When Wayne Madsen scored 170 not out on his Derbyshire debut against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham it was clear he would have a bright future, but who’d have thought he’d become our county’s finest batsman of the 21st century.
Having played for the club for 16 years now, Wayne truly deserves to be our Honorary Voice of Derbyshire, and he certainly feels he has been adopted by our county.
‘It’s funny how things work out in life,’ Wayne tells me. ‘One of my school teachers grew up in Derbyshire before moving to South Africa. He was my cricket and hockey coach and played a big part in my childhood.
‘Then, Phil Russell, who captained and coached Derbyshire for many years, moved to Durban so I was coached by him. So, I’ve always had connections with Derbyshire from an early age.’
With the impact Wayne has made at Derbyshire County Cricket Club since moving here in 2009, there’s no question he has been taken to the fans’ hearts, yet hockey actually played a bigger part in his early years.
Wayne’s sporting career took off as an international hockey player for South Africa. The Madsen family are famous in South Africa for their hockey prowess, so it’s no surprise it runs in the genes.
For Wayne, though, he was showing talent in both hockey and cricket and was able to juggle the two.
‘I made my First Class cricket debut two weeks after my international hockey debut for South Africa,’ reveals Wayne.
‘One of my most famous shots, the reverse sweep, is straight out of the hockey manual. So that shot has been helped by hockey and there are certain elements of the sport that have helped my cricket.
Wayne lifts the trophy as Derbyshire win the LVCC Division Two title in 2012 Photo: David Griffin ‘I haven’t played much hockey here in Derbyshire but I do still coach. I did always say when I finish cricket I will go back to veterans hockey.’
On that note, when does Wayne plan to retire? He laughs with a knowing look to say he is as surprised as anyone that he’s still going – and going strong.
‘Eight or nine years ago I was saying I probably have a couple of years left,’ he laughs. ‘I thought I would finish in my early 30s, not in my 40s!’
‘I saw a stat the other day that, in terms of my run scoring, I have averaged 55 in First Class cricket since I was 38, which is 15 more than my overall average. So, I guess my cricket keeps getting better with age.’
Let’s talk about the age debate. This is something often discussed in football, particularly. Is there a greater chance of longevity in cricket than football?
‘Yes, I think so. I think you get exposed more for your fitness in football than in cricket. Your speed in cricket is not as vital and speed is the thing that goes as you get older,’ suggests Wayne.
‘Cricket is still as physically demanding as football. I wake up some mornings and it’s a challenge to get out of bed! But that’s part of the enjoyment for the game, getting yourself up for it.’
Wayne tells me that motivation has changed throughout his career and part of his motivation now is having his children there watch to him play.
‘That really is special,’ he beams. ‘It’s probably a big part of the reason why I still play.’
Wayne remembers his oldest daughter first seeing her dad on a Panini sticker and realising was actually quite famous! But, have they taken on their dad’s love of the sport?
‘They do both play,’ says Wayne. ‘They head down to All Stars on a Friday night and I went to watch them last week in Duffield. I could just stand back and keep a little eye on what’s going on.’
Can Wayne really stand back and not shout instructions?
‘If I play with them in the garden and try to correct them and explain, it doesn’t go down very well!’ he smiles. ‘I actually enjoy just sitting back and watching them enjoying and expressing themselves.’
Wayne Madsen is clearly like a fine wine and he is signed up until the end of next season. The family plans during that time to spend more time over in South Africa so his wife, Kyla, and their children can time with their family before the girls start secondary school.
His daughters have been temporarily enrolled in schools over there, while Wayne will still be based in Derbyshire for his cricket commitments.
‘It’s going to be tough for the season being away from them all, but we are doing it for the right reasons,’ Wayne says. ‘I’m still going to be playing for Derbyshire and enjoying my cricket next season.’
And Wayne won’t just be playing for Derbyshire, he’s been brought back in as captain!
‘I really am thoroughly enjoying it, I love that added responsibility,’ he reveals. ‘Being able to stand up as captain and drive the team forward and see the early results we’ve achieved as a group has been really rewarding. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved to date.’
Back to the age debate. Surely Wayne’s vast experience helps the team?
‘Yes, I think it does. There are certain coaches in cricket that only go for experienced players, because their theory is that your experienced players often win you games,’ he says.
‘You still want the youth coming through for development reasons but experience is a big part of it. For me, as long as I’m performing and as long as my body allows me, I will keep playing.’
Bringing the conversation back to Derbyshire, does Wayne remember his first impressions of the county 16 years ago?
‘I remember the first time Kyla and I drove down to Derbyshire from Manchester and we drove through the Peak District. Seeing the beauty Derbyshire has to offer, I remember saying, “I think we could really make this place our home.”
Coming to England, it seems, was inevitable for the young boy Wayne.
‘As a kid, I remember watching and envying cricketers playing at Lord’s and wishing I could. Everyone wants to play at Lord’s, it’s the home of cricket. It hasn’t happened through playing for South Africa, but I’m blessed it did through Derbyshire.
‘I probably enjoy the traditions of the game here more than in South Africa and there’s a quirkiness to the sport. For example, playing at out grounds – you feel so much closer to the crowd. Chesterfield is such a great place to play with a wonderful atmosphere.
‘I also like the fact that you play later. In South Africa, it goes dark much earlier but here we get the long summer evenings.’
It’s important at this point to clear up Wayne Madsen’s rather intriguing international cricket situation. He is born and bred South African, has lived in England for enough years to qualify, yet he plays for… Italy.
‘My dad’s mum passed away when he was 11. We discovered his aunt and cousins had all got Italian passports. My dad suddenly thought, “why haven’t we?!”’
So, that’s how Wayne got to come to Europe and play County Cricket here and then got an opportunity to play for Italy. ‘I grabbed it with both hands and I’ve had some really good fun with it’ he adds.
Wayne plans to stay in the game when he finally retires from playing, and plans for that to be here in Derbyshire.
‘Maybe I’ll move into coaching, or perhaps a director of sport or CEO role,’ he concludes. ‘I am currently doing a Masters in leadership in sport at Loughborough University which will open some options for me when the time comes.’
So, just what does Derbyshire mean to Wayne Madsen?
‘I’ve almost spent my whole adult life here. I think the fact we have chosen for our kids to grow up here speaks a lot for how we value Derbyshire,’ Wayne tells me thoughtfully.
‘The county, the people, the environment…. it’s just a fantastic place for a family like us and it really is a special place. We’ve made such special friends within so many communities.
I think many of those Derbyshire people would say they really treasure Wayne Madsen and his contribution to our county’s cricket.
You can hear Sally Pepper’s conversation with Wayne Madsen on Sally’s Derbyshire Life-sponsored Truly Madly Derby podcast.
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