About Me
Rodney Davison
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Former NSW opening batsman and played grade cricket in Sydney and Brisbane for 21 years
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My Activity
answered
Q: Who is the one player from Sydney Grade Cricket who played between 1980 and 2000 you’d want as the first player selected if you had the opportunity to start your own NSW Premier first grade cricket team?
A: I’d start my bidding gunning for Michael Bevan, Trevor Bayliss or Greg Rowell. Failing that, there were lots of influential allrounders ideal to build a 1st Grade team around in that era (aka Trevor Chappell, Brad McNamara, Neil Maxwell, Gary Bensley, Phil Marks, Shane Lee, Scott Thompson, Gavin Robertson, and Shaun Bradstreet, etc.) The standout allrounder for me though being Greg Matthews, the ultimate competitor, player mentor and motivator.
question
Q: There’s potential in Spencer Johnson and Lance Morris for sure.
If Mitch Marsh is not going to bowl much, be possibly needs to be given more responsibility to bat higher at No. 4 with Green slotted back into No. 6 as the all-rounder.
I reckon we’ve missed a trick with not rotating the bowlers at all recently. (Boland, Neser, Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff, etc. will all be past their best when the next opportunity knocks.
Also, we could have been smarter in re-selecting Bancroft and/or Renshaw earlier, particularly in England where Warner generally struggled against Stuart Broad.
There may come a time when the current Australian players have played on too long and retire at the same time. I think we’re close to possibly becoming Dad’s Army and losing an Ashes series at home to England in 2025/26, simply because they will be younger and at their peak and/or we have a new generation of players in the team that are inexperienced.
If Mitch Marsh is not going to bowl much, be possibly needs to be given more responsibility to bat higher at No. 4 with Green slotted back into No. 6 as the all-rounder.
I reckon we’ve missed a trick with not rotating the bowlers at all recently. (Boland, Neser, Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff, etc. will all be past their best when the next opportunity knocks.
Also, we could have been smarter in re-selecting Bancroft and/or Renshaw earlier, particularly in England where Warner generally struggled against Stuart Broad.
There may come a time when the current Australian players have played on too long and retire at the same time. I think we’re close to possibly becoming Dad’s Army and losing an Ashes series at home to England in 2025/26, simply because they will be younger and at their peak and/or we have a new generation of players in the team that are inexperienced.
answered
Q: I remember a pre-season training session at Western Suburbs when I first came to Sydney and Australian cricketing great and club legend Alan Davidson spoke to the playing group about the benefits of hard work and training with purpose.
Mr. Davidson strongly emphasized the 6 Ps in cricket. Perfect Practice Prevent Piss Poor Performance.
All these years later I now know the 6Ps don’t just relate to cricket.
It’s human to want to know your role and not just in a cricket team. It’s in business, the workplace, and our personal lives. We all like to know where we fit in and the role we play.
The role of a captain in cricket is not just about what happens on the field or game day. It’s also important to know your players, what makes them tick and how you can help them feel better and more confident about the role you want them to play in the team.
A player who knows their role will tend to perform better than a player who is unsure and second-guessing their position.
Mr. Davidson strongly emphasized the 6 Ps in cricket. Perfect Practice Prevent Piss Poor Performance.
All these years later I now know the 6Ps don’t just relate to cricket.
It’s human to want to know your role and not just in a cricket team. It’s in business, the workplace, and our personal lives. We all like to know where we fit in and the role we play.
The role of a captain in cricket is not just about what happens on the field or game day. It’s also important to know your players, what makes them tick and how you can help them feel better and more confident about the role you want them to play in the team.
A player who knows their role will tend to perform better than a player who is unsure and second-guessing their position.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/32/paul-ryan/blog/1735/when-should-a-cricket-captain-share-the-batting-order-with-their-players-and-the-team
A: I can’t recall ever being offered a night watchman. Always good to know where you are batting, and to be trusted to perform the role. T20s are different. Having a adaptable batting order in short formats can make a big difference.
answered
Q: What’s your Australian Test team for the 4th Ashes test at Old Trafford.
