John James (right) with Australia captain Pat Cummins during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney (Instagram | John James) New Delhi: When John James talks about faith, it’s clear that he doesn’t think of it as a buzzword.For him, faith is not a motivational wallpaper or a pre-match cliché. It’s something lived, driven between coaching sessions, fueled by long car rides with his dad and supported by people who never told him his dreams were too big.
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After all, cricket didn’t start out as the center of his universe. Football yes.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Growing up in Australia, James spent a decade chasing a football, not a cricket ball. From the age of six to 16, football was his first sporting love. Cricket arrived later, almost silently, when he was around nine. Still, those formative football years molded him into an athlete.
Australian U-19 all-rounder John James (special arrangement)
“I think a lot of my athleticism comes from football,” James says. “Being able to shoot well, mixing long spells, it’s all related.That word correlates keeps coming back when he talks. Nothing in his journey seems random. Everything comes together.
Faith, before anything else
James’ base was built at home. Not with strict rules or forced ambitions, but with freedom and confidence.
Cricket can consume your life,” admits James.
John James as his family
“My parents believed in me,” he said simply. “They let me believe I could do whatever I wanted.There were no ceilings for ambition, no reminders of realism when the dreams became loud. This quiet confidence became his first competitive advantage.
John James is part of Australia’s U-19 World Cup squad
His father was a ubiquitous presence in the early years, driving him to practices, coaching meetings and games long before James had his license. School days were often shortened so that cricket could take precedence. His mother, equally influential, had a different role: emotional anchor.“When I was down after my shift, she was always there,” says James. “He cheers me up, reminds me that I can do whatever I want.Both parents are registered nurses, balancing demanding professions while shaping a sports dream. James now understands that sacrifice was not talked about, but lived.
I can be a batting all-rounder if I need to. Or a bowling alley. I’m not very picky.
John James
His younger brother Thomas, 13, plays a more subtle role. Support system of straight parts and dispersion.“He’s annoying,” laughs James. “But he means well.More importantly, Thomas offers an escape. FIFA games, flights of fancy and a reminder that cricket doesn’t have to be all consuming“Cricket can consume your life,” admits James. “Having people around you to help take your mind off”
It takes a village
James talks about the coaches with a frequency that reveals how deeply they shaped him. Of course, technique matters, but what separates the good players from the elite is the mindset.
John James considers himself a proper jack of all trades
Right now Josh Miller is leading his way. “Working with him is not just technical,” explains James. “It’s mental. Understanding the game, reading situations better than others.”The emphasis on mental clarity is intentional. At the higher levels, cricket becomes a game of decision before execution.Another significant influence was Anthony Clark, James’ former state coach.“Probably the best coach in the country,” he says without hesitation.
I am naturally aggressive. But if I overdo it, I’m out
John James
Clarke’s strength, according to James, lies in how he sees cricket. Not just play – but understand it. Observe, analyze, predict.“They teach players how to look at the game,” James says. “That cricketing smarts affected us all.Together, these influences helped shape James into a player who values awareness over blitz.
Pure universal
James believes that labels are unnecessary.
John James Plays A Great Ride (Special Arrangement)
Batting all-rounder. Bowling all-rounder. Stabilizer of medium order. Floating variant.“I’m just versatile,” he says. “My skills with the bat and the ball are pretty similar.Adaptability defines it. His role is dictated by the demands of the team, not ego.“I can be a batting all-rounder if I need to. Or a bowling all-rounder,” he explains. “I’m not too picky.
I was born in Kharagpur. My family, they are all from Kerala. So we have quite a bit of family there, but quite a bit of family everywhere. I think I was a few months old when we moved to Australia.
John James
There is something refreshingly old-school about this approach in modern cricket, where roles are increasingly specialized.James’ batting philosophy is rooted in simplicity.“Singles first,” he says.Regardless of the format – T20s, one-day cricket or the longer game – his base remains unchanged. Build, assess, then scale.“I trust my defense,” he explains. “When the time is right, I can turn defense into offense.
John James at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Instagram | John James)
Aggression, he knows, must be earned. “I’m naturally aggressive,” says James. “But if I overdo it, I’m out.”Keeping it simple, staying balanced – that’s when acceleration comes naturally to James.
Roots across continents
James’ story extends beyond the borders of Australia.Born in Kharagpur, West Bengal, he was only a few months old when his family returned to Australia. Still, India has remained an annual constant.“We try to go every year,” he says.His family roots go back to Kerala on both sides. A family spread across states, cultures and time zones, yet deeply connected.
Probably the best three days of my life
James on being part of the Australian senior team during BGT
“So I was born in Kharagpur. My family, they’re all from Kerala. So we have quite a bit of family there, but quite a bit of family everywhere. I think I was a few months old when we moved to Australia,” he says.
James BGT moment
One of James’ most vivid cricketing memories came not with a bat or a ball in hand, but with a drink.During last year, he was selected to host the drinks in the Sydney Test, this time in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
John James shares a light moment with Mitchell Starc during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney (John James | Instagram)
“Probably the best three days of my life,” he says.He closely watched how his idols moved, thought, communicated. Observing the subtleties, what they did differently, what they did the same.One moment stood out. After Mitchell Starc went over 145km/h, James approached him with water and casually remarked that he had finally let go of his arm.The old man laughed. “I’m too old for this, dude.
It makes people believe. I think that’s something I really look up to and something I want in my game.
John James on Pat Cummins
The aura it haunts
When asked which cricketer makes him pause and think it’s different, James doesn’t hesitate. “Pat Cummins.It’s not just a skill, it’s a presence.“Whenever he has the ball, something happens,” James says. “He makes people believe. I think that’s something that I really look up to and something that I want in my game, kind of.”
Australia’s Pat Cummins celebrates with teammates (AP Photo/James Elsby)
That belief, that intangible shift in team energy, is what James is trying to carry.“If I have the ball or the bat in my hand, I want the team to believe we can win,” he says. “Even in situations where it seems impossible.”It’s a high ambition. But then again, no one ever told him to dream too big.
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Keep down
Despite the milestones, James remains grounded. His game is still about the basics. His life is still about balance. Family, coaches, teammates, faith, it all blends together.“I think that’s what helped me be where I am today,” he says.Not even a single moment. Not a single performance. But a network of support, patience and perspective.And as Australian cricket looks to its future, John James isn’t clamoring for attention. It builds quietly. One after another.
