“Do You Honestly Want to Be the Mithali Raj of Australia?”: Nicole Bolton Opens Up on Coach’s Tough Talk

July 27, 2024 0 887

Nicole Bolton revealed that her coach’s comparison to Indian legend Mithali Raj was a turning point in her career, as it highlighted her perceived lack of aggression.

Former Australian cricketer Nicole Bolton recently shared how a harsh comparison from her coach, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, significantly impacted her career. Bolton, who made her List A debut for Victoria in 2014, initially showcased her talent with a century, followed by innings of 35 off 68 balls and 43 off 69 deliveries. However, it was a conversation with Fitzpatrick that left a lasting impact.

Fitzpatrick’s comparison to Indian cricket legend Mithali Raj was intended to challenge Bolton’s perceived lack of aggression and strike rate. Fitzpatrick pointed out that while Raj was an exceptional player, Bolton’s batting style, which included a lower strike rate, might not align with the needs of the Australian team.

“For so long, I was just trying to impress her [Fitzpatrick]. I was just trying to get her to see me. And, I just remember, she called me into her office to have a chat. And she was like, ‘Do you honestly want to be the Mithali Raj of the Australia Cricket Team?’ And I was like, ‘Mithali Raj?” Bolton said in a Stories After Stumps podcast.

Fitzpatrick’s challenge to Bolton extended beyond mere comparison, urging her to model her batting after more aggressive players like Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani.

“And she was like, ‘Yeah, do you honestly want to strike at 50? It’s okay if you get 100 but the team still loses and you get 100 off 150 balls?’ And I was, ‘Woah! This is how Cathryn Fitzpatrick sees me. That’s not good at all. If this is how she sees me, my career is going to be pretty short-lived. She sort of said to me, ‘Why can’t you be like Meg Lanning or Elyse Villani? That’s how we want you to play,” she added.

This feedback had an immediate effect, as Bolton delivered a remarkable performance in her next match, scoring 170 runs off 156 balls with 24 boundaries.