Peter Barnett- It means something to be a Belmont cricketer

Belmont District Cricket Club | February 21, 2025

Peter Barnett is a former player and the longtime president of Belmont District Cricket Club. A proud life member, Pete's dedication and hard work have made him a highly respected figure at the club.

Don’t miss our chat with Pete as he shares his journey and insights.

What year were you born?

1951.

What state do you live in?

NSW.

When did you first start developing a love for cricket?

When I was about 10. I started playing with some guys there in the neighbourhood, and this bloke, an older bloke, taught me, like when I was 9 or 10. Then, one of my mates’ older brother showed me how to hold a bat and how to bowl overarm, and we used to just play in the backyards, and then I played with my brothers all the time.

Tell us briefly about your journey in the game, where you’ve played, what clubs you’ve played for.

Well, I started I was playing for Saint Patrick's Sutherland, then as a schoolboy and after that I continued playing for them because the school had set up its own Sports Club and as ex-students, we used to play in the Sutherland Shire cricket competition. So that was my first senior cricket. Then, in the 1970/71 season, I played for Coffs Harbour. The next two seasons I was back playing for St. Pats again in the Sutherland comp. I went to Grafton, but I didn't play. I played a little bit of cricket in Grafton, Not much. Because midway through that season, I went on a tour in New Zealand with blokes from Coffs Harbour, so I probably didn't play a full season in the 73/74 season. Then, in the 74/75 season, I played in Goulburn for the Goulburn Rugby Club. But I went back to Sydney and played another three seasons there with St. Pats again. At the end of 1980, I went to Wagga, and I played 2 1/2 seasons down there for Lake Albert. Then I went back to Sydney and had another season with St Pats and then I came to Belmont. 

How would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

Oh, pretty ordinary. I never classed myself as a batsman. If you ask Alan Sharpe, he will say I couldn’t bat and that I don’t have a clue. I was a reasonable bowler, I think. I was probably past my best by the time I got to Belmont.

How did you become involved with the club you’re currently associated with?

Well, I came to town, and there was a bloke in the town, a barrister named Maxie Fox, and I was talking to him one day, and I said, well, you know, what do you reckon about joining a cricket club? He said to me, you’re at Eleebana you should go to Cardiff, But go to Belmont it’s a better club and he gave me Russell Neals’s phone number. Russell's number for Russell's gym as he was running it then. So, I rang Russell and just went from there.

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

What do you like most about the club?

When I arrived, it was a good club. It was well organised and well run. They had a good ethos. Or, you know, playing attitude. I just fitted it in. But it did have a tradition which I liked, and it was you know, they had the attitude. It was something to be a Belmont cricketer. So, it should still be, but I'm not sure if it has dropped off a bit. And I don't think the people necessarily put the same importance on being a Belmont cricketer, as the cricketers did then.

Well, we've been through periods where there are a lot of young kids before, and it drops off. To be honest, it's a whole social change. I mean in 1984. Virtually everything was closed come Saturday afternoon. So, people didn't get interfered with work. The mines, even the mines, didn't work weekends. The blokes would work Friday night, come out Saturday morning, and they first shift back in was Sunday night. From what I can remember, you know the banks had trade Saturday morning. We'd be finished because I remember Blokes in the bank. You have to cover them for them if they're playing first grade.

Then you know like. You signed up to play for the year. You signed up to play two Saturdays every game. And there was a policy that if you didn't turn up on when you were selected, you got dropped, you got banned, suspended for at least one game. That’s what it was like back in the day.

What was your highest score and who for, where and when?

It was about 78, not out for Saint Pat's. My highest score at Belmont was, I think, 73, not out. 

What were your best bowling figures and who for, where and when?

When I was in Lake Albert, I got 7-1.

When and how did you develop a love of administration?

I don’t know if I ever developed a love for it. I just found that if you wanted to play sport, you needed someone to organise sport. My dad used to do it. So, I'll tell you about the school Sports Club. He was the treasurer, and I've been on committees and various things since I was. 18. I've been at the club in Sydney for about 3 years. I was President of that, and I came up here and. I was on the committee at Wagga. I came up here with the 85/86 annual general meeting. I went down to that meeting and I came home on the committee, and I think the next year, after that or the year after that, I was the Vice president. It had an attraction. It was important because it provided a genuine healthy social outlet to a lot of people, including in those days, we had about 10-12 junior teams as well as 5 or 6 grade teams.  

