Meet John ‘the Duke’ Hastings: the former Aussie cricketer-turned-pilates pioneer
During his time as a professional cricketer, John Hastings earned the nickname of the Duke. Within seconds of meeting him, it is clear why.
His height and muscular build means he commands a room in a way usually reserved only for royalty. I was instantly dwarfed, and reminded that I really should investigate joining the gym opposite my flat.
However, Hastings made me feel more than welcome. We shared a sense of dismay at the public transport in south-west London, and a love for the beaches of south-west England.
He is no stranger to this country, having enjoyed stints at both Durham and Worcestershire, referring to England as a second home.
The former Aussie Test cricketer, despite his build, isn’t here to relive his cricketing glory days. He is here for something more surprising: Pilates.
“Pilates for so long has been stigmatised as a bit of a soft option for exercise, but I encourage anyone to come down and have a go. It is tough!”
He has permanently moved to London to manage the Australian fitness brand STRONG’s expansion to the UK. The company uses an innovative piece of kit, the rowformer, combined with Pilates for a high intensity, low impact workout, to the United Kingdom.
Hastings has known the owners of the company for over a decade. STRONG works on a franchise model, with the Duke buying his first studio in early 2020.
His understanding of the company and its methods, and his adoration and knowledge for the UK, meant he was the perfect person to become the managing director of the UK expansion.
“People are paying a lot for Pilates, and still going to the gym and getting their strength training, and doing their cardio.
“STRONG has tried to combine those three elements into one.”
The company owns the exclusivity rights to the rowformer, and after finding success in Australia, taking this new kind of workout worldwide was the next logical step.
“[STRONG] is such a unique concept, with literally no one else in the world doing what we do.”
My visit to STRONG’s first UK studio in Islington took place just before its grand opening a few days later. All hands were on deck to make sure everything was installed properly, with Hastings in the middle of it all.
The company aims to target anyone from around twenty years old, with members aged eighty and above taking part in Australia.
This inventive form of exercise has paid off for the Duke, as he admits himself: “All my ex-teammates see me and go, oh my God, you’re in much better shape than when you were playing.
“I know myself how good the rowformers are, as after having five shoulder reconstructions, a major knee op, and five ankle operations, I can’t do high impact exercise anymore.”
He is not the only cricketer that can see the positive effects of STRONG, with Australian fast bowlers Scott Boland and Peter Siddle having tried it out upon Hastings’ invitation.
Boland, a stalwart on the Australian domestic circuit, rose to a god-like status down under after taking six wickets for just seven runs on debut for the Aussies in the 2021 Ashes boxing day test.
“I’m claiming that’s the reason why he took six-fer down at the MCG!” Hastings joked.
Hastings had to retire from professional cricket earlier than he would have liked in 2018 due to a mystery lung condition.
“It was tough there for a good six-to-eight month period. When you leave cricket, you scrape out your locker, and that’s it, you don’t go back.
“It is hard to adjust, as you are used to training hard, going to have lunches whenever you wanted, and touring. It is a different lifestyle.”
However, an opportunity came up for Hastings at the perfect time.
“I’m glad I got the opportunity to go into business straightaway, as I don’t think I would have been able to work for anyone else other than myself!
“We went into hospitality, with a café and wine bar, and obviously now we’ve moved into STRONG.”
Hastings still holds a special place in his heart for cricket, and hopes to take to the field a few times this summer, when his work allows.
“I’ve got a strong connection with Wimbledon as I played there when I was 19 or 20, so will probably end up playing a few games there with some really good mates.”
Anyone rocking up for a game of club cricket in south-west London over the summer may be surprised to see a man who has dismissed the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers, and Eoin Morgan warming up.
It would have rude not to discuss The Ashes with the historic series a few months away. Attention quickly turns to ‘BazBall’, England’s new attacking style of cricket, which Hastings admits he admires.
“I’m not sure some of the staunch supporters that have been around for a long time at County grounds would love it, however!”
A key innovation of England’s new style has been the reinvention of the Nightwatchman, a typically defensive role. Instead, the likes of Stuart Broad are sent out if a wicket falls with just a few overs left to attack every delivery.
Though England may dispute this, it could be claimed that Bazball is just following in the footsteps of the Duke. Playing in a pink-ball County Championship match against a Durham side with England captain Ben Stokes in the line-up, Hastings was sent in at number three.
‘Go have a go,’ he was told as he hit a four and a six before being dismissed for 12 from 13 deliveries.
Perhaps Stokes was so inspired by Hastings’ promotion that day that he believed it should be included in his plans to revolutionise Test cricket.
John Hastings may be the original Nighthawk, the mastermind behind Scott Boland’s successes, or even the next biggest thing in fitness.
Whatever the truth is – he will surely continue to innovate off the field.
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