COVERED SPRING 2021

11 @TRENTBRIDGE TOM MOORES A stint in theT10 League in 2019 afforded him an audience with India’s Yuvraj Singh, a man with over 400 international appearances to his name. A subsequent photograph on Moores’ Instagram feed was hashtagged ‘learning from the best’ – but this was about more than cricket. “It was an unbelievable experience to not just talk about the game, but to talk about life,” he says. “I’d scored a few in a game earlier that day, so he’d seen me bat and had a few pointers, but most of his advice – as I’ve found with a lot of big players – was more to do with mentality, and staying level-headed through any ups and downs. “It can be quite nerve-wracking to put yourself out there and ask questions of guys like that, because you know they’ll have been asked so many questions before. “But, ultimately, they love talking about the game and their experiences, and they remember those earlier stages of their careers when they were asking for advice too. “That was a great example of a time when I was all ears, as I have been with so many other greats too.” But being a good listener is not enough on its own. The strength of character to discount any hints and tips that may not suit your game is key. After all, the objective is not to be the next incarnation ofYuvraj Singh; it is to be the best version of Tom Moores. “Although these guys are great players, what they suggest might not suit you or your personality,” he explains. “I’ve had to learn not to fall into the trap of taking absolutely everything on board. “As you can imagine, it’s very easy when you get put into these environments with all these great players to think ‘well, if he says this, then it must be right’. “But you’ve got to find your own way. Look at all the greats – fromViv Richards to Brian Lara, and to Steve Smith now. “They all have their own way of doing “THE THING THAT UNITES EVERYONE IS THAT WE ALL WANT TOWORK HARD, USE THAT EXPERIENCE WE’VE GAINED OVER THE YEARS AND GET BETTER EVERY DAY.” Tom Moores Photo: Jack Meacher