In the world of cricket, where talent meets determination, Xara Jetly’s story stands out as an inspiring journey of passion, resilience, and unyielding support from her family. From her early childhood days to becoming the World No. 1 Player for Indoor Cricket, Xara’s path has been nothing short of extraordinary.
After having Xara as a guest on the Cricket Library Podcast, we reached out to her mother Andrea and she has been kind enough to give us some deeper insights into Xara’s progression as a player and a person.
Let’s find out what she had to say!
The Early Days: A Love for the Ball
Contrary to popular belief, Xara’s first word was not “cricket.” It was “ball.” Her mother fondly recalls, “She loved playing with any ball she saw. She had an excellent kick on her. I remember being at a park with her when she was about 2.5 years old, and she just loved kicking the ball up into the air as high as she could and chasing it down to catch it. At Kindy, she was always outside, kicking a ball into a goal or chasing a ball down with a hockey stick. The teachers told me that she had fantastic hand-eye coordination. I had a feeling then that she would be great in sports.”
A Family Affair: Growing Up Around Cricket
Cricket was a familiar presence in Xara’s family, albeit from the sidelines for Andrea. “Unfortunately, I was raised in an era when cricket was recognised as a boy’s sport. I was brought up with three brothers who were good cricket players. They were in the first XI team at college and played at the club level. My dad loved playing cricket and was known to be a great player. He was fully involved with his local cricket club until his late 40s. I remember always going to the clubrooms and watching him play. The closest I got to playing cricket was in the backyard with my brothers and the neighbourhood kids. My mum mentioned that her grandfather may have played at Lord’s Cricket Ground, but we can’t find any information to back this up.”
Despite not playing formally, her mother’s experiences and observations provided a foundational understanding of the game, which would later help Xara in her cricket journey.
Supporting Xara: Navigating Highs and Lows
The journey of an athlete is fraught with highs and lows, and Xara was no exception. Andrea explains how she supported Xara through these phases, “Giving positive feedback and celebrating small successes is important regardless of the overall match outcome. (She made a lot of money from us by celebrating her small achievements.) I feel this helped build her confidence.”
“Every great player has lows at some point in their career. Xara was always hard on herself (and still is). If Xara felt a little down about her game, we would ask her what she could have done better and focus on what she did well. Xara was always good at taking notes and writing about her games in her journal, and she would reflect on them. Xara also has great mentors and role models around her. Her uncles always gave her feedback on her games, and they were honest with the feedback. I think this made Xara want to be a better player and make them/us proud.”
Milestones and Satisfying Moments
One of the most satisfying moments for Andrea was when Xara captained the Johnsonville Premium Girls Cricket team at the age of 15. “Xara led by example by demonstrating great leadership. Her actions on and off the field set the standard for her teammates. It was great to see that she had a fantastic cricket mind. She devised plans, including setting the field placements, making batting and bowling orders, and adapting strategies based on the match situation and the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. She could read the players. She was a great communicator, and all the girls respected her. It was truly amazing to see a 15-year-old girl being able to do that role so well. I knew then that she would go far with this sport. That season, her team won the Premium Girls grade.”
The pinnacle of her pride came when Xara was announced as the World No. 1 Player for Indoor Cricket. “She became Player of the World and captained the NZ team’s U22s to victory by winning the World Cup for U22s. She also made history by being the first to captain the side to victory. This was satisfying because Xara was not selected a few years prior for this team, and it was so devastating to see how heartbroken she was by not being selected. I watched Xara become more hungry and determined to be chosen next time. She indeed showed the selectors that she was an international player.”
Stories of Determination
Xara’s determination has always been a defining trait. Andrea shares a few stories from her childhood that highlight this quality:
“At her school, in her class, they had a juggling competition. Xara couldn’t juggle and noticed that a kid in her class was pretty good. The teacher set a target that they would have a competition on who could juggle the longest at the end of the week. Xara practiced every day after school until she went to bed, and because she was determined to be the best, she beat that boy on competition day.”
“Another time, these girls could do back flips and handsprings and walk on their hands across the field. Because they had that talent, they got a particular part in the school play. Xara was unhappy about this, so she learned these skills. I remember her every night trying to walk on her hands across our lounge floor and practicing back flips. It was so cool to watch her progress. She became great at these skills, and the girls at school were amazed at how fast she learned them.”
“At her school, they have a swimming competition every year. Xara was a good swimmer but didn’t attend swimming classes; she was naturally talented. At these swimming competitions, you can tell what swimmers attend swimming lessons every week, and Xara was not one of them. Well, at this primary school, they have a Year 8 prize giving, and one of the cups was Best Female Swimmer… and guess what, yep! Xara was determined to win that cup. In Year 7 she made me sign her up for swimming lessons. She excelled in these lessons; she went up a grade every term and ended up in a swimming squad. And you guessed it; she won the swimming, netball, basketball, and athletic all-rounder cups.”
Insights and Advice for Other Parents
Andrea has valuable advice for other parents, “Just let your kids enjoy the game. Be there to watch them as often as you can. That’s one thing that Xara said to me. She loved us watching her. Smile and be happy for them no matter the outcome of the game. It’s really important to be interested in what they’re trying to achieve. We always asked Xara, ‘Right!! Xara, what are your two goals for the game today?’ If she achieved her goals, we would celebrate her small achievements.”
Reflecting on her journey as a cricket mum, she shares, “I have learned some insights and lessons about myself. That I’m just as competitive as Xara!!! Hahaha. Seriously! I built patience and resilience. Navigating the ups and downs of a child’s sporting career requires immense patience and resilience. Understanding that progress can be slow and setbacks are part of the journey helps one stay supportive and optimistic.”
“I had to be very supportive. I recognised the importance of being a steady source of encouragement rather than focusing solely on performance outcomes, reinforcing the value of unconditional support and love.”
“My favorite part of my journey was experiencing the pride and joy of watching Xara grow, learn, and achieve in her cricket journey. It brought a profound sense of fulfillment and happiness to my soul.”
The Most Important Quality: Unconditional Support
In conclusion, Xara’s mother emphasises the most important quality for a parent supporting their child in sports: unconditional support. “This involves several key aspects: encouragement and positivity, patience, empathy, and understanding, being a positive role model, being actively involved, listening to their needs and concerns, and providing constructive feedback to help address any issues and support their growth. By embodying these aspects of unconditional support, a parent can significantly enhance their child’s sporting experience, contributing to their development as an athlete and an individual.”
Xara’s journey from a ball-loving toddler to a first class cricketer is a testament to her determination, hard work, and the unwavering support of her family. Her story serves as an inspiration to young athletes and their parents, highlighting the importance of passion, resilience, and unconditional support in achieving greatness.
Make sure you are following Xara on Instagram to be inspired by her genuine passion for the game and her relentless pursuit of being the best she can be.
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