More to life than game
DAVID Warner’s best advice to club teammate Jason Sangha may well have been a tip that had nothing to do with cricket.
The banned Warner outlined last month how he wanted to help mentor youngsters at Randwick-Petersham.
Sangha, who captained Australia at this year’s under-19 World Cup and is on the cusp of a Sheffield Shield debut, is one of many teammates to have picked Warner’s brain.
“He’s been really good, helping everybody and sharing his knowledge. Also just his presence makes everyone strive to be that little bit better,” he said.
Sangha and Warner’s con- versation in the sheds and slips cordon has not been restricted to constructing an innings.
“One thing we did speak about a lot was life outside cricket,” Sangha said.
“Understanding you’re only a cricketer for part of the day and having other interests outside the game is important.
“We talked about how I’m obviously at the start of my career, hopefully a long career, and I have to invest time in some other things. Keep myself busy and not just solely rely on cricket.”
The issue is expected to feature in the results of the cultural review, commissioned by CA after the Cape Town ball tampering scandal.
Sangha, an elegant right- hander and handy legspinner, will have scant time to explore them next week.
Sangha will go to Adelaide as part of NSW’s 12-man squad for its Shield opener that starts on Tuesday.
“I’ve dreamed of getting that baggy blue since I was a little kid,” he said.
He worked hard on his game this year at CA’s elite training base in Brisbane.
Sangha scored 133 during an Ashes tour game last year; only Sachin Tendulkar has posted a first-class ton against England at a younger age.
He was part of Australia’s under-19 squad at age 16, when he also made history as the youngest player to receive a NSW contract.