Jake Short - it's okay to take a step back and reflect

Belmont District Cricket Club | July 08, 2024

Jake Short is a former leg spin bowler who plied his trade at multiple cricket clubs including Belmont District Cricket Club. Jake was a fantastic teammate who always had time for others.

Let’s find out more about Jake and his journey as a cricketer

 

What year were you born?

1983

Can you remember your first game of cricket?

I remember my first game of club cricket. I think my first actual game was for my school but in my first club game I was asked to open because I'm a left handed bat, I scored 49 and was on 49 for quite some time ha-ha, got nervous and got out. I think I took three wickets; I was a leg spinner when no one else other than the great man Shane Warne was so no one knew what to do, I was the boy who saw Warne bowl Gatting and said I want to do that to my dad. 

The Belmont Hotel is a proud sponsor of the Belmont District Cricket Club

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I played juniors for a club called Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, played seniors at the same time for Kawana, I then went on to

play seniors at Maroochydore and Caloundra at different times and represented the Sunshine Coast as a Sunshine Coast scorcher in the Brisbane competition on a few separate occasions. I played for Ripley in Surrey and for the Merilomas in Vancouver Canada. And obviously Belmont. 

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

I believe it was men's 6th grade at 13. 

What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?

First grade in both the Sunshine Coast and Newcastle competitions and mostly seconds in the Brisbane competition, I did play in the firsts but not regularly enough to claim.

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

 A competent bowler who was a left-handed bat that tried to whack them no matter his place in the order and confidence above his ability. 

What were your strengths as a player?

In my younger years it was my ability to turn the ball a decent amount both ways and hit them hard. Later on, I think experience is the biggest strength any team can have and I definitely didn't have the ability I once did when playing with Belmont but I think I bought experience to a young side. 

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

High scores were never really my strength. Quick scores were. I've hit a couple of hundreds in quick time for Maroochydore and

Caloundra. 80 something was my highest for Belmont I think, at number one oval.I'm unsure anyone else around would have more scores between 70-90 and so few hundreds. Fitness was never my strength ha-ha. 

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

6 for 5 off 4 in a 20/20 for Belmont 1sts. I have a 7 for 30 odd off 30 odd for Maroochydore 2nds I think. Lots of 3/4/5 fa’s etc.

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

James Malcolm - Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. I played with James then against and grew up around him in juniors. Tall. Fast.Swung it both ways late. Ball would rise off a length. Just a really heavy hard ball to play. 

Scott Gardner - Caloundra and Sunshine Coast scorchers. Bowled wheels. Did everything with it. Smart bowler. Absolute work horse. 

Chris summers ( The wild thing ) - Sunshine Coast scorchers - left armer. high release but skiddy when you least expect it. Both ways cut and swing. Enjoyed hitting you. Enjoyed it even more if he hurt you. Wickets were just a bonus if he had you scared. 

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Graham Scott - Maroochydore - Off spinner but as happens when we spinners age he didn't turn them a ton but was super smart with his flight / skid / placement / would let a few go from behind the umpire.  

Zaffir Ikbal - Ripley Surrey - off spinner but his pace of delivery was his biggest weapon. Could get it above your eyeline but at almost a medium pacers pace. Lots of overspin and would drop it on your toe. I don't have a name but I played an Indian touring team when I was playing for Ripley in England. They had two or three leg spinners who were like nothing I'd seen before. Ruthless turn and kick. Very hard to do anything but defend against. 

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

Joe Price from Wests - his timing and power is exceptional. I don't think I've played anyone who hits them better than Joe on a day when he's on.  

Rodney Gibbs - Sunshine Coast Scorchers / Caloundra / Caboolture. Bat all day most days. Whacked them. Smart guy. Huge motor. 

Dale Nissan - Caloundra - Powerhouse. Capable of huge scores and regularly. Needed to get him early or get everyone else no in

between.

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

Rod Gibbs scored a hundred in a grand final that was chance less. Luckily on my side that time. But recent memory Joey price hit a few hundred off what seemed like 8 balls against us. One in a one-day game that ended up almost a 20/20 and it was amazing to watch even when it was against us ha-ha. 

