Tring Park Cricket Club have been proud to host New Zealand player Brogan Hayman as their overseas player for this season. Want to know more about him off the pitch? Read on…

Let me begin by asking you, what’s your name, how old are you and where did you grow up?
My name is Brogan Hayman and I’m twenty one years old. I grew up in Hamilton in New Zealand.

What was life like growing up in New Zealand?
It is definitely one of the best countries to grow up in. It’s small, but it has everything you need, plus everyone you meet is so friendly. There’s also a great sporting culture that so many people get involved in. Life isn’t fast paced in comparison to places like America.

So what sports did you play growing up?
I played rugby, football, golf, basketball and of course cricket. I enjoyed all of them, especially since my friends played most of them too.

Was there a particular interest in cricket amongst your friends?
Yeah my whole friend group played, we were a tight year group at school. Everyone was cool and I made a lot of my friendships through the sport. One of my best friends from the age of five is someone I played cricket with. It just shows that you can build strong connections through sport.

Was there a pivotal moment in your early life that led you to pursue cricket in comparison to rugby and the other sports you played?
Well when the cricket World Cup was hosted in both Australia and New Zealand back in 2015, it was such a big deal and both countries were behind the sport. I watched the whole tournament and it led me to pursue cricket as a passion.

Who was your biggest influence when you were younger?
Probably my mum because she taught me all the important things in life and the sort of people you should have revolved around your life. She showed me the importance of being respectful and also hardworking. I have a lot of respect for my mum, she is such an amazing person.

What academic or training programs did you undertake and were any of those to support your athletic development?
Everything was always sports related. I did try in exams, but really I went to school to play cricket. I wish I tried harder though instead of just playing sports. Though, I did finish my uni degree in business and management at Waikato University which I’m proud of.

Why did you come to the UK to play cricket and have you been here before?
So this is my first time in the UK and the main reason I came was because I originally wanted to come here four years ago, but because of Covid I couldn’t. I wanted to do what I’m doing right now and play cricket overseas. Also, my mum's family lives in Ireland so it’s nice being close. Before here, I had only visited Australia, so now I have the opportunity to travel around Europe which is what I’m doing in September and October.

What would you say New Zealand does better than the UK at?
It’s the best place in the world, sorry! When I came here I didn’t realise you guys don’t really have steak and cheese pie. My friends and family make the best ones. I’m also very proud of the fact that Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand. I’ve read all of the books and watched the films a load of times. Don’t get me wrong, the scenery here is nice, but we have some of the best spots to visit.

What has been your most memorable moment in your cricketing career?
When we won a massive school competition in the last year of school, I scored 100. The first league game here was a pretty cool experience too. A couple of the senior teams won which meant it was a fun day. It gave me a taste of the beauty of the club itself and how nice everyone here is.

How do you plan for your future in cricket?
I think just continuing to expose myself to different environments and putting myself out of my comfort zone.

How has playing for Tring Park Cricket Club so far influenced you today?
The conditions here are a lot different with the way it is in New Zealand. We have different pitches and balls. It’s a lot sunnier back home which makes it easier to play. The different environments here have helped with my weaknesses, with exposing them I guess. It means I know what I need to practise and that’ll help me become a better player.

What advice would you give someone just starting out playing cricket?
Be patient and don’t expect results overnight. In cricket something may not go your way, so you need to trust the process and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

Have you done any other jobs whilst being here?
Yes, I’ve been doing a lot of ground work with Doylie. It’s been such a great opportunity to work for him as I’ve always wanted to get some experience working as a groundsman. You definitely appreciate how much work has to be done. I also do some coaching with the kids which is always nice since you get to teach them new things. As well as that, I’ve been doing some landscaping work with Silverspade which has also been a good experience and has definitely advanced my skills.

What are you planning on doing in the future?
I’ll most likely get into some sort of graduate role. Though I want to leave the door open to come back here, you never know what could happen. I think the dream job would be to work in sports, probably sports management.

A huge thank you to Brogan for being a team player, not just on the pitch, but also showing his support for the club and joining me in this interview. We hope he enjoys the rest of the season here and wish him all the best in his future endeavours!