Here’s mine
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Marsh
Green
Carey
Neser
Cummins
Starc
Murphy
Warner has been a wonderful player, but his time has come. He has been lucky that he is playing in an era where there are no Australian batsmen outside the top 6 who average 40 in first class cricket.
I would consider opening with Green as I’m conscious Justin Langer started opening in similar circumstances and other players who were pushed up the order through necessity and opportunity include David Boon, Shane Watson, Simon Katich and Usman Khawaja. I would keep Head and Marsh in the middle order.
I would hope Green doesn’t listen to his captain and coach if they tell him to bowl 6 short balls an over.
Hazelwood is unlucky but Neser’s form is irresistible.
I think Murphy is a great prospect but if he is not effective at Old Trafford I would consider drafting in Maxwell for The Oval.
What’s your team?
Here’s mine
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Marsh
Green
Carey
Neser
Cummins
Starc
Murphy
Warner has been a wonderful player, but his time has come. He has been lucky that he is playing in an era where there are no Australian batsmen outside the top 6 who average 40 in first class cricket.
I would consider opening with Green as I’m conscious Justin Langer started opening in similar circumstances and other players who were pushed up the order through necessity and opportunity include David Boon, Shane Watson, Simon Katich and Usman Khawaja. I would keep Head and Marsh in the middle order.
I would hope Green doesn’t listen to his captain and coach if they tell him to bowl 6 short balls an over.
Hazelwood is unlucky but Neser’s form is irresistible.
I think Murphy is a great prospect but if he is not effective at Old Trafford I would consider drafting in Maxwell for The Oval.
What’s your team?
A: Renshaw
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Green or Marsh
Carey
Neser
Starc
Cummins
Hazlewood
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Green or Marsh
Carey
Neser
Starc
Cummins
Hazlewood
question
Q: My best grade team - Rodney Davison 1985 to 2006
Selecting my best grade team from 21 consecutive Premier 1st Grade Cricket seasons in Sydney and Brisbane from 1985/86 to 2005/06, which included playing for 5 clubs (i.e. Sutherland, Randwick, Sydney University, Gold Coast and Beenleigh-Logan) is not as easy task.
I decided to include International and Domestic first-class players. However, to be selected, players needed to compete in more than a handful of club games with me, including performing to a high level.
Representative performances were not taken into account. Individual efforts that significantly led to my club team winning a 1st Grade premiership and/or making semi-finals were very highly regarded.
Finally, the balance of the team was considered, and followed a structure of 5 x specialist batters, 1 x allrounder, 1 x wicketkeeper, 3 x quick bowlers and 1 x spinner. A Coach has also been selected to train and manage the team.
Selecting my best grade team from 21 consecutive Premier 1st Grade Cricket seasons in Sydney and Brisbane from 1985/86 to 2005/06, which included playing for 5 clubs (i.e. Sutherland, Randwick, Sydney University, Gold Coast and Beenleigh-Logan) is not as easy task.
I decided to include International and Domestic first-class players. However, to be selected, players needed to compete in more than a handful of club games with me, including performing to a high level.
Representative performances were not taken into account. Individual efforts that significantly led to my club team winning a 1st Grade premiership and/or making semi-finals were very highly regarded.
Finally, the balance of the team was considered, and followed a structure of 5 x specialist batters, 1 x allrounder, 1 x wicketkeeper, 3 x quick bowlers and 1 x spinner. A Coach has also been selected to train and manage the team.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1027/rodney-davison/blog/1133/my-best-grade-team-rodney-davison-1985-to-2006
blog post
Player ContendersSutherland District Cricket Club - 1985/86 to 1989/90 and 1995/96 to 1996/97John Dyson, Justin Kenny, Paul Prichard, Gl ...
answered
Q: I’d love to get some feedback on the strategies batters have to help them relax between balls and then be ready to focus and concentrate for the next ball?
A: Routines. Switch in and switch off, releasing worry in mind and tension in the body. Review each ball, plan for the next ball, believe 100% in ability to execute. Minimise length of full concentration to be from point of release to playing the shot.