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

More than a few. Any of the quicks I mentioned before and add Mark Cameron to that. Might as well have kicked them over when

they were on. 

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

I went through the grades very quickly being a leg spinner. I played first grade at 15 I think and then Brisbane second grade at 16 I

believe. 15 or 16 anyway. My first game of firsts was obviously a huge step up but the Brisbane comp I remember thinking I don't belong here on my first time round. 

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

Gavin Fitness - played for the Scorchers and the Queensland Bulls for a lot of years. Was effortless, well it looked effortless ha-ha. 

Gavin Fitness

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

Mark Littlewood definitely. I still have that competitive spirit in me now however it's definitely waned with time. I've seen splint

score 80 and be filthy with himself because the team needed him to get 150. It was never a personal thing for splint I don't think, it was about winning and to do that the team had to win so that was his focus. Great bat, great bowler, smart captain, definitely has that dog in him.  

Cameron Muir who was my captain in first grade at Caloundra. Just a great all-round cricketer and I always admired his commitment to the teams he was in and the people around him. 

Mark Littlewood

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

Adrian Barr who was my captain for my second round in the Brisbane comp. Great player, great guy, smart, everything you would want in a captain I thought. 

Who has been your funniest teammate?

Dom Symonds 100%

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

I've had a couple of good ones, more than most I'd say, yes there is but none I could relay here and have them sound funny when I'd filtered their content to be reader friendly. 

Who was your childhood hero?

The great Shane Warne.

 

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

Chris Bumstead the 5-time Mr Olympia classic physique competitor

John Daley the golfer. 

Callum von mogur. 

Obviously your interests change overtime ha-ha. 

John Daly

What was your favourite ground to play at?

I loved playing at number one oval here in Newcastle. Selfishly because I seemed to go ok there. In Caloundra I loved our first grades field. But my favourite is from playing in Canada, Stanley Park is an amazing ground to play at. It's a concrete wicket with Astro turf and the grass is a bit long but it's a beautiful outlook. 

What particular team did you especially look forward to playing against? And if you could add a few words to why

I loved playing Merewether. Was always a good competition with them. I distinctly remember being excited to play them and I had lost that excitement from cricket by the time I got to Newcastle really. 

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

I was blessed early. I won competitions in thirds seconds and firsts. I was a part of five winning grand finals before dropping one. But getting to the final a few years back with Belmont I think is my most memorable moment. Young team / underdogs / underdogs etc etc, it was a very special season for me, I really enjoyed it. 

What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?

In juniors we turned up to a final and the groundskeeper was unaware there was supposed to be a game. Green top and unprepared. We got rolled for 18 I think and won. In seniors there's been too many, I played over 20 years in grade, there was one game with Caloundra where Scott Gardner got 7 wickets and I got to hit a few runs in a semi-final that sticks in my mind but the actual figures of the day I couldn't recall. 

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

Dom Symonds, John Maslen, Michael Parr. 

What are your hobbies?

Now it's doing whatever my little three-year-old girl tells me, work and the gym. That's my life. And I love it ha-ha. I used to surf, and I do miss that, but time is important in this time of my life and unfortunately you can't just get more of it. 

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

If you think everyone else is the problem maybe it's you. That's not the exact phrase but it's appropriate for here ha-ha. Basically, I look at it as if you're having trouble everywhere take a step back and have a look because it can't always be everyone else and their actions maybe it's you and yours. 

What is your occupation and who do you work for?

I'm a site manager for UGM Western Mining Services at Ulan Underground in Mudgee.

Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?

I'm not at all. When my little girl came along I retired and unfortunately I'm not the sort of person to be involved in something just a little bit. To be honest I played for so many years I don't even watch it anymore. But it hasn't been that long since I stopped in the scheme of things and I'm sure that will change one day. 

If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities be to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?

Investing in juniors and investing in juniors. Instilling the love of the game in the younger generations the rest takes care of itself I believe. I think if you look at soccer and how it's taken over here in Australia and the work they do in juniors cricket could learn a lot from it.