News

In this edition, we’re featuring Ben Lillis, a dedicated teacher in the Cricket Australia Sports Development Program at SEDA College WA and assistant coach at Melville Cricket Club. With a passion for coaching that began at a young age and a wealth of experience both on and off the cricket field, Ben brings unique insights and inspiration to his students every day. Let’s dive into his journey and see what drives him in both teaching and cricket coaching.

How long have you been with SEDA, and in what role?

2nd year in the Cricket Australia class.

What has been your most memorable experience or day at SEDA?

SEDA Cup 2023 in Adelaide was a great experience from a sporting competition perspective, but the work done by all staff on tour to get 130 students’ home (via three capital cities) after our flights were cancelled twelve hours before departure was truly memorable.

What do you think makes SEDA unique?

Opportunities for the students to be hands-on and learn outside the classroom in real-world settings accelerate development. The partnerships with the sporting partners give great engagement and unique opportunities that most teenagers would never get.

What inspired you to pursue teaching/your current role?

I started my own coaching business at 17 and enjoyed working with young people which inspired me to follow a teaching pathway.

Can you share your journey in cricket? What were some of the highlights of your playing career?

My journey was mainly at Melville Cricket Club where I started in the U13’s and ended up playing 170 1^st grade games. I was lucky to represent WA at U19 and 2nd XI level and played in the Southern Premier League in England for Burridge CC.

My playing highlights were back-to-back premierships for Melville CC and narrowly missing a third. We also won the One Day Cup and T20 WA Cricket competitions multiple times.

My favourite cricket highlight has been as an inaugural shareholder in the European Cricket Network. A friend and teammate is the founder and has grown the game from eight competing countries in 2018 and expanded it to thirty-four. The growth of the game in Europe has been massive and great to be a part of.

You’re the current assistant coach at Melville Cricket Club – Tell us a bit about that and how that eventuated?

Working with a former premiership teammate and friend Shawn Gillies, who has embarked on his coaching journey was too good an opportunity to pass up. Melville CC is in a transition phase but has a great buy-in from a young playing group. Numbers at preseason have been huge so it is a great environment to be involved in.

What lessons from your cricket career do you apply in your teaching and coaching at the College or in your current coaching role?

Always be prepared to fail. If you have a crack at something and it doesn’t go your way, reflect, and work out a way to improve.

You’ve been involved in coaching for a while now. What drives you in this role, especially when coaching cricket?

Helping people to improve is fun and fulfilling, especially in sport. I was lucky to have coaches and teammates that played internationally and domestically so I have learned from some of the best and I enjoy passing on that knowledge.

Outside of teaching and cricket, how do you spend your free time?

Enjoy surfing, playing golf, and running. My kids play multiple sports so my hobbies have taken a back seat!

What was your first job, and how did it go?

Chicken Treat in Leeming as a 15-year-old. I gave two years of service and managed to buy my first car. It was a great way to enter the workforce.

What’s the most unusual excuse a student has given for not completing their homework?

“I left it on the plane” ….. must have been a mystery flight?

What advice do you wish all your students would take to heart?

Be curious, grow your network, and don’t wait for the red carpet to be rolled out.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Cure sea sickness.

Who is your role model and why?

My parents. Worked hard, sacrificed, retired early, and never complained.