with Boston had been captain and his leadership skills. And it pretty much through the 50 overcome, Alan and Alex pretty much ran the prep, the warm ups and now became a I don't know what you call it, the lean father figure if you like, and allowing these guys to really develop and express their selves and I watched it and I thought God these are doing these guys are doing a good job and loved it. And and then we got to the teach when because and I just allowed that to continue. I said, right. I want you to run the show this year. Well, then I did a very good relationship with my family and our morals, legend. Everybody loves him at the club. He loves the club. He played quite a lot for us that year. And he had been already he was if he played for roster he was going to be 20 captain. So I just said to Marla I told him I explained to him fully by Alan and Alex what their roles were says I'm here to oversee this sport. This says I want you to run the show as Captain pick the teams between us, but you'll get what you want. But at the end of the day, and more was so receptive to that. And we got to a quote fun. And the club was the she was only one of two clubs, you've never been to a tee 20 finals day was in dabish. And we got to this quarterfinal. And it was a weird situation a weird day because we play Gloucester shirt neurons are full outs 6000. And the atmosphere was so quiet and restrained for a T 20 game. And it was almost like all the members were just willingness to win and get to a final. And you could feel the tension in the dressing room actually. And we aren't really at that look to them. And I think it was because everybody knew that we never got past the club final before we lost about four o'clock finals. And everybody really was so desperate to win this game. And so the tension was quite palpable. And bluster didn't make that many 130 odd and and it could have gone either way and a magnificent innings from Callum Ferguson got us over the line. What a guy loved Callum he was just dreadful for was to cricket just ever so well for us. And it got us over the line and got us to to edge best. And everybody was so relieved of the lead up to the final. We were probably the underdogs with john Lancashire in the first game, and Somerset in Sussex for the other 75 Well, but I kind of we were all just so looking forward to it and so relaxed and focused. And the day before we had a team chat on the field, so there's about squatter 15 players, coaches, support staff physio, s&c were on the field and Mullen pulled everybody around, and he said something I'll never forget. And it was just got everybody in a circle. It was silent, waiting for more to speak. And he didn't say anything. He just looked around the group, man for man and looked at everyone and nodded, which took him about a minute and a half. And it was like, wow, what, what's going on? And then he said, All he said was I want everybody to expect to play two games tomorrow. Right? Let's crack on and do this. That was his team chat. And I stood there everybody then went off to the various groups to train and I stood there and I thought I got those bumps. And I knew we'd win. It was just one of them. And I thought what he's done it's what he's actually done that this is actually said we're gonna win without saying it. That's what he did. And you know, Moses smartlight in the next morning, on finals day from nine o'clock in the morning because the holy Stan is singing sweet cat alone. And we've got the dressing room the dressing room right next to the holy stone. So the atmosphere was electric, right from nine o'clock in the morning. And across. We got over the line in the first game, and we won the final and you know the holy Stan was still singing at 10 o'clock at night. And it was just the final could have gone either way, five overs. To go, you weren't sure. But then suddenly Ben Cox, our wicket keeper play their master innings and played ever so well against Chris Jordan and Archer, and got us over the line and we had a party. But I think going back to what he's saying, I think for me it was about everyone. I don't think as a league coach, I was always kind of slightly out of my comfort zone with it when it came to selection because like, for example, Ben Cox, the wicket keeper batsman, I left him out the championship team the week before the finals, but not being quite at his best with the bat. Another lad did come in and then it got injured another lead came in and made 100 on his debut his wicket keeper batsman, and I left then out the team and I canvassed opinion on this fellow coaches and one or two people that I trusted closely at the club. And it was mixed opinion that some shed, yeah, fair decision. Others said, Well, you know, what, if it makes a massive in for next Saturday, whatever, finals day, I'd always as a coach, I knew that at the start of that season, I would have to make some difficult decisions. And my personality being sort of suppose as I am quite an emotional person, I think I promised myself that I would never dodge any difficult decision that if I knew it was the right, I thought, and I know these things are subjective. But if I thought it was the right decision to make, I wouldn't dodge it and sweep it under the carpet, I'd make it and I did. And I left Ben out. And it was difficult because we had to have some difficult conversations about it and but in all fairness to him, he went away. He trained hard that week, he got 100 in the second 11. And he came back on the Saturday and he was Man of the Match in both games with the bat and kept beautifully. I made the right decision.[P17]

Paul Barnett 46:51

Speaking about betting, yeah, we're an elite batting coach. And there are a few batsmen out there with very quirky styles that are proving successful. Most notable example is Steve Smith. What do you think about batsmen with quirky or different styles?

