This was a feature piece on Adam Voges written for the Western Independant Newspaper in April 2007, shortly after his One-Day International debut. It was never published. I thought it was worth revisiting, given his national recall this week, as it is a neat insight into his character.
The WACA is a cold and lifeless place in April. No surprise really. What is surprising is the smell of sweat coming from the gym, deep beneath the Lillee-Marsh Stand. Very few cricketers are training at this time of year.
“Just keeping myself in nick.”
Adam Voges smiles. Australia’s newest one-day international representative is not resting on his laurels.
“When you’re lucky enough to be in the Australian set up you just see how hard those guys work and it motivates you to do that extra work.”
He sits uncomfortably in the players viewing area of an empty WACA ground. Voges claims it is merely weights training at this stage and that he is nowhere near picking up a bat yet.
A familiar face walks past.
“Hi Ruth.” Voges is genuine in his tone.
“Are you missing it already Adam?” Ruth observing Adam’s posture in a chair he might ordinarily occupy on game-day.
“Not at all.” Voges sounds enthusiastic as he outlines his plans for the winter break.
“I’m going to Melbourne next week and then I’m going on a fishing trip to Coral Bay with Sos (WA team-mate Shaun Marsh).”
Whilst Voges admits he won’t be spending his winter reliving the past year few could blame him if he did. The baby faced 27-year-old had the season of a lifetime. After Damien Martyn announced his shock retirement following an unforgettable second Ashes Test in Adelaide in December, Voges was a surprise selection in the 13-man squad for Perth.
He was informed whilst fielding during the festival match at Lilac Hill.
“There was no one more surprised than me.” Voges recalls, still seemingly awestruck by the whole episode.
“Honestly, the look on Tony Dodemaide’s face when he said ‘come with me’, I thought oh … what have I done this time? I had no idea what was going on and to be pulled off the ground I thought this must be serious.”
Voges’ fears were allayed after a torturous wait in the change-rooms.
“He handed me a phone and it was a guy from Cricket Australia who just said ‘congratulations you’re in the 13-man squad.’ It didn’t really sink in to start with.”
Whilst many wondered who Voges was and where he had come from few could ague with the merits of his selection. He had been sparkling early season form scoring 320 Pura Cup runs to December at an average of 160 including 144no at the SCG and 152no against Tasmania in Perth. Although he was nudged out of the final Test XI by Andrew Symonds, another opportunity was only just around the corner.
Ironically, injuries to Symonds and Michael Clarke, along with the resting of Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist granted Voges a seat on the plane to New Zealand for Australia’s three match one-day series in March 2007. Whilst many, including Adam Gilchrist, voiced their concerns about the value of such a series crammed between a long Australian summer and the World Cup, Voges was hardly complaining. He loved every minute of it. After carrying the drinks during the first two one-day internationals, in which Australia lost both and Voges was abused by Kiwi fans – “You can’t print what they said.”- he became Australia’s 163rd representative in One-Day Internationals during the third match in Hamilton.
“When Huss (Mike Hussey) pulled me aside and said ‘you’re going to play in this game’ I didn’t get a lot of sleep that night but I don’t think it affected me too much.”
It didn’t seem to. One might be overawed by having Glenn McGrath present you your cap and then having to bat with Matthew Hayden who was carving Australian record 181no, but Voges handled himself with aplomb. His 16no was “Husseyesque” given the 10 balls he had to work with and his brilliant catch and run out during the dramatic final overs of the match was reminiscent of Michael Clarke’s match-winning heroics in Wellington 14 months prior. However Voges’ three overs of left-arm orthodox may well be forgotten in a hurry. Not that he would care.
“It was such a great game. We made 350 and lost. I must have been the only bloke, apart from the Kiwis, walking off the field with a smile on his face because I loved every minute of it. I got belted everywhere when I bowled but still it was a great experience and I had a ball.”
Despite breaking into the Australian scene this summer nothing has changed for Voges. He still remains shrouded in anonymity and it’s just the way he likes it.
“If you compare it to AFL football we’re very much lesser lights, unless you’re a regular in the Australian set-up, not that I mind that at all. I’m quite happy with that and I wouldn’t want that to change at all.”
Whilst those outside the cricket world are still oblivious to Adam Voges, many of those who follow cricket might see him as an overnight success story. Nothing could be further from the truth. Voges is a veteran of three trips to the Centre of Excellence. He toured twice with Academy sides. In 2004 he captained a side in India, whilst in 2006 he dominated Academy games against the South African Academy and Kenya. He first came to prominence in 1999 when he toured England with an Australian Under 19’s side that featured Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, and Nathan Hauritz. Although back then under Rod Marsh he was a different player.
“I actually got picked as a left-arm chinaman for those games, and a year or two after that they went off the boil a bit. It got to a stage where I wasn’t enjoying doing it anymore. I guess the good thing was that while the leggies were going so bad it made me work on my batting which turned out to be a pretty good move I think.”
