New Delhi: If Daryl Mitchell doesn’t represent the Black Caps, he’s likely to play for the All Blacks. The veteran cricketer could have played in a forward or fullback role in rugby instead of letting the bowlers go leather hunting with brutal batting or sweeping and reverse sweeps against the spinners.
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The son of renowned rugby player and current England women’s rugby team coach John Mitchell, Daryl’s journey into cricket began almost by accident, but he soon fell in love with this gentleman’s game.
John Mitchell never put pressure on his son and always encouraged Daryl to pursue the things he loved. John has already made his mark on the rugby world, having played for the All Blacks, including the 1993 tour of England, where he featured in six not-in-competition games, captained the team on three occasions and led the team to victory each time.
After retiring, John continued to coach the All Blacks as well as teams in England, the United States, Japan and other countries.
Inspired by his father’s sporting achievements, Daryl initially took up rugby but was soon drawn to cricket. Today he occupies a prominent place in New Zealand cricket, just as his father did in rugby, leaving a legacy in the game.
“Daryl obviously grew up around rugby as I played rugby and coached rugby. As a young man he tried rugby and rugby. Then a development officer at North End came to me and asked if he could try and turn my son into a batsman. I agreed. We even created backyard games – for example, a 12-ball challenge where he had to score 15 runs with six fast balls, six slow balls and six off the fence. The consequences of points. As time went on, Daryl embraced every challenge, loved the game and had fun doing it. I never thought these games would prepare him for where he is today, which is entirely a result of his own development and mentality,” said John Mitchell in an exclusive interview with Times of India.
“He made his first XV at Hale College in Perth before playing for the varsity team, Waikato under-15s and even Australian country schools. But he just loved cricket more. He loved rugby but he realized he might not have the speed to play at the highest level. Cricket gave him more opportunities and personal challenges and allowed him to thrive. He always made his own decisions in his career – the right ones, in fact!” added the proud father with a laugh.
“Dad, I want to be a cricketer”
John has been keeping a close eye on his son’s progress and noticed the right-hander’s natural inclination towards the plate.
He waited patiently for the moment when Daryl came to him and shared his wish – that day came earlier than expected.
One fine day, 15-year-old Daryl came up and said, “Dad, I want to be a cricketer.”
John smiled and hugged his son. Despite his domination of the rugby world, he understands how cricket came into Daryl’s life – thanks in no small part to Daryl’s grandfather, John’s father.
“We have always supported our children’s choices. I never wanted to be a dominant parent or interfere as a coach. I let him set his own goals and we supported him 100 percent in whatever he chose. That independence probably played a big role in shaping the player he is today,” John Mitchell said.
“We were first approached by a development officer to develop him as a batsman. Later, another North End coach, Pat, also mentored him. But the biggest influence on him was his late grandfather, who encouraged him to play cricket, supported him and filled in for him in my absence,” he added.
Will Darryl’s rugby background help him on the cricket field?
“I’m not sure if it helps directly, but in a lot of ways, yes,” John said.
“The fundamentals he observed – the preparation and mentality of world-class players – may have influenced him. Success does not come overnight but is gained by learning from wins and losses. That early experience allowed him to master his craft. Physically he is a big man, which helps, but more importantly, it is his effort and attitude that stand out,” he added.
Darryl – A person who is good at dealing with failure and enjoys success.
Daryl, 27, made his debut in the national team jersey in 2019 against India in Wellington. In the same year, he made his debut in a Test match against England at Hamilton, scoring an outstanding 73 on his debut. However, the right-hander waited for another two years to get an ODI cap, finally getting one against Bangladesh in Dunedin in 2021.
Since then, Daryl has become a mainstay in the New Zealand cricket team, playing 35 Tests, 59 ODIs and 102 T20Is. He has grown into a reliable player that his team can rely on whenever he’s in trouble.
Be it hitting towering sixes, finding gaps, destroying the required run-rate or changing the course of the match with sweeps and counter-sweeps against the best of spinners, Daryl has developed into a batsman who is orchestrated by the opposing team even before he takes the field. His ability to adapt to any conditions and perform under pressure makes him a great asset for the Blackcaps.
“I am always proud whenever I see him playing for his country and contributing to a win. He is mature, understands his role and handles setbacks well. Daryl can play innovative shots such as the reverse sweep and is good against spinners. It is truly rewarding to watch him perform for New Zealand.
“The Black Caps had a small player base but they achieved a lot. They were young and experienced. Kane Williamson set the standard high and players like Daryl and Santner carried it forward. Playing in Asia now has exposed them to different conditions and built confidence,” he said.
“One of his greatest qualities is how he balances his life. No matter what, he makes time for his family. He trains hard and then spends quality time with his daughter, wife Amy and close friends. He has also taken up golf and does personal training at home. This routine suits his lifestyle and keeps him energetic,” the father concluded.
