Brendon Bracewell was a cricketing tearway, a bit of a rebel.
In an injury-punctuated career, he ruffled feathers off the field and batsmen's confidence on it.
These days those energies are channelled in other directions including, his latest project - the Bracewell Cricket Lodge - "a champion environment to producechampion people," says the brochure's blurb.
And on the wall of the 28-bed hostel - "attitude occupies space - please ensure you leave your negatives at the gate."
A far cry from the Bracewell of old, but a determination to aim his abilities in the right direction.
Among the early visitors to his 1.5 acre property just north of Tauranga and set among the kiwifruit vines and other orchards were New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig and Kiwi coach Steve Rixon, who liked what they saw.
With three artificial wickets (one covered and housing a bowling machine), a video camera for accurate evaluation, a slip machine and fielding grids, it is a complete cricketing facility.
"My next project is to cover the remaining wickets," said 39-year-old Bracewell, who returned to Tauranga almost 10 years ago.
For the past four years he has run his company, Contact Suits, encouraging rugby players around the world - from the All Blacks down - to use his full contact tackle suit as a full-on supplement to their training.
"We moved here on September 1 and opened the lodge a month later. It is ideal for us to have a perfect facility in our backyard," said Bracewell, who lives on the property with wife, Nikki, and their four children.
Already a level-two coach and awaiting the results of his level three test, Bracewell said: "It's full-time and full-on. It is all about creating awareness in a complete cricketing environment."
Teams from Auckland and further afield have already used the lodge, either with their own coaches or by calling on Bracewell.
Costs are from $15 to $40 a day all up, including Bracewell's services (and staying in the J.R. Reid Cottage), and Bracewell sees it as an ideal base for winter or pre-season training.
Toss in the canoeing and refreshing river swimming hole and it is, he says, an ideal base. Those early visitors, and those who have already made it their permanent base, will not disagree.
