Andrew Gokel - Dougie was my idol
North West Sydney Hurricanes Cricket Club | September 08, 2023
Andrew Gokel has been playing and involved with Shires Cricket in Sydney since 1980.
He’s won numerous premierships, is a student of the game and loves the camaraderie you get from spending so much time with your team mates.
Let’s find out more about Andrew’s time in the game
What year you were born?
1963
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Not really, though it would have been F grade for St Barnabas Westmead circa 1971 in the Church Cricket competition. I would have been 8. I do remember the first 4 I hit though against St Andrews Parramatta at Robin Thomas Reserve. The church team was the only club in Westmead so I played for them but my church cricket career came to abrupt end when a new coach one year demanded that we actually attend church to get a start.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
After being ex communicated from St Barnabas, I finished that season at Wenty Leagues. Played under 15s with Guildford Leagues in the Southern Districts Comp and then Under 16s with Granville RSL back in Parramatta. During those 2 seasons I started playing in the afternoon for Mona Park CC in the Auburn- Lidcombe Association. I had 3 seasons with them from 1977-78 until 79-80. I started at what was then Wentworthville- Blacktown District Cricket Club when I was in 6th form in 1980-81 after it was suggested that I head there by my coach at school, Neil Cain, who played with the club.
I played for them non-stop until 2005 before having a child break. By that time the club had morphed from Wenty Blacktown to Wentworthville to Holroyd to Holroyd Hills and finally to Norwest Hurricanes. I resumed a few years later playing masters and 5th grade. I have played the last few years with Winston Hills Cricket Club in the B – “lots” where we have had heaps of fun and a few wins. Might also see if I can get some games in Norwest Hurricanes Masters this season.
What other sports do you play?
I played lots of lower grade Rugby at Parramatta plus the usual touch and golf.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in Sydney Shires?
I was graded in seconds when I was 17 and the first game was against Burwood at Rothwell where I had a pair of deuces. I got some runs in the next 2 games though and got selected in Firsts for round 4.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in Sydney Shires and can you remember how you performed in debut?
Still 17, I played against Canterbury at Lance Hutchinson. Laurie Monaghan was opening the bowling and I think I got 17. Finished that season with 240 odd runs at about 30.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I was a batsman of sorts, batting 3 in firsts for quite a while before slipping down the order a bit as I got older. Not one to tear attacks apart, I was much more of an accumulator. Sometimes I accumulated less than I and my captains would have liked but when the axe was hovering over me, I always seemed to manage a solid 30-40 to save my spot.
I always fancied myself as a bowler but no-one else did. That changed when Garry Baldwin came to the club circa ’91-92 from Fairfield first grade. He gave me a bowl, which was surprising because he insisted I ball off 15m against him in the nets so he could get some decent practice. He even opened the bowling with me once v Epping at North Epping Oval (much to the bemusement of my teammates, the amusement of a couple of Epping old boys at the ground and I think the trepidation of the opening batsman who were petrified of getting out to me). From then on I bowled quite regularly, particularly when I moved down to twos and managed to jag a few bowling trophies which is more than I ever did as a batsman. Much later in my career I actually got brought back into firsts on occasions as a bowler/lower order bat when things were desperate.
Did you ever contemplate playing Grade cricket in Sydney?
My original plan was to have a season on turf (I had only ever played on matting) with Shires before heading to try my luck at Cumberland but I never got around to it. I enjoyed my first year, had some success and was happy to stay. Maybe if I had a couple of 500-600 (that was never going to happen) run seasons I might have gone but I figured I would be playing lower grades there and it would probably be a similar standard to first grade shires.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
My high score was 129 in Third grade for Holroyd at Westmead Hospital ground. It was my return match after a knee reconstruction and I might have come back too early because I was run out. Thank you Matthew Smart.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I got 7-93 v Macquarie Uni at their home ground once for Holroyd.
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Plenty of options here. Lots of bowlers made things very difficult for me. When I first started Dave Harvey from Auburn was more than a handful. Fast, accurate, got lots of bounce and was aggressive and cranky. Particularly fearsome on the old Mona Park wicket which was somewhat lively. Seemed like a lovely bloke off the field though.
Richard Tregeagle from Burwood bowled big in swingers and cutters and also got lots of bounce too. Always at you. Again, a lovely bloke.
Gerard Price from Burwood was also a standout. When young and with good knees he bowled out swingers at pace and had a good bouncer. As he aged and slowed down he seemed to have it on a string.
Many great bowlers who came from Grade to play Shires also, but have selected 3 out and out shires cricketers
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
Pete Daly from Lindfield was a left arm orthodox with great control and variation who spun it and had a lots of ways of getting you out.
