Dwayne Field - be yourself and have fun
Flinders Cricket Club | October 10, 2023
Dwayne Field is a multiple premiership winning player with 3 flags at Flinders Cricket Club and 2 at Heatherhill CC.
A tremendous ambassador for the club on and off the field Dwayne is a very proud Life Member of Flinders Cricket club.
Let’s find out more about Dwayne’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1977
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Playing for Crib Point under 14s I think (didn’t bat and didn’t bowl)
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Played maybe 5-10 games of junior cricket at Crib Point CC then really only started playing more seriously when I was about 16. Played in the seniors at Crib for 4 seasons starting in the fourths.
Joined Flinders CC for season 1997/98, left to play for Heatherhill CC - 2005/06 (4 seasons), returned to Flinders CC -2009/10.
Also had a season with Stillington CC in the York League UK
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
Played my first game of 1st XI Cricket at the age of 19 for Crib Point CC
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?
It was the last game of season 1995/96 Crib Point CC v Frankston East CC and the loser was to be relegated (we won outright after a tie on the first innings). I didn’t get a wicket and got run out and I think I was the runner for another batsmen and got run out as well. I remember being nervous and thinking I wasn’t really up to it.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Opening Bowler, Lower order hack.
What were your strengths as a player?
Competitive, loved the challenge.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
58 for Flinders CC v YCW
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
7-21 Flinders CC v Frankton East CC 98/99
7-35 Heatherhill CC v Long Island CC 05/06
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Terry Doyle (Red Hill) – scary, his stock ball was at my throat.
Jason Nagel (Rosebud) – just delivered week in week out, smart bowler.
Rob Preston (Flinders) – don’t think I’ve ever faced a faster bowler. I used to call last 6 to myself as I saw his car roll into training after he had downed a few VB stubbies before training. Unfortunately bowled half that pace on Saturdays.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Lyle House (Mt Eliza) – spin and bounce
Dwayne Doig (Langwarrin) – only played a couple of times but great control and drift
Neil Williams (Boneo) – wasn’t really spin but more like hand grenades, we always struggled against him.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Anthony Blackwell (Sorrento) - my first year as skipper at Flinders was his first season in the MPCA and he made 171 the first time we played him. He had it all and is was one of the nicest blokes you could meet.
Simon Dart (Red Hill) – had the ability to make you feel like he wasn’t getting away from you but would end up getting a ton. Very smart accumulator of runs and averaged about 250 against us!!
Gareth Wyatt (Main Ridge) – made runs for fun against Flinders. Unorthodox and very hard to bowl to.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen first-hand playing with or against?
Hard to split these two.
Craig Friebe 124 Flinders CC v Moorooduc CC 2003/04 semi-final. When Friebes was going there was no one better to watch in full flight he just took the piss.
Tom Clements 151 not out v Delacombe Park CC 2017/18. I absolutely love TC so to see him bring up his first senior ton then hit 2 sixes off the last two balls to bring home the win is something I will never forget.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used?
My first season at Heatherhill CC in Provincial. Probably wasn’t any game in particular it was more at training when I realised early on to mix it with these guys every training session you had to be going 100% to compete with your own team mates.
To bowl to the likes of Brittain, Beggs, Hamilton-Smith, Barfuss, Parrott at training made bowling Saturdays seem easy.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Jamie Symes (Flinders) – up to the stumps to anyone, absolute freak.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Shane Beggs (Flinders) – most competitive I’ve played with or against. Hardest trainer I’ve seen (still now at 50). It’s no fluke why he has been one of the all-time MPCA greats!!
Matt Gale (Flinders) – for a guy to come back and play at this standard and just give his all every game shows great character. Makes his teammates better by just backing them in. Love his aggressive attitude on the field!!
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Hard to split.
Jamie Symes (Flinders) – was great for me early days when I had no idea what I was doing.
Mark Maddock (Flinders) – very calm way of captaining but also gave a good spray when needed.
Collis King (Stillington UK) – usually would miss the coin toss, have a shot of brandy then go out and destroy the opposition. Kingdom the Legend!!
Chris Brittain (Heatherhill) – lead by actions not words.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Glenn Wadley and Jason Hamilton-Smith both have a very similar dry sense of humour and enjoyed taking the piss (mostly out of their own team mates). Special mention to the Swing King Matt Burns
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Mark Maddock getting taken down by a Doberman in the outfield at Seaford I think it was.
Jason Hamilton-Smith putting dim sims in Simon Parrott’s batting gloves and ham and cheese sandwiches in his pads during the tea break when Simon had to resume batting.
Who was your childhood hero?
Steve Waugh and Jeff Hogg
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Michael Jordan, Steve Waugh, Patty Mills
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Bill Lawry
What was your favourite ground to play at?
BA Cairns Reserve Flinders
Scarborough UK
MCG
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
5 senior Premierships and Life Membership at Flinders CC
Also coming back to Flinders CC when we were at the Bottom of Sub-District with a goal of getting the club back up into Provincial. It took nearly 10 years but to be a part in making that happen was very satisfying.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Premierships are hard to beat and been lucky enough to play in 5 (2 with Heatherhill CC and 3 with Flinders CC) the last one 2017/18 Flinders v Main Ridge is probably my favourite. We were underdogs every game, even some committee members were saying let’s just try to avoid relegation. That team had something special.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
This is the toughest question, I can’t answer this. I’d invite all my ex-teammates but I’d definitely make sure Simon Dignan, Tom Clements and Max Royal were there.
Digger was an angry man on-field and the best bloke you will meet off it.
TC and Kegga, love those boys like they are my own kids.
What are your hobbies?
Watching the Mighty Tigers and Travelling (when we can)
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Be yourself and have fun
What’s your occupation?
Cabinet maker with Field Cabinets which I’m in partnership with my brother Craig. We also employ my nephew Jack.
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?
Invest more into getting kids involved with local clubs (make Woolworth’s blast free)
Somehow getting the Australian players back playing Premier grade cricket were possible.
