John Mitchell - play in the arc for your first fifteen runs
Carrum Cricket Club | July 23, 2023
John Mitchell has had a long and decorated career playing premier cricket in Victoria and South Australia and has been a terrific contributor and valued member of Carrum Cricket Club
Playing for Hawthorn in Victoria Premier Cricket John played 81 1st XI games and scored 1,849 runs at 22.01 including one century and 10 half centuries.
He won a first grade premiership with Hawthorn as well as for Carrum and has scored well in excess of 3,000 runs for Carrum CC.
Let’s find out more about John’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1969
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Yes playing for Nunawading CC I was 8 at I think Tram Rd, bottom of a big hill in Templestowe. Made a duck but made 17 the next week with four 4s.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Started at Nunawading at 8, played a few years there then followed mates to clubs such as E Bees (became Eley Park CC), East Burwood CC, then to Hawthorn East Melbourne which became Hawthorn, then Hawthorn-Waverley…left to play in Adelaide for Port Adelaide, back to Hawthorn for a Premier cricket 1st XI flag then to Box Hill sub-district for a couple of seasons before the traffic became a pain and then to Carrum CC. Had a bit of fun playing Vets for East Burwood this year seeing old school mates 35 yrs on. Gee some old blokes are serious!
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
I was 17 for Premier cricket but played open age at 15 for midweek team the Plastic X1 with some legends (media men, AFL footballers and cricketers) and first played 5ths at Hawthorn for a few games after Under 14s at East Burwood. Until I took 5 for and made a 50 odd in the same game and then played fourths and onward.
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?
Played Premier 1st XI in Melbourne for Hawthorn and 1st XI for Port Adelaide. At Hawthorn my first game was against Footscray with an attack of Merv Hughes, Tony Dodemaide, Colin Miller, and Ray Bright. I was run out for a duck. I was well and truly scorched! Got 25 the following week vs Collingwood.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Started as a bowling all-rounder but soon woke up to the fact batting at 8 and opening the bowling with no pace would be short lived. So when someone broke a finger I offered to open an innings in the 2nds at Hawthorn and made a hundred in my third game opening. Opening ever since - until this year. Kept for one game in the firsts this year!
What were your strengths as a player?
I could concentrate for long periods of time. Didn’t have all the shots but was able to ‘get through’ difficult times. Loved the challenge of facing a few overs at the end of the day.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
I made 188 not out for Hawthorn 2nds after being dropped from the 1sts - good story there! Highest 1st Premier Cricket score 129 not out v Richmond. I have four hundreds for Carrum - but another three 98 not out, 99 and 98.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I remember taking 4/20 for Port Adelaide in a one day game up in Berri. I reckon the opposition must have been still thissed from the night before. I reckon! I went close to winning the One Day medal over there coming on to bowl after Mark Harritty, Brad Wigney and Bradley Young
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
I was hit about six times in an hour on a dull Adelaide day by Jason Gillespie before he did his back. He was very quick but I got through it and made a half century.
I always thought Richard McCarthy for North Melbourne was slippery. Merv Hughes although not at his peak when I played him, he was difficult for left-handers with his natural movement away.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
I always thought Dan Kelly was a good local bowler that should have had a crack at Premier cricket. Played junior State rep cricket with ‘the great one’ but never played against him in Premier Cricket he was away in the second week often when we were to bat. In the words of Graham ‘Lurch’ Matthews (Vic Opening batter in the late 70’s-80s “Ehhhh spinners either block Em or smash Em! “ I reckon just sweep Em!
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Jamie Siddons made 131 in a one day game against the Hawks. I fielded in the covers for the last ten overs and he actually changed his grip, not only the angle of the bat, as the bowler bowled to hit either side of me and mid-off.
Dean Jones wore sunnies for the first time against us one day.
Darren Lehmann - first saw him when he was 13 at an U16 National carnival. He smashed us.
Locally Simon Dart made 188 against Carrum one day but let himself down by letting me get him out!!! I came on too late.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Dan Polson 178 at Boneo. Although dropped about seven times - the poor fella at mid-off for Boneo must still have nightmares! Cleanest hitting I saw. It was dangerous at the non-strikers end. Shaun Foster has played some great knocks too.
