A journey of cricketing and personal development – my time with the Finland Senior Men’s Squad
The trip came about through my friendship with Finland’s Men’s National Head Coach Taku Kusano. We have known each other for around 10 years.
Finland face a t20 European World Cup qualifier in Finland this August, and they were having a national weekend where they were looking for a batting specialist to come in and work with the players.
Taku contacted me and asked if I would be interested and it went from there! I arrived on Thursday afternoon and the first session was very much about getting to know the players and observing the squad in action.
Friday through to Sunday we trained at 2 different venues, which were of high quality- cricket specific indoor nets in a huge soccer arena where we also had fielding sessions. My role throughout the 3 days was talking a lot about t20 batting, more so on the tactical side of things and what intensity is needed compared to the longer formats. There was a lot of space provided for questions and answers throughout the 3 days. I also provided a big insight into mental processes and the importance of this and how we have to train the brain as much as we do the technical side of things.
The talent on show was evident- a fine array of skilful pace bowlers and a good variety of spin options. The work ethic throughout the camp was outstanding, and from the first session to the last it was clear the players were very eager to learn and put into practice what was discussed in meetings.
It was great to be in a different environment and challenge myself to create relationships in a short space of time where trust is built, especially in the coaching space. I feel the trip was a great success for all parties involved. The head coach has developed a great camaraderie within the camp. Taku has a great way of creating a real positive environment and his support staff all follow suit. It was a real pleasure to be a part of such an environment.
I would like to thank Joe Moynihan, General manager of the MCU for allowing this professional development opportunity and also the General manager of Finnish cricket Andrew Armitage, whom I have also known for a very long time,for making me feel really comfortable and also making the trip possible. Andrew is doing an amazing job with Finnish cricket especially considering the lack of finances.
Going forward I definitely believe there is a good space for this relationship to continue and I am working hard at also creating a space where Finland cricket and Munster Cricket can become good allies on and off the pitch.
Jeremy Bray, Munster Cricket Pathway Manager
Since being granted the privilege of hosting the ICC men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifiers, Cricket Finland has strived to maximise its meagre resources to focus on supporting the Finnish Bears squad preparation in every way possible. As a part of the detailed plans review dating back to the autumn of 2025, the opportunity arose to work with Jeremy, which we immediately wanted to lock down. The recent extended weekend in Finland working with Jeremy certainly did not disappoint! Both the squad players and the dedicated volunteer support staff all massively appreciated Jeremy’s contributions and detailed input, and all felt the benefit of his experience in tweaking technical as well as mental approach to the journey ahead and the Qualifiers themselves. Thanks to Joe Moynihan for the vision to accept this initial development initiative proposal, which based on the experiences of this first visit, I can see developing into a mutually beneficial partnership in support of the passionate drive for cricket development and growth across Finland and Munster alike.
Andrew Armitage, Cricket Finland Executive Director
It is a pleasure to see the immediate fruits of this collaboration. We’ve always believed that the growth of cricket relies on a spirit of partnership, and seeing Jeremy’s experience resonate so strongly with the players and volunteers in Finland is incredibly rewarding. Cricket Finland’s commitment to maximizing their resources is something we deeply respect at Munster. We are delighted to support their journey toward the Qualifiers and look forward to building on this foundation to create lasting pathways and opportunities for players and coaches alike in both Finland and Munster.
Joseph Moynihan, CEO Munster Cricket
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to experience a coaching display that clearly inspired the Finnish Bears squad as well as the in-house management team. In a short time, it was evident how much potential growth could be unlocked through high quality coaching. Jeremy’s vision and his ability to communicate with individuals with great clarity has given our squad a lot to work on but also the capacity to develop and achieve significant improvement. We hope to continue our relationship with Jeremy and Munster cricket in every way possible.
Troy Faithfull, Finnish Bears assistant coach
What Jeremy did in three days is genuinely hard to put into words. He removed the noise from our game and replaced it with clarity and intent. Every ball now has purpose. We attack without fear, play for each other, and trust simple decisions under pressure. Many of our players genuinely feel like different cricketers already.
During his stay in Finland Jeremy simplified the game for us in a way that changed everything. Clear intent, ruthless on bad balls, smart on good ones, suddenly T20 cricket feels straightforward. The impact is real: players feel transformed, more confident, and more decisive. His input on leadership and staying locked in regardless of the situation was just as powerful. For me as a captain, his clarity around focus and composure will stay long beyond this camp.
