Worcestershire Batting Coach-Second Eleven Coach Kevin Sharp is to play his part in helping players prepare for a career after cricket by appearing at the Professional Cricketers Association’s Transition Conference at Edgbaston as part of the PCA’s ‘Transition Week.’
The Conference, on November 8 and 9, will supplement the work the PCA’s six-strong team of Personal Development and Welfare Managers do in preparing players throughout their playing days and supporting them after they have left the county game.
Former Yorkshire batsman Sharp will discuss the successful transition he made from playing into a second career inside or outside of county cricket.
He will be joined by former Worcestershire batsman Stephen Peters, Leicestershire’s new head coach Paul Nixon and ex Hampshire and Surrey pace bowler David Balcombe.
Since 2012, the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Managers have guided 178 players into a varied range of second careers.
In that time 28% of players have moved into cricket coaching with physiotherapy, professional golf, umpiring, financial services, the oil industry, sports management and jobs with the England and Wales Cricket Board among the 33 different occupations.
In the last five years, 13 former players have entered the world of business development with former Worcestershire slow left-armer Shaaiq Choudhry setting up his own start-up business, Brothers Circle, which produces snapbacks and beanies.
While he was still playing at New Road, Choudhry started a graphic design degree and spent time working for a Worcester-based marketing agency.
He said: “I wouldn’t be where I am now without the help Lynsey Williams, who was my PDM at Worcestershire, gave me. She always gave me a nudge to give it that bit extra.
“She always backed my ideas. I had some crazy ideas along the way and some confusion about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do, but Lynsey always provided the support that I needed.”
PCA Director Of Development and Welfare, Ian Thomas, said: “The PCA Personal Development and Welfare team continue to provide opportunities and direction for players currently preparing for or going through transition.
“The aim of the two-day conference is to provide a blend of self-reflective talks, practical advice and leave players feeling motivated and with goals.
“The majority of quality work with players is done between them and their regional PDMs, but having group sessions like this can help in other ways.
“The nice aspect of this project is that we have a large amount of past players involved, who want to help other players in sharing their journeys. That in itself is highly motivating and reassuring.”
