The Cricket Mentoring Podcast · Cricket Mentoring

Adam Voges: The Art Of Coaching, The IPL & Building A Sustainable Winning Culture

·58 min·5 clips

Adam Voges admits he wasn't ready to coach WA after Sandpapergate forced him into the role.

This episode features host Jack "Sculls" and returning guest Adam Voges, a former Australian Test cricketer and highly successful head coach of Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers. Voges reflects on his transition from player to coach and the evolution of the game. He unexpectedly became a full-time head coach immediately after his playing career ended, following the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal which led to Justin Langer's promotion to the Australian team. Voges admits he was not ready for the role initially and tried to emulate Langer's style before finding his own authentic coaching voice. His first years were challenging, including a last-place Big Bash finish and a season starting with four consecutive losses, which applied significant public pressure. Voges details his recent experience as an assistant coach with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, observing the tournament's increased professionalism and the fearless batting evolution. He notes the impact sub rule and excellent pitches have led to soaring scores, with teams now chasing targets like 70 runs off 30 balls with genuine belief. Voges describes how elite finishers like Nicholas Pooran prepare with extreme specificity, training to counter predictable plans like wide yorkers with four fielders on the off-side. He explains that coaching in the IPL involves facilitating tailored information, as some players desire extensive data while others want minimal input. A key insight is Voges's coaching philosophy, centered on empowerment, environment, and excellence, influenced by advice from Greg Shipperd that players dictate a coach's success. He shares that early in his coaching career he was overly emotional and worked with a mental skills coach to remain calmer during high-pressure moments. Voges develops himself by participating in a leadership forum called Alita, connecting with leaders from various industries like real estate and netball to discuss common challenges. He identifies work ethic and coachability as the two primary attributes he seeks in young players entering his system. Voges believes the ultimate key to good coaching is communication and understanding how to individually empower players to become their best. The conversation is relaxed, reflective, and instructional, blending personal anecdotes with practical coaching insights. This episode is ideal for aspiring cricket coaches, players interested in high-performance environments, and fans wanting behind-the-scenes perspectives on the IPL and domestic coaching. Listeners seeking only technical batting or bowling tips might find the broader focus on leadership and program management less directly applicable.

As heard by us

A practical look at the work behind a strong WA cricket program.

Adam Voges gives a practical look at the work behind a strong WA program. The focus is on the planning, preparing, reviewing, and day-to-day responsibility that come with head coaching, and that keeps the piece grounded.

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Why you'd press play

You want the coaching side of a winning WA program, with the behind-the-scenes work that sits under it.

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