Passion fuels cricket coach’s desire to pass the baton

A FLARING passion and an undying desire to talk, teach and play cricket are some of the things that set cricketer, Brad Moses, apart. 

Having played for most of his life, the 37-year-old recently opened his own cricket academy called Backing The Base Cricket Academy. Citing playing the gentlemen’s game as a life long dream and passion, it was clear from a young age that he would go far with it. 

He got his break at just 16-years-old, playing the senior division for KZN Inland and representing the union for over a decade thereafter. 

“During my playing career, I also began to develop a real interest and passion in nurturing the next generation of cricketers. This is something I was involved in quietly behind the scenes and alongside developing my own game.”

“I found that I had a natural talent and enjoyment for teaching, and positive feedback. The fast-paced advancement of the individuals I worked with gave me the confidence to take the decision to focus my time, skill and career path on coaching,” he said.

While playing for KZN Inland, he also traveled abroad to the United Kingdom as a professional, as part of a team of coaches who brought cricket to communities. Their role was to help youngsters with their games and create a structure for them. He ended his professional career at just 32-years-old. He then went back to the drawing board to think of his next move.

“I had quite a bit of time to sit back and think about what I was going to do. I’ve always had plans of having my own academy and looking into creating a structure with all the experience I’d had over the years and learning from other academies. I was working at those academies but I was also having a better look and understanding of how things are run and the interactions.”

Backing The Base Cricket Academy will soon celebrate its second anniversary in January 2021 and on coaching, this is what Brad had to say, “It’s not just about coaching cricket, it is about coaching the understanding of how to do something. It is just as much about the mental side of the game. This is how I run my academy.”

“It is based on morals, coaching but also teaching youngsters life, not just the technicalities of the game. Coaching is not just about teaching how to hit a ball, but it is breaking something down and then allowing you to be able to teach yourself as well.”

Along with his illustrious career in cricket, he also had coaching sessions on the Bluff with young cricket fanatics. He represented The Dolphins, KZN Inland and Easterns between 2006 and 2014, assisted and head coached at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg from 2006 to 2010.

And in December 2016, he coached at The Gary Kirsten Academy for four years. He is currently an ambassador for unique batting aid for players and coaches, Wack Bat.