One190

Will Young knows that the true gift in life is perspective. It’s something he’s learned through a series of career setbacks by the age of 31. Many of these are well documented. Less well known is how he has used some of them towards creating a bigger life.To understand the context of the off-field growth, it’s worth recapping some of the setbacks.It was in 2019 when a terrorist attack in Christchurch narrowly missed the Bangladesh team and led to the abandonment of a Test in which Young was set to debut. His parents, partner and brother had booked flights to watch him receive his Test cap the next day, but those plans unraveled within hours of his press conference at the Hagley Oval.Then, a few months later, he earned his first central contract with New Zealand Cricket, only to find himself recovering from a shoulder surgery, uncertain if he’d ever play again. “It felt quite funny, to be honest, getting that money and not playing,” Young reflected to Cricbuzz on the sidelines of the ODI World Cup in India last year.At the time of that conversation, Young was New Zealand’s stand-in opener, stepping in whenever Kane Williamson was sidelined by injury. However, each time Williamson returned to full fitness, Young was back out again – a harsh reality but one that he has been accustomed to.It was also an improvement on his situation during the previous World Cup in England, which he watched from home after making the difficult decision to undergo surgery instead of travel as a batting reserve. Yet as he sat at home in the middle of 2019, arm in a sling and doubts clouding his mind, he found some comfort in the financial security his central contract provided. During this time, a deeper realization began to take hold: one of privilege, responsibility and the desire to give back to the community that had shaped him.That community is in Taranaki, a “cool place” on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, a region Young feels “even New Zealanders find difficult to get to.” Known more for its lush farmland, dairy production and rugby obsession, cricket isn’t exactly a year-round pursuit there. Rain is frequent and the winters harsh, making consistent training opportunities difficult for aspiring cricketers. Young felt compelled to do something for them.”To be honest, it was an idea from Debu,” Young recalled, referring to his long-time coach and “close friend” Debu Banik, whom he would message as a kid whenever he wanted to hit balls.