Kevin Sharp 47:07

Well, I admire you wouldn't teach it but I admire it and do you know what it brings me back to watching Steve Smith back? A few years ago I did some research on sir Donald Bradman. Now I've got a picture of Sir Donald Bradman upon my hall appear that was painted by jack Russell many years ago. He's the famous Australian is in on the wall of my house here. I watched I did some research on this fella said Donald Bradman. And of course he grew up with a golf ball and a stump in his home in Australia where I believe he threw the ball against the wall, the golf ball against the wall and his stump with his button and he'd pick it up. And he pulled it out to play and bring it back round. And then he put his top on and play the golf ball with the stump. So he developed from been a child, this technique that we might consider unusual. And I've seen some of the videos and he does he picks he's about about to point your brings it down. But yeah, it presents a fourth version of the bat to the ball. Now Steve Smith's got similar style, I think. And he moves around in the crease everywhere. However, on the point of contact, he presents the bat to the ball. Now, there's not many people can do that. There's been other people that Chanderpaul on that really wide stance. And then he aligned himself. And there's been other players in the past to Steve Smith, the South African at the very bottom and the grip and he closed the first on the bat on the off side. But yet he made a lot of test loans. Very successful career. So I think as a coach, if it's unusual or unorthodox, I think you've got to ask yourself the question, does it work? Is it successful? Is it something that might need to change against higher class bowling? If the bowling becomes of the highest standard? Can you get away with that technique? And I think you have to trust your own experiences and your judgment whether you need to decide whether to change a player but it's something like Smith, I'd love to have a conversation. I would love to talk about bat him and ask him about it. Imagine going into a hall with a bunch of 16 year olds and saying that we're going to we're all going to bat like Steve Smith I don't think you get a lot of success. There's only Steve Smith knows how to do that. So So generally we teach the basics dogma as a battery grip, the backswing the alignment, Allen's all those things fairly orthodox knowing that everybody arrives at the bus stop slightly differently. The only non negotiable for me as a batting coach is I'd always say you need to have your your head still and your eyes level on a point of release when the bowl Alexa Bogo that would allow you then to judge length best if your eyes are like that or your heads knowing like that. It's hard to judge read a bowl, a bowl coming down 1819 miles an hour is not easy to do. But this fella Smith, he gets on the point of release is in a good position. And good on him. I'd just love to have a conversation about it and ask him about it. And it did play a little stir, you know, back in the day, and he's in his early days, he did so it did play some cricket for was to shoot Neil introduce Magellan one that

Paul Barnett 50:23

maybe if he becomes a great coach, it's only great coaches on this show, Kevin. Kevin, you've had a great career, it's a long career, you're still going you've got such energy and positivity. And, you know, people, your ex players are still engaged with you and talking with you. And I just like to ask one final question, and it's around legacy. I'd like to hear what you think your legacy is?

Kevin Sharp 50:49

Well, I think it's that bit about the old Greystone and it and what would you? What would you like to have written on it? I think that I'd like two people to think that they could trust me, and that I helped them throughout their career, so that I was always someone that they could bounce off. And particularly well, not just in terms of, of me, but anytime, I'd like to think people had learned from me and I was a good bloke, the company, hopefully, other day. And I'd like to think that I think hopefully one of my strengths is that I can make quite a good connector between people. And probably I'd like people to think that I cared about them. And I think that that's important for me. And I think that having been through some of the difficulties myself as a player, and felt as though I'd underachieved a bit, I've never wanted any player I've worked with to go through some of the stuff, I went through some of the sort of mental anguish and pain that I felt. [P18] So I'd like hopefully, I can recognize if someone is in a place where they need some support. And

Paul Barnett 51:52

I'd like to challenge you If I could, because there's a word you didn't mention there. And it's a word, I think that flows through your story from that time when you were younger, through to the work with Anthony McGraw through to that wonderful story you just shared about Wooster, and how you stepped back, and empowered the players. And I think the word is self belief. And I think it's a story of building self belief in yourself and then learning to do it so well, that you were able to pass it on to others. But that's just my reading from afar.

Kevin Sharp 52:29

Thank you for that.

Paul Barnett 52:30

Thank you, Kevin. It's been wonderful. listening to your stories and interviewing today. I thank you so much for your time. I can't wait to share these stories, especially with my dad who loves a bit of Yorkshire understatement. All the best for the cricket season ahead, and I look forward to talking to you in the future.

Kevin Sharp 52:48

Thank you very much, Paul. I really enjoyed that. Thank you.