Madsen goes full circle

Star Derbyshire batsman Wayne Madsen is taking steps to return to a career in coaching – the same profession that kickstarted his long career in professional sport.

Madsen, 35, may yet have years left as a lynchpin of the Derbyshire middle order. The South African enjoyed a prolific 2019 summer, particularly in the Vitality Blast, where he scored 464 runs at 46.4 in taking his side to the semi-finals.

However, Madsen is refusing to rest on his laurels and has been proactive in preparing for a career after professional cricket. A long-held passion for coaching has made choosing a path a relatively simple process, although he explains that he could yet be open to other opportunities.

“For me, it’s a love of coaching. I had a coaching business when I was younger and that’s how I made my money to fund my degree and to fund playing hockey before I got into playing cricket,” Madsen explains.

“Watching people develop, not just at an elite level but kids as well, that’s why I’ve gone down the coaching route.

“My plan at the moment is to move into coaching when I finish playing. I’ve already done all my ECB badges up to level four. There’s still other things to do from an experience point of view like psychology courses that will certainly help my CV when I am looking for a job.

“But you never know, there may be something else out there that sparks an idea or an interest in me that I am really looking forward to developing.”

Madsen was recently able to broaden his career horizons as an attendee at the PCA’s 2019 Futures Conference. The two-day event, held from 6-7th November at St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, gives PCA members the opportunity to explore their career options via a series of workshops with – and lectures from – experts in personal development.

“Past players who have already made the transition out of the sport and are developing careers outside of the game are certainly the reason why I was in attendance (at the conference).

“Being able to make the adjustment mentally is crucial. As a player, that’s why organisations like the PCA are so important in giving us cricketers the understanding of what it’s like to transition out of the game from a mental point of view.

“That’s why the Futures Conference was such an exciting thing for me to be a part of.”

Find out more about the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme.