Jackson Fry - loves to compete

Carrum Cricket Club | June 27, 2023

Jackson Fry played all his junior cricket and early senior cricket with Carrum Cricket Club.

He represented Mornington Peninsula Cricket Australia in Victorian Country Cricket league in 2014 before taking up the challenge of playing Victoria Premier Cricket.

In 2015 Jackson joined Casey South Melbourne Cricket Club and at the completion of the 2022/23 Jackson has played 107 first grade games and taken 115 wickets at an average of 28.96.

Let’s find out more about Jackson’s journey in the game.

What year you were born?

1994

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

Was in the Under 12s at Carrum in 2003/04 against Seaford Tigers, we won and I made 6, took a slips catch and 2 wickets.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I started playing juniors at my local club Carrum in 2003 and played there up until 2015. Was lucky enough to represent the VCCL in 2014 and played in a country week premiership for the MPCA.

After four seasons of first XI at Carrum I made the move to Casey South Melbourne for the 2015/2016 season, I was very keen on playing premier cricket and still at the Swans now.

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?

I debuted in the Carrum 5th XI in 2007/08.

Great fun and learnt a lot playing in the lower grades.

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?

Premier 1st XI at Casey South Melbourne, I was very nervous before my first game, took 3 wickets but unfortunately we lost!

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

Pride myself on bowling good areas and competing for long periods, more than happy to bowl into the breeze and a battling tailender!

What were your strengths as a player?

My ability to compete for longer periods and a hate of losing.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Made 100 not out in a midweek game in the UK.

29 not out in the 1st XI for Carrum in which I shared a 110 run 10th wicket partnership with Lachy Dobson

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

8/46 for Cambridge NCI vs Warboys, September 2014.

7/63 for Carrum vs Boneo 2014/2015.

Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

Andrew Perrin- very good bowler, and very angry!

Trent Lawford- bowls a very heavy ball, and rarely a bad one.

Steve Reid- Super fit and charged in all day, bowled a very good bouncer.

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Brenton McDonald- great variation and didn’t bowl many bad balls.

Dwayne Doig- best spinner I ever faced in the MPCA. Didn’t bowl a bad ball!

Ruwantha Kellapotha- A genius leg spinner with great control.

Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

Marcus Harris- class act, test cricketer. Was lucky enough to knock him over at Casey one day!

Tom Donnell- class act who made it look easy and a great fella!

Aaron Ayre- Super player who deserved more opportunity at First class level. Made 173 against Casey in 2019, was a quality innings.

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Luke Wells made 290 against Greenvale in 2020, an unbelievable innings at Casey.

James Seymour 123 against Melbourne Uni in 2016 was a superb knock too.

Against:

Simon Dart made 173 against Carrum one day. Unbelievable innings, was a tough day in the field!

Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?

Steve Reid from Melbourne Uni. Loved the challenge of facing him and testing myself against first class bowlers.

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used?

A game late in 2018/19 against Melbourne Uni, Josh Dowling and I batted for an hour to hold out for a draw. Was hard work and we were getting sledged a lot but was very enjoyable!

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Lucky enough to play with Devin Pollock at Casey for many years, a superb glove man and great bloke!

Craig Black and Wade Pelzer both very good gloveman in the MPCA. 

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

Nick Fry - super competitor for Carrum, and a great administrator!

Luke Shelton - A fantastic all-rounder who plays the game hard.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

Michael Wallace. Level headed, fantastic communicator and great person!

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Josh Dowling and Luke Manders in their own completely different ways!

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

Getting sledged by a spectator that I bowl very slow and then I hit the batsmen in the head and knocked all 3 stumps out next ball!

Who was your childhood hero?

Ricky Thomas Ponting, what a player and captain. A true legend.

Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?

Ricky Ponting

Chris Judd

John Terry

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Bill Lawry

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Casey Fields 4.

Frankston

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

MPCA Country week flag, 2014 Cup final win in the UK, playing 1st XI cricket with my old man, and my 1st XI debut at Casey South Melbourne.

Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?

Josh Dowling , Luke Manders & Nick Fry.

We played a golf day together and no doubt the BBQ will be just as fun enjoying a few beers!

What are your hobbies?

Love watching footy. Recently taken up golf and enjoy riding my bike.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

The harder you work the luckier you will be.

What’s your occupation?

Painter. JNF Painting

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?

Picking players in premier cricket who are in form and not just picking young kids on potential to play first class cricket.

Bring in a salary cap in local cricket so the best players aren’t lost to premier cricket and the standard stays at a high level!