Dual representative Polly Inglis must have learned something during those family backyard cricket tests and indoor hockey games.
But if you ask, the multi-talented 19-year-old will tell you she spent most of the time fielding while her brothers, Hugo (24) and Henry (26), slugged it out for sibling supremacy at the family home in Roslyn.
''They wouldn't let me bat,'' she complained.
''I was always fielding. But yeah, nah, there were a few fights over who got to bat first.
''They were a big influence. I guess I just followed them into whatever sports they were playing.
''We even played some hockey inside even though Mum hated it because we broke a few things.''
Hugo remembers being more magnanimous about who batted first.
The Black Sticks striker has played 153 games for his country and was a very handy age-group cricketer before giving it away to concentrate on hockey.
''We had her as a fielder when she was pretty young,'' he said.
''But once she could hold a bat, we gave her a fair chance. We'd chuck her in under the lid and bowl seamers at her.
''We had a hell of a strip. It was perfect - a nice long rectangle.''
''As soon as Polly starting showing me up with all the centuries she was scoring when she was about 13 or 14, I thought I better give it up,'' he joked.
The pair have remained close. Hugo lives in Auckland and works at a bank.
Polly has also moved up and is studying commerce at the Auckland University of Technology.
The pair share a car, although Polly said she was the one who had to bus over to Hugo's place to collect it.
It is not all one-way traffic, though. Hugo bakes a roast for his sister on Sundays and the conversation inevitably turns to sport.
''We often have chats about hockey and how things are going for her and what she is working on and stuff like that,'' Hugo said.
While they live in Auckland, they still play their hockey for Southern and were in action during the weekend.
Polly also plays for the Otago Sparks and will return again this summer.
There is just something special about the culture in the South, she said.
Polly has no plans to choose between cricket and hockey unless she is put in a position where she must.
''She is doing pretty well with both and I'd hate for her to throw one away for the other,'' Hugo said.
''I just encourage her to make sure she is not taking on too much but to go for it if she is happy with the commitment.''
The Inglis are a competitive lot and when the questions turn to the results from the weekend, Hugo lets out a long sigh.
The Southern Dogs lost 2-1 to North Harbour in Dunedin on Sunday and Hugo was none too pleased about it.
''It was pretty gutting, more so than last weekend because we played really well and dominated for the better part of the game. We gave them limited opportunities but just weren't able to convert ours down the other end.''
Polly also exhaled a little when questioned about the Southern Storm's 5-1 loss to North Harbour.
''I think there is heaps we can build on and there is some positive stuff. We played a lot better against Canterbury but we'll have to see how the tournament goes.''
The National Hockey League resumes in Whangarei on Saturday with both Southern sides playing Capital.