Tom Wood from Auburn bowled fizzing leggies and went through us in a semi at Monty Bennet once
Graeme Beard from Roseville was tough, as you would expect a former test player to be. He didn’t appreciate the shorter boundaries at Monty Bennet though.
Graeme Beard
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
A Shires player First: Bart Pozuelo from Burwood. Aggressive, shots all around the ground. Could bowl a bit too.
Lots of great ex first graders but Craig Haworth from Strathfield stands out. Gave it a thump. And of course Peter Toohey who made it look very easy and timed the ball beautifully.
I’d like to mention a couple of blokes I played with. Glen Cutis and Sammy Russo both dominated lots of Shires attacks regularly and on one occasion playing for a Shires Rep side v the NSW Under 19 side with a not too shabby attack led by Phil Alley and Wayne Holdsworth , scored twin centuries while putting on over 200.
Craig Haworth in more recent times
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Garry Baldwin scored 3 double tons for us and I saw a lot of one first hand against Epping when he put on a lot with me at the other end just spectating. As with all his innings, he made it look so easy. Timing the ball beautifully and never looking in any trouble at all. Always a surprise for him to get out, no matter who was bowling.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Two great Captains at Wenty/Holroyd in the 1980’s when we won 4 First Grade Competition. Bob Black and Dave Lowe. Both were great tacticians, hard, determined and cranky when required, and both could play. They seemed to always be upsetting opposing captains too.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Mark Tranter used to crack me up every now and then. His funniest line was when we were copping a pummelling one hot day at Monty Bennett and cover fieldsman would harbour bridge a full toss that went for four and he deadpanned from behind the stumps “ That’s it Wenty, lets tighten the screws”. Ben Buffet fancied himself as a comedian too. He reckoned I was a chucker and called me from mid-on on more than one occasion.
Who was your childhood hero?
Like many from my generation I assume: KD Walters
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Dennis Cometti – I still remember his line when NZ were playing Australia at the MCG in the late 1980’s and Phil Horne had batted very slowly in the opening session of the match: “It certainly wasn’t a raging Horne this morning.” Used to love Peter Roebuck’s insights too. Of the current lot – Jim Maxwell, Gilly, Damien Fleming.
Dennis Cometti
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Monty Bennett at Wentworthville. Small, but often 250 could be a winning score. Today’s bats probably make it a little too small I would imagine. Cars stopped at the traffic lights on the highway would yell abuse at you, chases into the stormwater canal and down the highway – cricket heaven. It used to have a bit of a micro climate too. Epping and their skipper John Wilson were very upset one year to find that we were washed out for the second week of a final after they posted 300 odd against us, the minor premiers, when they felt there hadn’t been much rain about. The SCA then made finals over one weekend, decreed they had to be at neutral venues and pitches had to be covered. We weren’t impressed with the insinuation.
Apart from the dressing rooms, Rothwell at Burwood was a great cricket wicket.
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Burwood was always fun. Competitive games, a bit of rivalry and always good for a beer and laugh after the game. Epping too. We had a good rivalry in the mid 1980’s playing a couple of finals against them.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Like all team sports, that comradery you get in a team which is amplified in cricket given the time you spend doing nothing except chatting to your mates. The debrief after a game were always great and the ebb and flow of the game make it a special game. Peter Roebuck wrote a column in the 1980’s for the SMH titled the ‘The Art of Cricket” which summed it up perfectly. I’ve still got it in a box somewhere.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Too many to mention and they range from great successes to miserable failures and stuff ups, but all memorable.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Lucky enough to win 4 First Grade Shire comps and one of them came after a nail biting semi win where we needed a 9th wicket partnership of well over 50 to get us over line in a low scoring game. Our keeper Robbie Warner and all-rounder Ian Hinton did the honours if I recall. No seat changing allowed either.
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
Loved “This Sporting Life” – a 60’s British Film and “The Club’
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
You should start listening to some of the advice you are receiving.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
I lend a helping hand with my son’s side and have a run around with the Winston Hills CC Dads Army XIX.
If you were running Cricket NSW what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in NSW remained strong and successful on and off the field?
I think they are doing ok – still producing Test players and winning shields, but I’m concerned about the direction this year (which I have been told has been dictated by NSW to junior associations) that all junior cricket has to be one day limited over games. Happy to be corrected if that’s not the case. Not sure of the logic behind that, though I’m sure they have their reasons. I don’t think that only ever playing 30 over cricket is a good stepping stone for someone heading to long form cricket playing grade, shires or even in local associations.