Voges maintains that of his three winters at the Academy the last two were of most benefit to his game. By that time he was firmly entrenched in the Western Australian side.
“It was more beneficial for me, just mainly because I knew my game a bit better and new what I wanted to do with my game. As a 20-year-old, obviously under Rod Marsh, you’re a bit star-struck and he tells you a lot of things that you think is the be all and end all and things that probably weren’t going to work for me but I stuck with it because I was a bit young and a bit naïve.”
Voges has a wise head on young shoulders. He is guarded about his own personal success. He is extremely team oriented in terms of his goals, and passionate about representing Western Australia.
“It’s a massive privilege to play WA and to be able to where the baggy yellow and it’s a privilege that we don’t take lightly. For me personally WA success is a massive goal.”
In a sport where ego’s can rule supreme Voges is simply a down to earth bloke. He grew up in Warnbro just south of Perth and like he says like many other Australian boys it was cricket in the summer and footy in the winter. His father is a schoolteacher and his mother a nurse. Voges is greatly appreciative of the family support he has received down the years.
“They’ve been awesome for me. They’ve been to every game of cricket or footy or tee-ball I’ve ever played. And my brother and my sister are the same they’re very, very supportive which is good for me.”
It is hard not to like Voges. He has the rare distinction of being extremely popular amongst team-mates and opponents alike. Justin Langer spoke glowingly of Voges’ selection in the test squad back in December.
“You pick character over cover-drives, and this bloke’s got character. There are a lot of young blokes around who are very talented and can play all the shots in the world, but he’s is just a very strong character, a terrific young bloke with an outstanding work ethic, and he displays a lot of leadership traits.” Langer said.
This is high praise from a man who is no longer the WA captain. Voges has been mentioned as a possible successor to Langer. He is realistic about his chances of becoming state captain given that Marcus North had the job when Langer was on national duty. Voges does lead his club side Melville.
“It’s something I’d like to do. If it happens that’s great but if doesn’t then I’m happy to support whoever gets the job.”
He would be a very popular skipper in the dressing rooms. He is extremely humbled when told that even in the cut-throat WACA First Grade competition his fiercest rivals think a great deal of him as a player and a bloke.
“I don’t not get along with people. I’m always happy to go into the opposition rooms and have a beer after the game. I really actually enjoy doing that. I’ve made a hell of a lot of friendships out of the game and friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life all around the country.”
Believe it or not Voges does not have an untarnished record. He was suspended from a Domestic one-day game in January 2006 for being late to a compulsory training session. He had been out celebrating a win against Queensland in Ryan Campbell’s last game and unfortunately slept in. Voges said he copped the punishment on the chin.
“It’s something that I certainly learned a lesson from and it won’t happen again. It made papers and that sort of thing which was a bit disappointing when you’ve got your grandma ringing you the next day wanting to know what’s going on, but it’s something that’s happened and I think I’ve moved on from it and learned from it.”
Unlike the two leaders he has played under in Langer and Hussey, Voges is not as intense about his cricket.
“Cricket doesn’t control my life 24/7. I certainly do have a very keen interest and I enjoy following the game but not 24/7.”
He admits he doesn’t watch a lot of cricket away from the game. And even when he’s there he’s not a great watcher.
“If I’m not next in I try not to watch too much of it.” Voges smiles as he reveals his laid back nature through the way he relaxes whilst waiting to bat.
“I’ll read a book. Do sudoku. Annoy someone. Go for a walk. Listen to my ipod.”
Snow Patrol and The Killers inhabit his ipod at the moment. Reasonably easy listening for a reasonably laid back man.
Away from the game he is looking forward to studying again. Voges began a Sports Science degree straight out of high school before cricket got in the way.
“I’m going to get back into that next semester and try and finish that off. It’s something that I’m interested in, and with it being more prevalent in sport these days it’s something I think I’d like to do once I’ve finished playing.”
In terms of pastimes he has three passions.
“I do like a punt. I won’t deny that.” Voges says with a smirk on his face. He is casual about his successful autumn carnival where he backed two group one winners. But he prefers the dogs to the nags.
“I’ve got one (greyhound) running at the moment and a couple more that should be running in the next month or so which is always just a bit of fun to see how they go. It’s a good night out.”
He also reveals he part owns a trotter with Warriors fitness trainer Greg Harding.
Unsurprisingly he is a keen golfer although he is extremely modest in his assessment of his golf game.
“I like playing golf. I’m not very good at it but I like playing it.”
His preferred pastime is fishing.
“I love fishing so I’ll try and do a fair bit more fishing. I’m going up to Coral Bay with Sos in a few weeks time which will be really good.”
Despite all his personal success this year Voges has his feet firmly planted on the ground. It is not surprising that he is so popular given his affable nature. He is a natural cricketer, a natural leader, and he would not look out of place in a baggy green cap.
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