Sarah Tsukigawa has seen Suzie Bates from all sides.<\/p>\n
Bates announced her impending retirement from international cricket this week and will leave an enormous gap both on and off the field<\/p>\n
Tsukigawa was an early role model for the White Ferns and Otago great.<\/p>\n
They shared the dressing room with the Sparks and also with the White Ferns.<\/p>\n
She is also a good friend. They have known each other for more than 25 years.<\/p>\n
Then, two years ago, Tsukigawa was appointed women\u2019s national selector and had to consider Bates\u2019 performances from a different angle.<\/p>\n
She is uniquely placed to reflect on the Bates\u2019 legacy.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Some people are really into stats, which is great,\u2019\u2019 Tsukigawa said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018But think her legacy is more about what she gave to the game and the way she helped younger players come through.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018For a lot of players playing with her, they grew up with her as their idol.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Sometimes people who are that good can be pretty selfish on the field, whereas she is so giving.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I think her legacy is as much about that … and I think that’s why she’s so revered.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018She brings that real joy to the game and she’s had that since she was very young as well. She would just be that energiser in the team that kind of made everyone smile.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
From a technical point of view, Tsukigawa felt the late Mike Shrimpton had a huge impact on Bate\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018When she was working with him, that aligned with her being No 1 in the world.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
But what made Bates so great as a player was her attention to detail, Tsukigawa said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018And her expectations of herself have always been so, so high.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018She’s someone who doesn’t accept mediocrity and that starts with training, type of thing. So you can’t go out and bat well if you don’t train well.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Bates was, in a sense, professional before the game was professional. And in that way, she helped pave the way for others, Tsukigawa suggested.<\/p>\n
Former Otago Sparks and White Ferns coach Warren Lees was another who influenced Bates.<\/p>\n
Lees has worn a lot of hats over the years. He has both played in and coached the New Zealand men\u2019s team. He has been an administrator, a commentator and a guy who cannot say no when the game calls.<\/p>\n
He has put a lot back into the sport and he cannot speak more highly of Bates.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I can’t think of anyone who has given so much to the game of cricket in New Zealand, men or women. I honestly can’t,\u2019\u2019 Lees said.<\/p>\n
He described her as someone who would go out of her way to help the younger players feel comfortable in the environment. That could be anything from just sitting with them at lunch to helping them out in an extra net session.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018She always wanted to say yes,\u2019\u2019 Lees said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018She was caring of every new and older and out-of-form or injured player. And there were times where some of those really experienced players leaned on her so heavily \u2014 on the strongest person in their group.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
New Zealand Cricket head of women\u2019s high performance development Liz Green said Bates\u2019 had an enormous impact on the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe women\u2019s game has been able to develop into what it is today because of players like her,\u2019\u2019 Green said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll hear a lot about her contributions on the field, but it\u2019s who she is as a player, team-mate, and role model off the field that makes her one of the all time greats, not only here in New Zealand but also internationally.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll leave the game with a profound legacy and will continue to inspire the next generation of players for years to come and that\u2019s something pretty special to hang your hat on.\u201d<\/p>\n