By JARROD POTTER
IT IS an important part of every cricketer’s arsenal but the only thing you can’t buy in the stores.
For Daniel Van Hees, 15, from Cranbourne he had to learn the hard way that all the runs and wickets in the world can’t make up for a bad attitude.
It held him back; the onerous weight of his arrogance left him stagnant at the crease and unable to make his way up the pecking order.
But those days are behind him – thanks to a legion of cricketing mentors Jim King, Greg Keith and also Chris Reid – who have taken him under their wings.
The results are now speaking loudly for the Lynbrook turf cricketer as he’s made the Cricket Victoria under-17 team, set to go to Dubbo, New South Wales, this weekend for the national championships.
“I’ve tried out for about three years in a row and now I’ve gotten in this year – I haven’t gotten in every year but it’s good to make it for the first time,” Van Hees said.
“More of my attitude – at first I didn’t get in because I was a little bit too arrogant, I guess, but now I’ve become a little bit more humble and more of a team player.
“Only over the past year or so – probably over the outdoor season with Lynbrook – and it was because of all my mentors helping me.
“I’ve been getting more results throughout my games – more runs, more wickets – and we’re getting more runs on the board.
The batting all-rounder only got into indoor cricket for a muck around but has come to love the cricket variant and is making his way in both summer and winter cricket.
“First year I really only did it to muck around and play something in the off-season, but the last three years I’ve been playing Superleague and got a bit into it,” Van Hees said.
“We head off to Dubbo, New South Wales, for the tournament and I would love to win a championship with the team – don’t mind if I’m in the team or not, just want our team to win.
“Vic and Queensland are usually the two better teams but our team has won three years in a row and just hope to help carry that on.”
Van Hees wanted to thank his indoor team mates – Thien Huynh, Daniel Juricic, James McPhee, David Maddox, Emile Tait, Benn Zomer, Callan Gilboy, Hugo Ferdinand, Jay Jhamb – and coach Chris Reid for their support, along with his parents.
