Allowing people the freedom to be themselves, while enabling them to feel they belong is a priority for Robbie O’Donnell, on and off the field. The Auckland Aces captain and 2021/22 Auckland Cricket Association Cricketer of the Year has grown ever more conscious of creating a culture that works for the collective and enables individuals to shine, since his Covid-era crossover from cricket into business. The prolific run scorer is hoping to bring this ‘real world’ knowledge to the field and trophies to Auckland Cricket’s cabinet this season.
Born in Kimberley, South Africa, Robert O’Donnell and his brother, William, were rarely far from a cricket field in their early years. Their dad Mark, a West Coast Kiwi, was a cricket coach based at the revered ‘Bullring’ Wanderers Stadium test ground after meeting his wife-to-be Riana, whilst touring South Africa as a player and coach.
Robbie says, “We found ourselves in some pretty fortunate positions as kids; getting to hang around the changing rooms, driving the drink cart around the outfield, hitting balls around and meeting some of the top players, all while getting to spend time with Dad.”
When Mark got a job as Head Coach at Auckland Cricket in 2000, Robbie was seven years old and his brother Will, four. The family moved to Browns Bay then Torbay, the boys going to Murrays Bay Primary and Intermediate, before Westlake Boys, where both shone in the school’s 1st XI.
The family made Takapuna District Cricket Club their local. Robbie says the club has been an important part of their lives, beyond cricket.
“Takapuna Cricket Club, and Takapuna in general, has a big community of people that all get behind each other. The club welcomes everyone from all walks of life and some of my best mates play there. There’s a real community. Some of the older, former players play golf together now. I think that’s great.”
Five of the current Auckland Aces contracted players are TDCC players, Robbie is pleased to report. “That’s a pretty impressive testament to the club.”
Moving through the premier side at Takapuna into the Auckland Aces, Robbie has established himself as one of Auckland’s most accomplished batsmen. Last season he achieved career-best figures across all formats and led the Auckland Aces to victory in the Plunket Shield, personally scoring 539 runs across the competition, including two centuries.
In September, the top order right-hander stepped up to international honours, representing New Zealand A on a tour of India and co-captaining the side.
“That was an unbelievable experience,” he beams. “Usually, pre-season, we’d be in the nets here in Auckland, but there we were in Chennai and Bangalore. It was unreal. It felt so good to get back on the park after winter, especially in these amazing places.”
Successful cricketing careers are hard earned over many years but, on top of the recent India tour, there are several standout moments along the way. Many of Robbie’s are of shared success.
“I was batting with Will when he scored his first-class 100 in the Plunket Shield. Being that out in the middle for that was pretty special,” he smiles. “And I’d scored a century the day before. Another highlight was being captain on Will’s Auckland debut. Before the game, Dad presented us with our caps. That was quite a moment for us all.”
Siblings navigating sport side-by-side has been less the cause of friction, more a fuel for their fires, Robbie feels. “We’re both super competitive,” he says. “That can make for diamonds or razor blades!
“We’ve definitely helped each other and challenged one another to get better along the way. Every time one of us succeeds, it’s a time for us to celebrate that as a family. That success then pushes us to improve as individuals and challenges us to rise to the next level.
“We hold each other to very high standards and I think that’s one of the reasons we do what we do.”
What else Robbie also does now is work in recruitment. He joined Infinitas during the upheavals of Covid lockdowns, putting to use the business degree he gained through part-time study with Massey University over a period of six years.
“It’s all a bit more ‘real world’, that’s for sure! Catching a bus to work and being in an office is totally different to driving to training at Eden Park,” he says.
“For me, the ‘real world’ has been living and breathing cricket for years. And while I want to continue doing that as long as I can, a playing career usually only lasts until your mid-to-late 30s, maybe 40. I felt it was important for me to have some other ‘real-world’ experience behind me.”
In the office, as on the field, Robbie likes to foster an enjoyable and supportive team culture. “Whether it’s bringing apples into the office, to encourage everyone to do a healthy eating day or heading out with the team for a Friday after-work drink, I think it’s important to bring people together. It’s important to celebrate people’s success and the success of the team.
“All the time I’ve spent in sport has put me in a pretty good space to embrace that team culture in business. I want to help others as much as possible, but also learn as much as I can too.”
Robbie and his partner of six years, Lucy, bought their first home in 2020. Choosing to stay on the Shore, the pair are enjoying living in Glenfield with their 40kg+ rescue dog, Barney.
“Yep, we’ve got our own house and a dog now,” he smiles. “So, we’ve managed to tick off a couple life goals for sure.”
Focus now turns to the field for Robbie, who leads Auckland Aces into a Plunket Shield pairing with Otago Volts in mid-October. Embarking on his preferred longer format of the game is the ideal start to the summer for Auckland’s reigning Cricketer of the Year.
“The excitement’s building,” he says, every inch of his face echoing his words. “Physically and mentally, I’m ready. Everything is fitting into place. I’m super pumped!”
With one eye on the season’s silverware, Robbie is also mindful of adopting the perspective of a wider lens. “We’re chomping at the bit to get out there and chase down a couple more trophies this season. The biggest thing is to try to put ourselves in scenarios where we can keep winning games.
“But you don’t want to be purely results orientated, though, because in doing that, you can really find yourself riding that harsh rollercoaster of sport and that can set you up to fail.”
In a rare show of personal ambition, Robbie admits to what he sees as the pinnacle of pleasure in the sport. Singling out Black Caps batsmen Devon Conway and Kane Williamson as his dream batting partners, besides his brother, he (low-key) mentions. “I would love to be able to pull on a black jersey. It’s got to be the most fun there is to be had in cricket, I reckon, playing for your country.”
Pulling the lens back to the present, he points at what’s most pressing ahead of the Aces’ season opener. “Cricket is a team sport. And that means it’s important to understand the people who are in your team.
“As a captain, it’s important to challenge people and push people, but also provide a place where they can feel safe and can play and be themselves. When they’re in that space, they’ll perform at their best and they’ll challenge each other to keep improving.”
Just like with brothers and business colleagues, then. Batters and bowlers have their specific roles to play but, key for Robbie is that they all ultimately share responsibility for enriching their team.
