Nathan Lyon is the 3rd highest test wicket taker in Australia. Indeed, he is only one behind the second highest in Glen McGrath and is expected to overtake his tally in the upcoming ashes tour. He is the greatest ever bowler of off-spin and is commonly referred to by his colleagues as The GOAT – Great of all Time.
Nathan Lyon has gone on a regional roadshow into New South Wales, back to where it all started, in his childhood community. Growing up in Young, and playing for Goulburn, Canberra, and Wagga Wagga, Nathan wants to give back to his community that has done so much for him.
This week he hosted a children’s cricket clinic, followed by a fully booked intimate evening session for parents and children that focused on four key themes:
- The importance of physical conditioning with his strength and conditioning coach Tom Carter;
- The pathways into elite cricket with his manager Peter Lovitt;
- The fine line parents must navigate between being a child’s greatest supporter and being their coach (without becoming an ugly parent) with your correspondent, myself, David Stewart; and
- How fun and passion plays a key role in a cricket career with Nathan.
After the presentations, the second half of the evening was for Q&A from the floor, where parents and children asked questions to the panel, with many questions exploring Nathan’s cricketing journey, from promising junior to the elite player he has become. Nathan highlighted the challenges and setbacks he has had along the way, and the importance of your family and support team.
At the end of the night, participants had the opportunity to mingle, meet, and talk to Nathan, sign memorabilia and take photos. The other panellists were also available for more intimate questioning and tips.
Many of the parents and children’s questions centered around pathways into elite cricket, dealing with setbacks, how to cope with vulnerability, the best way to prepare yourself for elite sport, and who to surround yourself with when dealing with the inevitable challenges.
“I just want to give back to the community that has supported and given me so much. It is great to see so many young people with their parents, along with some ex-teammates and coaches that were an important part of my pathway. I love seeing the connection between generations. If the kids get just get one thing out of the night, then it has been worthwhile,” says Nathan.
Nathan hopes to replicate and broaden the reach of the GOATD Roadshow next year, on a much bigger scale through regional and rural Australia, which he believes is the heart and soul of cricket.
More information can be found on Nathan’s web page: https://goatdverse.com/
