Ian recognised Matt had talent that exceeded his own. Finding ways to nurture it became a sort of education for him as a father and a coach. “I learnt very early that it’s his game,” he says. “He sees the world very differently to what I do, which is a very good thing because he’s a better player than I was. There’s a tendency early on to go (as a coach), ‘You can’t do that’, because of your limitations. “You have to say, ‘Here are the options – this is what could happen’, and then let him go and explore. Then he works it out for himself. But it’s about that exploration.”
📑 Designer batsman: The making of Matt the Bat
The creation of ‘Matt Renshaw, Test opener’ has been a deliberate, decade-long project. Through it all, his love for the game – and his relationship with his dad – has never wavered.
This is an interesting read from the perspective of a growth mindset and coaching. It is a great insight into the reality that ‘it takes a village’. It can be easy to see the ‘talent’ and overlook the years of time and support before that moment.
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