That's how easy baseball was for me. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I had the knowledge before I became a professional baseball player to do all these things and know what each guy would hit.
Some of the longest home runs I've hit, I didn't actually realize they were going that far. Everyone says, 'What does it feel like to hit the ball that far?' Actually, there's no feeling at all. I know when the ball meets the bat whether or not it's left the park. It's a nice easy thing.
So you're dealing with a coach, and you're dealing with a guy who's actually experienced NBA basketball from a player's perspective and actually goes about it that way.
If I haven't played with a player before and I don't know anything about them, the more they tell me about themselves, the better I will be able to judge how they think and how they play.
I too was a player for many years, I realise there are moments when we all see things differently and cannot judge how someone else thinks.
Most people think footballers are thick. Some might be, academically, but they can see the game, strategically, tactically, in every way.
I actually spoke to all the national team players who play in the Premier League, asking about what the league is like and the style of play. It's one thing watching it on the TV, but being involved in it every day is another thing.
They do a heck of a job with the PGA professionals around the country and taking care of the clubs and country clubs and everything else, but when it comes to understanding the guys out here on Tour and everything else, I don't think they get it because they're not out here on a regular basis.
My idea is to know every player and to know, also, the personality of the players.
I respect Test cricket a lot. Once I got into the Test team, I learnt so much about international cricket and realised it's not so different.
When I play against a winger, because I'm a winger myself, I understand what they are going to do before they try and go past me, so it makes it a lot easier for me.
Whenever I play, red ball or white ball, I utilise whatever knowledge I have of the game.
Busquets reads everything. Players like Busquets or Xabi Alonso in midfield have the capacity to read the whole game.
I now have a better understanding of my game than what it was in 2013 in my first year in Test cricket.
It is good, it is better to be voted by the players - they know everything about football.
After a certain point I know my players so well, I can anticipate their reactions.
To get a former player that has been there and has that extra intel. Jose Higueras is a great coach for that and a great person as well.
I know how Mesut Ozil takes penalties.
