Peter McGlashan – Retirement Interview

Following Peter McGlashan’s retirement from all cricket last week, we interviewed him to find out what the future holds and to look back upon his 13 year career.

In Depth Questions

CW: You’re leaving cricket to work as Director, Sport and Wellbeing for the Glenn Family Foundation. Tell us more about your role in this organisation and what excites you most about this opportunity.

PM: My new role is about supporting community engagement through sport and physical activity, to improve health, well being and education. Looking to use sport and high profile athletes as incentives for achieving learning goals and a method to engage parents and students with the education system.

CW: You obviously have a deep-seeded passion about community work as is also shown by your involvement in the Blow the Whistle campaign. How did you get into this field and where did the passion come from?

PM: My wife has worked in the Domestic Violence sector for the last 15 years and it was after meeting her and watching her work, I realised how some of the things I’d learnt through my time playing sport could be helpful in this sector. Many of the organisations doing great work in this area don’t understand how to get the most out of the media or aren’t able to access funding streams they are entitled to. I’ve really enjoyed using some of my learnings from professional sport, working in the media and interest in marketing to offer some fresh ideas for raising the profile of the issue.

CW: What was the key factor that prompted your decision to retire?

PM: A lack of long term stability while playing cricket. Domestic players in NZ only receive 6 month contracts, then must seek other employment for the rest of the year. The insecure nature of the job makes it hard to start a family or buy a house, two things my partner and I are keen to do now we’re married, so when the offer to extend my contract with the Glenn Family Foundation came up I couldn’t pass it up.

CW: Was it a tough decision considering you were selected in the Provisional Squad for the T20 World Cup?

PM: Not really, I hadn’t heard much from NZC in the 18 months previous so hadn’t considered myself in the running. And I’ve been in plenty of these squads before and no one falls over so you don’t get a chance.

CW: A lot of fans consider you to be one of the most innovative players of the modern generation. What are your thoughts? Who’s the next Peter McGlashan coming through the ranks for Northern Districts?

PM: The creative side of my game is just who I am as a person. I enjoy problem solving and I see T20 cricket as effectively a problem to solve. “How do I score the most runs off this ball, without getting out?” As far as future in innovators, no one really stands out. I’m still waiting for someone to master the double bouncing delivery for death bowling, it’ll revolutionise the game I reckon.

CW: You moved around quite a bit between provinces before settling and playing your best cricket at Northern Districts. Was there something about Northern Districts that really worked well for you?

PM: ND for me was a lifeline and a second chance at cricket. Things hadn’t gone my way at CD and Otago and I hadn’t. capitalised on my opportunities. I went back to Uni and threw myself into my studies, so when the chance appeared at ND it was a second chance to prove to myself I was good enough to be there. It gave me the confidence and freedom to go out and express myself and impose myself on the match. That freedom helped me reach my potential.

CW: Do you see yourself continuing your involvement in inventive equipment development? What’s the story behind the baseball mask when keeping wicket?

PM: I hope to be able to contribute in some way. I still have some ideas and I’ll work with the team at Aero to try and bring those to life. I’m all about improving performance and making things better. The mask came about from me watching and thinking about other sports and how they could make me a better cricketer. I tried a baseball mask for a while and liked it then one day Aero asked me if I could design a cricket specific one so I bought a role of copper wire and mocked up a sample and we set about getting it made.

CW: As fans we’ve come to know through your Cricket Web blog that you and your family have deep cricketing roots. Will we still see you involved in some area of the game?

PM: I’ve actually just finished a weekend coaching in Manawatu with some young batsman and keepers and am not long home from the 6 hour drive to get back to Auckland. I enjoy high performance coaching or strategy, and would consider some commentary but am enjoying my work at the moment I can’t see myself having any time soon for cricket related activities.

CW: Was there an option to continue only playing one format of the game, e.g. T20 for Northern Districts or possibly overseas tournaments?

PM: At the start of the winter, when I first got my new job I considered just playing T20s and the limited over competition and maybe working 3-4 days a week, but as I got closer to my projects being announced, I realised I couldn’t see myself standing in the field catching balls when the work I’d started would be waiting on hold.

CW: Having played well over 200 matches spanning across 12 seasons do you feel domestic cricket in New Zealand is stronger than when you started out?

PM: I think it’s got more professional, but I don’t necessarily think it has gotten any stronger. My memories of my early games was of entire teams made up of hardened journeyman who made your time in the middle uncomfortable and a challenge. There isn’t the same aggression or aura of invincibility round this generation of players.

CW: If you could pin-point some favourite moments, what would they be?

PM: Playing at Lords in T20 World Cup, ODI 50 vs a great Indian team, 49 vs full strength Aussie at Oval in T20, 1st Class hundred at McLean Park, a ground where I’d grown up watching my idols play.

CW: What’s the best piece of cricketing advice you’ve ever been given?

PM: Treat training like your rehearsal, and match day as your chance to shine upon the stage and put on show the crowd will remember.

CW: What are your thoughts on the current New Zealand side and how do you see them progressing in the next few years?

PM: I think as always we need senior players to stand up at important times if we are to be successful. We have the potential to win the World Cup here in 2015 but I’m not sure if the team truly believes it yet.

CW: Did you deal with Mike Hesson when you were at Otago? If so, what are your thoughts on his appointment as NZ coach?

PM: Mike was in charge of development when I was at Otago so I didn’t have a huge amount to do with him but later on he coached the NZ A side I was in in Aussie and managed the side to Chennai, India. He’s an astute, well organised and disciplined coach who will leave no stone unturned to help his players reach the potential. I’ve no doubt he’s exactly what this group new to win a major tournament. The challenge will be whether the group make the most of what he brings to the table.

Quick Questions

Childhood hero: Dad, Peter Beardsley and MacGyver

Best innings and why: 94 off 60 odd balls vs Wgtn T20 first season in NZ, everything came together

Best catch: Top edge went straight up off Dhoni in Christchurch ODI when Sachin got 175 retired hurt, had missed stumping Dhoni earlier so was nice to see back of him.

Best bowler faced and why: Dan Vettori, 10 different ways to put ball in exactly the same place

Quickest bowler faced: Mitchell Johnson

Opinion on current best bowler/batsman in world cricket today and why: Bowler: Steyn Batsman: Amla

Up-and-coming player to watch: Trent Boult

Favourite ground: Seddon Park, Hamilton