There are a range of pathways that lead to becoming a professional cricketer. Some players are channeled through academies and club grades, while others bloom later and take more time to hone their particular cricketing skills.
For a pair of Auckland Aces their paths to the professional game have been remarkably similar and see them following in some impressive footsteps.
Glenn Phillips (19) and Sean Solia (23) have both represented Auckland at every age group level possible before reaching the senior side. Phillips has played a handful of List A games for Auckland and Solia made his Auckland first-class debut in the current round of the Plunket Shield. Phillips already has a sparkling century to his name.
As well as their extensive age group representative honours with Auckland, the pair once again followed a similar path as they spent the past New Zealand winter at Lord’s as part of the MCC Young Cricketers programme. The duo followed a number of famous New Zealand names including Crowe and Taylor to the programme at the home of cricket.
The programme includes players from around the world and the squad plays matches against a range of sides including county second teams and touring international sides.
Phillips who also represented New Zealand at the last Under 19 World Cup speaks highly of the experience in London.
“It was more of an honour, as opposed to anything else. To be able to put in the same sort of line as those cricketers that I have always looked up to.”
“The learning environment that comes through being a YC is incredible. The kind of facilities you have access to, the people you can talk to. The facilities you play at, all of those things add to the development of your game. The boys that we had there were really really good.”
Solia also enjoyed a fruitful English summer and greatly valued the chance to learn from the other promising young talent.
“As a life experience it was probably at the top of things I have done so far. Playing at some lovely grounds. Training at Lord’s and getting to play at Lord’s. That was a big highlight.”
“Getting to meet new people from obviously a different part of the world, bouncing ideas and that off each other was a really good learning experience.”
Phillips and Solia each set different individual batting records while part of the MCC YC squad and are hoping to build on their English form this New Zealand summer.
Solia took a lot of heart from his particular effort.
“I scored 170 against Somerset 2nd XI, that was a big highlight for my season over there. It just kind of relaxed me, in knowing that I am good enough to play at the higher level.”
Both young Aucklanders credit their experiences playing in representative age group tournaments for Auckland as helping them develop as cricketers regularly playing in pressure situations and with other talented players.
However, despite their extensive experience both admit they suffered from nerves competing at the events. Solia is very clear on what advice he’d give to his younger self or other young players heading to an age group tournament.
“Earlier on when I was younger in tournament situations I felt quite a lot of pressure.”
“I think just express yourself. Go out and try and show off what you have. I mean you are in the team so you are good enough to be there. Just try and show a bit of flare, don’t get too tense and just be relaxed.”
Phillips also has simple advice to those following in his footsteps.
“It’s really just enjoying the cricket you are playing at the time and if it(higher honours) comes it comes and when it comes enjoy it for the moment as opposed to feeling the pressure of playing that higher standard.”
For Phillips the advice can be delivered close to home with younger brother Dale following him into the New Zealand U19 side and into Auckland rep sides.
While Phillips first took to the field for the Aces in the 2014/15 season right out of school, Solia has just made his debut and has been working on his game and his academic pursuits since leaving high school. The Suburbs New Lynn player has completed an architecture degree and started a building apprenticeship and believes those pursuits outside of cricket keep his life balanced.
“I think having the outside experience helps me to relax a lot more. I can get away. Cricket can be stressful at times and you can put a lot of pressure on yourself. But getting away from that is quite good for me I think.”
With such similar playing paths up until this point it is clear the both players have exciting futures ahead and a lot to offer the game.
Domestic schedule
