Nick Christides - get on with the game and share a beer afterwards
Delacombe Park Cricket Club | June 26, 2023
Nick Christides is a club legend and Life Member at Delacombe Park Cricket Club.
In a highly decorated career in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association Nick has played over 390 first XI games, represented the Peninsula at Victorian Country Cricket League championship on 7 occasions and has won multiple premierships.
He has an award named in his honour at the club and was named captain of the DPCC 50 year team.
Nick performances for the club over many years has seen him selected in no less than 4 teams of the decades.
Let’s find out more about Nick’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1973
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Played a couple seasons in the seniors before being selected in the firsts at the age of 14. Just played at the one club Delacombe Park. Played around 390 1st XI games and won 2 x 1st XI. Won a Wally Wedgewood medal, 11 x club champion, 6 x best and fairest. Played 7 years Country Week with 4 or 5 flags can’t recall exactly as the Friday nights were a blur. Robert Bedford medal for best Country Week player, captained Under 21 MPCA took 8/66 and 5/73 one week then the made 120 the next. Named captain of our first 50 year team, 4 x team of the decade, the junior best and fairest medal is named in my honour. Represented the VCCL under 23’s. Life Member at Delacombe and was recently elevated to Legend status of the club.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
6th grade when I was 11
What was the highest grade you played and can you remember what you were feeling when you were selected and how did you perform on debut?
Representing the MPCA in Country Week, pretty sure I had more drinks than I made runs
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Aggressive batsmen who thought defending was hitting the ball along the ground for a boundary, played with passion and loved a drink after the game (and the night prior on most occasions)
What were your strengths as a player?
Loved watching opposition captains try to set a field as I always tried to hit the ball wherever the fielder was moved from. Loved hitting sixes over cover and especially first ball
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
162 against Balnarring after making 152 against them the year prior. They didn’t like me much.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
6 for 30 odd for Delacombe Park
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Mark Fulton at Baxter, had some serious pace when he was younger
Calvin Williams, played rep cricket for Albury Border and was just an imposing figure
Scotty Phillips from Long Island was just always on to you quicker than you thought. Had some great battles
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Greg Lamb - Long Island. Always consistent and bowled with heaps of bounce
Kevin Prendegast –YCW. Great man always tried getting in your head
Tim Birch - Pearcedale and Hastings. Had a heap of subtle changes in his deliveries which kept you honest
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Robert Bedford, just a super star who could knuckle down when up against it or could just explode and dispatch bowlers all over the place
Keith Burdett, great bat who just got on with it from the get go. The bigger the game the better he played
Gareth Wyatt and Shane Beggs, just great competitors who just got better each year
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Danny Weare made 194 against us and it could have been a lot more but thanks to Tim Harper who absolutely barbequed him by running him out.
Rob Bedford in the Country Week final at The Albert. We were 4 for 20 odd and pretty sure he was recently not selected in the Vic Country team and I just remember him sending a little message to one of the selectors who was at the ground when he brought up his ton. Again he led from the front and he was never one you’d sledge as he’d only make you look silly.
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Paul Hartle was always one I had great battles with and never really liked him much until we played representative cricket together. Great bloke who could always be relied upon.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
A country week game at Prahran against Albury Border. The pitch was a green top and remember batting with David Webster and we both got over 50 but came off the ground bruised from thigh to arm pit. It was as scary as I can remember facing the West Indian Calvin Williams, he even threw in a beam ball at me…
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Peter Bedford and Brad Glenn both had great skill and loved being a team mate of theirs.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Rob Bedford without a doubt and then you could throw a blanket over plenty of guys. Chris Brittain, Craig Symons, Scott Phillips, John Hille just to name a few.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Probably Rob Bedford again, played as hard as anyone on the field leading from the front and winning just followed him everywhere.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Ricky Ramsdale… so glad we spent some time together at Delacombe, some of the crap that came out of his mouth you’d think he was up all night rehearsing. Prior to that I hated his guts, I just thought he was a loud mouth that had no respect. I was wrong he just played to win but honestly had respect for every opponent he faced.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Can’t recall who we were playing but one afternoon at Delacombe there was a young upstart drinking cruisers on the boundary. He and his mate were there for quite a few overs until the alcohol built up his courage. He proceeded to venture on to the ground with shirt off yelling “I am Sparta”. I had a few choice words delivered to him but he didn’t budge so I thought I’d run at him, he took off so I tried an ankle tap but missed and pissed me off so I went harder it took 20-30 metres but I caught him, I tackled him and drove him into the ground as hard as I could. As he was walking off with his mate he said, “shit, I didn’t think he’d be that quick”. Still laugh about it now…
Who was your childhood hero?
Viv Richards
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Viv Richards, Tiger Woods and Shane Warne
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Michael Holding
What was your favourite ground to play at?
MCG
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Second innings of my first Grand Final. We only needed 96 to win but started off losing 3 wickets without scoring. I was out in the middle when our captain Mark Brady came out to join me. He just wanted me to play it safe and hang around as we just had to survive the remaining overs to win. I basically just ignored him and swung from my arse. I made 87 not out, all I thought was the sooner this is done the sooner we get on it! Never seen so many people in our club rooms to celebrate.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The second flag, I was captain and we played Somerville. It was a fierce battle and we ended up tied after the first innings. We won outright and was probably my proudest moment in cricket
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Anyone would be welcome as long as JL was there singing
What are your hobbies?
Cricket, Footy and Golf. Had a 68 off the stick pre covid so look forward to trying to achieve it again
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Probably keep your head down from Mal Rowe, unfortunately I never listened to him because I thought I wouldn’t hit many sixes
What’s your occupation?
Operations Manager for Dexion Victoria and National Make Good Solutions
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Encourage the kids to get involved any way possible. Enforce staying back at the opposition club for a beer… you never know where that could lead!
