'I've got to progress my game instead of trying to please people'
Corey Anderson talks about coping with great expectations, playing fearless cricket, and his aspirations beyond the game
Yeah, definitely did [change my life]. I think that game in particular changed a lot of things. It put me on the map of world cricket and people were asking who I was. I guess it probably got me into the IPL. The experience of the IPL itself is unique and one that a lot of people don't get to experience. That changed the course of my career massively, but at the same time the expectations thrust upon me was one of those ones where I think people were wanting to see me doing that every time. And I felt like I was obliged to try and do it as well. It can almost be a bit more of a burden than a blessing.
Yeah, I think it does. It depends on the situation. If you can win games for your country, your association or your franchise, the feeling of respect that you gain from other players is much more rewarding than personal accolades or milestones.
I guess it's a little bit of… I haven't been given a license. It's been more trying to adapt to the situation. I have been touted as a player who likes to hit the ball hard and tries to hit boundaries. I think I can also hit cricket shots and do a job in the middle to try and steer the ship a little bit.
"I have been touted as a player who likes to hit the ball hard and tries to hit boundaries. I think I can also hit cricket shots and do a job in the middle"
Yeah, a little bit like that. I have still to make sure that I can do those things, and make sure I can have the respect and trust of the team that I can guide us through into a position of strength. I don't want to be a pigeonholed player, and [it's about] trying to adapt my game. They have always given me confidence to be able to express myself, but at the same time be able to have the freedom to assess the situation.
I think so. Once you get into one of those hit spaces where you can let go and express yourself, there is always that time that's more near the end of the innings where getting out doesn't really come into your mind. It is not a fear. You kind of want to just get as many runs as you can and as quick as possible because you know the team total is going to build up.
It's always calm on the inside as well. We have always been the type not to get too high after our wins or too low after our losses. We realise that cricket is a funny game, and good things happen and bad things happen. Brendon [McCullum] has been the main one to thrust upon us that we've just got to enjoy our cricket.
Several times you have those conversations, and I think it's more just not having that fear of failure. The thing that can get us in most trouble is the fearfulness or hoping that we do well. With someone just telling us "Hey, we have the freedom to play how we want to play", that takes the weight off your shoulders. At the end of the day, you are trying to do well for not only yourself but the team too. At the end of the day, if everyone is pushing in the same direction, then good things are going to come.
There is always that little bit [of fear] in the back of your mind, but the more you think about it, the more tense you get and the more you start failing. When you have pressure, I don't think you want to push back too hard. You have got to absorb it, take it in your stride and just enjoy those moments that you are in.
Yeah, frustrating is probably an understatement, to be fair (smiles). Injuries are part and parcel of cricket and any sport, for that matter. Yeah, it takes its toll on you. After a period of time, you have got to probably sit back and have a look and see what the things you value in life are. I guess the thing I have learnt from it all is: this is a period of my life and my career that I want to do as much as I can - play and get on the park. But at the same time, it will be a little part of my life. For cricketers as well, our lives probably don't begin until we finish cricket, so it gave me a perspective of what things are important, what things I have to prioritise as well.
"New Zealand have always been the type not to get too high after our wins or too low after our losses. We realise that cricket is a funny game"
Yes and no. Sometimes not being able to hear all that well is a bit of blessing. Probably more selective hearing than anything (smiles). It's one of those things in life that you are born with and take in your stride. Yeah, there are times when injuries come about, you sort of think, "Why do I seem to get the bad end of the deal?" But I think everyone has got their ups and downs. We don't always know what other people are feeling in life as well. Just because they look like they're happy, it may not mean they are on the inside. We've got to be sure in our judgements that we make about people, and realise what they might have been through and the upbringing they have had and things like that.
Not particularly, but you look in your own backyard, at players who have had injuries. I was lucky enough to spend some time with Shane Bond when he was around with the New Zealand cricket team, and he's obviously been bowling coach at Mumbai [Indians]. So he's always a great man to call or talk to. He's been through a lot of injuries and has come back several times and done well. So talking to him about the ups and downs of that - he's probably given me that sort of perspective, that you work hard to come back, and although you do the right things, sometimes it doesn't work in your favour. And to make sure that if your head is in the right place, something good will eventually come of it.
(laughs) Yeah, tough. To be fair, it wasn't a goal to try and lose that much weight. It kind of just kept snowballing and I got in a position where I was probably almost too light and didn't have enough power. So I had to probably equal it out over a period of time, but it was a huge help to change associations at that point of time. Obviously I have had a few injuries along the way, but I have loved my cricket since then. I loved it before that as well, but it was nice to just have a fresh start and a new outlook.
Not really. At that stage I was still thinking cricket's just a game. [I had] just come out of high school and sort of thinking, this is pretty cool. And you start thinking of all the people that, if you have to make it, you have got to pass them. It becomes pretty daunting.
I think not getting too stressed about it. Everyone has a dream as a kid to play rugby for the All Blacks or play [cricket] for the Black Caps. Those aspirations always stay strong, but as you get into certain ages, those goals slightly change. As you get older… I am still young, but friends I started playing cricket with are starting to have families and moving on past the game.
"You don't want to look too far ahead, but taking your mind off cricket completely can also help you with your cricket"
Yeah, I like art. I like design and houses and building, something along the lines of design or interior design. Architecture will be tough to do, but something along with houses or anything to do with design will probably be a nice thing to transition into.
Mum was a netballer. She is very short, so it's probably the wrong game for her to play. Dad played rugby and did athletics. Obviously both of them being lovers of sport has helped me as well. My whole family is sport-oriented and is always watching sport on TV. In some ways, [I was always] probably going to fall down that avenue.
When you have your family around, you have those memories of running around the backyard or having people around you all the time. It gives you those little bits of your childhood and you feel sort of safe. A massive part of my life is always keeping my family close. I have to live with them for the rest of my life, so obviously glad I have got a beautiful family and people who care about me. Just going out for dinner or doing the little things like catching up with people and finding out what they have been doing is always the most exciting part when you get home.
Arun Venugopal is a correspondent at ESPNcricinfo. @scarletrun