Jamie Siddons says Justin Langer and mind coach Ben Crowe were central to his return as Redbacks coach
An international mind coach to the stars and Justin Langer have emerged as the key supports that helped return Jamie Siddons as Redbacks coach.
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Jamie Siddons has revealed the mind master behind Ash Barty’s rise to world tennis number one and Australia boss Justin Langer were instrumental in his return as South Australian coach.
Unrelenting pain from cricket related injuries then loss of his father forced Siddons to step down from duties last November.
“The last few months have been a really good break for me,” he said.
“I stopped within two weeks of the season finishing, needed a break, a refresh.
“I missed out on that at the end of last season with my father dying and a few other little issues.
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“I needed to get away, the team was suffering and I wasn’t doing my job as well as I needed to do.”
Siddons knew he was right to continue a five-year coaching reign when his thirst to lead became impossible to ignore.
“I know how much I missed being around the boys and leading them and the coaching group and competitive nature of the game,” he said.
The Redbacks sit fourth entering Friday’s clash with Western Australia in Adelaide but Siddons men could stage a dramatic resurgence.
Mindset mentor Ben Crowe’s words of wisdom are credited with engineering the success for Australia’s Test side, Barty, surf champion Steph Gilmore and AFL premier Richmond.
“Ben Crowe was one guy who I had a good chat to and puts life back in perspective and put me back on the right track,” Siddons said.
“I have had some great people that I have talked with over the past 10 weeks, I will still lean on them, family.”
Langer welcomed Siddons into the national team set-up during the Adelaide day-night Test against Pakistan last November/December in Adelaide.
Having guided Australia from the low of Sandpaper-gate, Langer proved a bastion of strength for Siddons who also praised the efforts of assistant coaches Greg Blewett and Luke Butterworth.
“Just to get a bit more knowledge around coaching I went to the team meeting and coaching staff meeting,” Siddons said.
“I went to their top up session before the second Test. JL is someone I spoke to quite a lot over this period. He has been through some up and downs in his career and as coach coming back in.”
“Bluey and Butts have been fantastic and we are still working as a great team.”
Eight points behind second placed Queensland and seven behind WA, Siddons dual-edged mission to make a third Shield final as coach and avoid a third wooden will be boosted by a strategic win.
“It is a two game swing if we can knock them over,” Siddons said.
Siddons will miss keeper-batsman Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson on Australian limited overs duty in South Africa but finally has five speedsters ‘fit and raring to go’ on what appears a spicy track.
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Wes Agar, Daniel Worrall, Chadd Sayers, Joe Mennie and Dukes ball dynamo Nick Winter will compete to take on a Warriors line-up line-up denied Australian quartet Mitch Marsh, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson and D’Arcy Short.