Mr Cricket by Michael Hussey Page B

team. Kepler, Nick and I were the unofficial selection committee for the side, but discussing selections with Kepler was hardly straightforward. Kepler hated losing and, if a result went against us, he would go off on massive rants. It wasn’t unusual for him to declare: ‘Right! These eight players have to go!’ I wasn’t strong enough to pull him up and say, ‘Come on, mate. What are you talking about?’ But Nick didn’t hesitate. ‘That’s rubbish, Kepler!’ he’d say, without flinching. We’d end up having a much more rational conversation about it after that, perhaps make one or two changes, and work out the reasons why we’d lost. There was no need to panic and we had to get that through to the coach. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but Nick’s input ensured many more heads didn’t roll.
    We ended up being a good team. Kepler was the dictator and disciplinarian, Nick wasn’t afraid of putting him back in line if needed and I began to feel more comfortable tactically because I’d had a good season behind me and I knew the guys and we were starting to get a lot of things right. Consequently, after being bottom of the second division in both competitions, we got promoted to the first division of both.
    I learned a lot about cricket that season. But learning how to deal with Kepler proved just as valuable. One afternoon after we lost to Glamorgan he called me into his office. I hadn’t been batting well and the whole team was disappointed in our performance. He pulled me aside and said, ‘Huss, do you want to say something?’ I thought he was asking if I wanted to address the boys about the game we had just completed. So I suggested we should perhaps leave it for the day, train well and then think about the things we need to do better closer to the next game. He said, ‘No, no, no. We need to talk about your game.’ We went into Kepler’s office and, only as he can, he tore strips off me. ‘How do you think you can score runs when your stance is like this!?’ he yelled. ‘You’re leaning too far forward and that’s why you were dismissed last game!’ And, on it went.
    I was terrified. But having seen how Nick had stood up to Kepler, I decided to contain my fear and, instead of cower to him, I very quietly and rationally said, ‘Okay, Kepler, let’s work on that and see what we can do.’ I was open to suggestions because I wasn’t batting well and wanted to know what Kepler thought. I knew that yelling wouldn’t get through to me, so I asked him, ‘Do you think I just need to move my head this way?’ He lowered his voice and said, ‘Yeah.’ We started talking openly and respectfully about what I was doing wrong and, consequently, I worked very hard on those tips over the next week. In the next game I scored 280.
    For all his faults, Kepler was a good coach. He was very sound when it came to technical advice and was brilliant to talk to about the mental side of the game. But his headstrong nature proved challenging for me to contend with. He made certain everyone knew he was the boss and we had to do things his way or else there would be punishment. That might have worked for some guys, but it wasn’t for me. I was always worried about what would happen if we lost three or four games in a row. Would I be sacked like Bob? Would he drop the whole team?
    NOTES ON CAPTAINCY (2002)
    â€¢ I am getting quite angry at a lot of the players at the moment. So far this season, I have been open to suggestions and responsive to player wants.
    â€¢ In hindsight, I wish I came in strong and then lightened off as the season progressed. Our players don’t work hard enough, in particular our bowlers, who are inexperienced and need a volume of work. Our batters are also not hitting enough balls.
    â€¢ The players also make a lot of excuses and never look at themselves.
    From now