The sports coach hails from Young where he was busy with tennis and cricket coaching, but since he and his family moved to the Highlands, cricket has taken over, perhaps unsurprisingly given the region's heritage.

"I had been involved in Bradman's cricket camps for a couple of years, so was familiar with the area, and one day when we were driving home to Young from Sydney, my wife asked if I could live in Bowral," Mr McIllhatton said.

"My answer was yes."

The move was prompted by the need to be closer to universities and Sydney for his two sons: Max is in Year 11 at Oxley and Sam is at Bowral High.

While Max has followed partly in his father's footsteps and is wicketkeeper for Bowral's first grade cricket team, Sam has taken a different path and trains several nights a week at Football NSW's institute in Sydney.

"We came to the Highlands wanting to get involved," Mr McIllhatton said, in somewhat of an understatement.

In addition to offering private coaching in cricket and running Bradman's clinics and camps (he is a Level 2 coach), he also teaches sport four days a week at Frensham, and is involved with the Highlands District Cricket Association as coach of the under 14s.

Mr McIllhatton has also worked with Cricket NSW visiting schools and promoting the game for around eight years.

"I just love coaching," he said.

"All sport has similar aspects - it is about building trust and confidence.

"Once you have that, you can adapt it."

Mr McIllhatton believes that all cricket tragic teenagers should attend a Bradman Camp, even if they live just down the road.

"The camps aren't just about the ins and outs of cricket," he said.

"It is the whole experience of staying with a group of people: having full days not only refining your technique but also learning about history of the game. I notice a huge change in the kids by the end of the week.

"When we all come together for the match at the end of the camp, something special comes over everyone.

"And that's the beauty of cricket.

"If you don't understand the history of the game, and the values espoused by Bradman about attitude and sportsmanship, you can't go on."

This year sees two extra opportunities for cricket training at Bradman.

First is the introduction of September Cricket Camps to allow players to hone their skills and mindset before the start of the season, and second is the Sunday morning training sessions, held between 9.30am - 11.30am at Bradman Oval.

While Mr McIllhatton doesn't get a lot of time to relax, he says he enjoys watching Sam's soccer matches.

"I like that I don't really know what's going on, and can take a back seat and simply enjoy the game," he said.

"He needs to relax while he can, as cricket time is just around the corner."

For more information about cricket clinics and camps at Bradman visit www.bradman.com.au