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket so far?

One of the most memorable things I remember well from watching from Belmont was, you know, Chris Williams ripped through. I can't remember. Merryweather, I think in a semifinal twice.

I played one game with my brother. We needed eighty off 5 overs to win a comp, and after the first over, we only needed 50. I mean, all of which my brother had scored, but yeah, but. No, no, I don't have any memorable moments. Just the enjoyment. a lot of a lot of good times and a. Lot of good people..

Who’s your favourite all-time cricketer?

Probably the best cricketer I've ever seen. It would have to be Garfield Sobers’, Class of his own; he could bat, bowl and field. He can bowl left arm Orthodox, left arm Chinaman and swing it both ways all at Test level. So, it makes him pretty unique. 

Garry Sobers

Who has been your favourite captain?

My favourite captain. Well, it would be a toss-up between Ian Chapel and some others. Well, look, I was too young to appreciate Richie Beno, but Richard could be a bit negative because they played a lot more draws in those days. The first aggressive bloke to come along was Chappell. The way he looked after the blokes that were in his team even now. Like when Gus was crook. The way he railed everyone around him. Mark Taylor was good also. Allan Boarder was a hard captain. Those are probably the blokes that were the best.

Ian Chappell

Who’s been the batter you’ve enjoyed watching the most?

Well, on various days, various people. At the moment, I think like watching Joe Root. Other days, Ricky Ponting was worth the price of admission. Steve Smith's always worth the price of admission. Steve Waugh could be on days. Any of them.

Also, for Belmont, I think 1 of. The best technician I've ever seen for Belmont was Steve Clarkson. 

Mark Curry was a great cricketer. A lot better cricketer than he ever achieved. Someone once described him as the best cricketer they've ever seen. That hasn't played first-class cricket. I think that fits him in spades. He's a better bowler than he ever thought he was, and he definitely can bat, and he's got a good cricket head.

Steve Waugh

Who, in your opinion, has been the best fast bowler?

For Belmont, Well, Jamie Heath, in his day, was pretty good, and he was only just starting here. And Gus, Gus could make the ball talk when he wanted to. Well, he lost. A fair bit of pace by the time he was playing here. Jelly was a pretty good bowler. Craig Hamilton was a good swing bowler, and I reckon I rate Jace Lawson. Yeah, the longevity. Ability. Power’s ability to learn new tricks as he got older I rate Jace.

In an international level. Probably Dennis Lillie or Glen McGrath. If I go outside Australia, it’s probably Andy Roberts. 

Andy Roberts

Who, in your opinion, has been the best spinner?

Well, Shane Warne

Nathan Lyon also. He doesn't get all the raves about him, but he's right up there. He's producing the numbers.  

For Belmont, I'd say David Wrixion around the club for his consistency. Mark Curry was a much better bowler than he thinks he is. 

Shane Warne

Who, in your opinion, has been the best wicket keeper?

For Belmont, Dave Sokolsky was pretty good, and he could bat. He was a nice bloke.

For international, Rod Marsh and Ian Healy. Wally grout was pretty good, and Allan Knott the pommy was good.

Rod Marsh

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand

Brian Lara's first ton in Sydney.

Brian Lara

Who are the 2 players you most admire in the competitions you score in terms of skills and competitive spirit?

Jace Lawson and Mark Curry.

Mark Curry

What’s the most picturesque ground you’ve had the good fortune to watch cricket?

The SCG was nice. When it started, it used to have two hills, one on the Paddington Hill and the other hill down the other end. I've been to lords, and that is also great to look at.

If there was one match-up in the history of world cricket, a bowler and batsman going head-to-head at their peak, who would you choose?

Probably Steve Smith and Jeff Thompson. Steve Smith: Because he's unorthodox. And Tomo, because of just the way he evolved and everything.

Jeff Thompson

What do Cricket Officials need to do over the next 10 or so years to ensure people get to enjoy the game as much as you do?

Remember, it's a game, not just think of it's a business.

Who are the 3 cricketers from any era you’d like to invite to a BBQ?

Merv Hughes, Kerry O’Keefe, Matty Eastham.

Kerry O'Keefe