Although not playing against him I saw Simon O’Donnell hit Craig White (ex England) for 7 Sixes at Waverley one day. Whitey became a very quick bowler the following Tuesday in the nets whilst bowling to me and was opening the bowling for England within two years!
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Locally, Dean Blight and Shane Deal are two that have bowled very tightly.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
I alluded to this before batting against Jason Gillespie before his back injury - in the dark. Got hit six times made fifty eight and was thrilled to hear Dizzy ask a mate (Brad Wigney) years later how I was going as he remembered that battle.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
I reckon Darren Berry (Fitz) and Peter Roach (Haw) were the best two. A good mate Scotty Jackson was also very good behind the stumps. I did it for the first time ever in the Carrum 1sts this season- thanks COVID never again - shocking job.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
I reckon Shaun Foster (Carrum) is a competitive beast and has a hunger for runs and consistent hitting skills along with Peter Roach who captained Hawthorn to a flag, also a competitive bugger.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Probably Peter Roach as we were destined to win the flag at Hawthorn. Our bowlers won it, they could bowl reverse swing before many others knew about it.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Shaun Brown and David Sharp from Hawthorn
Who was your childhood hero?
AB and Gary Ayres - I tried to match his mullet at one stage.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Rick Ponting (for batting), Mark Taylor (for captaincy) Roger Federer (to see if he really is a good bloke) I would say Dermott Brereton but I have already met him.
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Melbourne University oval- scene of highest score.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
There’s been a few. When I made my highest score in the 2nds I had been dropped from the firsts and cracked the shits a bit. I had my University ball on the Friday and I never used to go out on a Friday. A big night ensued and I found myself getting home at 6.30am.
Game time was 11.30am in those days. Graham Matthew’s ex Vic Opener, Legend and teetotaller wins the toss looked at me and says ‘We will BAT! ‘Goodness me.
After playing and missing for about an hour their captain Lachy Allardice (who had played with the Hawks) laughed and told me to hit the middle one. It worked and after sweating out probably 40 frosties from the night before I went on to make 188 not out - should have made 200 that day. I went back and told them to never drop me again!
Whilst in England the club I was playing with Blackburn Northern secretly, with the old man, flew my Mum over to help celebrate my 21st. I nearly stuffed the surprise by taking my washing around and Mum nearly answered the door.
Making £55 from a collection (hat is passed around the crowd and they throw a few coins in) in Earby Yorkshire for making 139 not out. All went on the bar. Poms couldn’t believe someone would do that. Sth African Gary Kirsten also made a hundred a couple of weeks before and kept his money- miserable tight arse he was!!!
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Two senior premierships, one at Hawthorn and the Carrum one in 2017/18. My innings in the semi v Dromana was the hardest batting and playing conditions ever. I asked the umpire if we should go off for wind. The boundary domes were flying everywhere. You couldn’t stand up but it was the best 45 ever!
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Shaun Brown, Brad Wigney and Scotty Jackson all from the early Hawthorn East Melbourne days. Special mention to Kent Hannam, Leigh Gilmore and Dave Sharp.
What are your hobbies?
Reading the newspaper, walking the dog and watching the Hawthorn Football Club.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Play in the arc for your first fifteen runs.
What’s your occupation?
I am a classroom teacher in Year 6 at St Louis De Montfort's PS in Aspendale (was a PE teacher for many years now in the classroom) and the Kingston Division Sport coordinator- basically run primary school sporting events.
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?
I will give you three…
Make juniors from U 12 up 9- a - side to encourage scores and participation and get rid of the retirement score for juniors, let them learn to make a hundred. I used to be a fan of local cricket being one day only but not anymore. We need two day cricket back but with only 70 overs not 80 or whatever it is.
State and Federal Government to give parents $200 voucher for either rego or equipment for their kids to get community sport going after the pandemic. Not a big fan of free registration I don’t think it teaches club loyalty.
