David Gilbert - deceptively quick

Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney | June 19, 2023

David Gilbert is the proud owner of Western Suburbs District Cricket Club first grade cap number 498 after making his first grade debut against Manly Warringah on 24 September 1983.

David joined Western Suburbs after playing first grade cricket for the old Sydney Cricket Club.

In 2006 David Gilbert was selected on the Western Suburbs team of the millennium and inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.

Gilbert became Australian Test cricketer number 330 when he made his debut in the 6th Test of the 1985 Ashes series between Australia and England on 29 August 1985.

He played 9 Test for Australia taking 16 wickets with best bowling of 3 for 48.

In 14 One Day Internationals for Australia Gilbert took 18 wickets with best figures of 5 for 46.

He played 127 first class games taking 354 wickets at an average of 32.39 with best bowling figures of 8 for 55.

With the bat, Gilbert scored 1,374 runs including one first class hundred and one half century.

David Gilbert was the President of Western Suburbs District Cricket Club for many years after serving Cricket NSW as the CEO from 2002 to 2013.

In 2018 David Gilbert was awarded Life Membership of Western Suburbs

Let’s find out more about David’s journey and insights into the game.

David Gilbert on Test Debut for Australia V England in 1985

 

What year you were born?

1960

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

Marist Brothers Eastwood U/10’s in the Northern District Cricket Association Saturday morning competition. Can’t remember how I did – obviously nothing memorable.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I played with the school team until U/16’s and then joined Epping District Cricket Club in the Shires competition until 1980 (at the urging of my Chemistry teacher, Graeme Kightley, who played for the Club). From 1980 until 1992 it was quite a journey – I played for two Grade clubs in Sydney (Sydney and Western Suburbs), one in Hobart (North Hobart), played 200 matches for NSW, Tasmania, Gloucestershire and Australia and enjoyed 6 English summers with Orsett and Thurrock (Essex League), Harrogate (Yorkshire League), Lincolnshire (Minor Counties), East Lancashire (Lancashire League), The Mote (Kent League) and Old Emanuel (Surrey League).

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

4th Grade for Sydney CC at Tunks Park in 1980. I was 19.

At what age did you make your First-Grade debut in Grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?

I was 20 – it was late 1981 v North Sydney at North Sydney Oval. We batted first and got about 320 (can’t remember getting a bat). The second day was stinking hot (42C) but we managed to defend the total on a flat wicket. I took 3/57 off 20 overs and got the 3 points awarded by the Umpires – I was thrilled!

David Gilbert as CEO of Cricket NSW 2002-13

What were your strengths as a player?

I was deceptively quick off a shortish run up. Bowled a decent outswinger with the new ball.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Very proud of this – 117 for Australia v Delhi in a first class match on the 1986 Australian tour of India. Unfairly referred to by some as the ‘miracle at Baroda’ ?

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

In 1st Grade – 8/25 for North Hobart v Kingborough at Kingborough in 1989

In a first class match – 8/55 for Gloucestershire v Kent at Canterbury in 1991

You played 9 Test matches and 14 One Day Internationals for Australia can you share with us how you found out you’d been selected in the Test team and what do you remember about your Test debut?

I got a last-minute call up for the 1985 England Tour because of the announcement of the ‘rebel’ tour to South Africa. There was a lot of tension in the team from the get-go because of 4 players who’d signed to go to South Africa but then accepted a counter-offer from Kerry Packer’s PBL (except one) and withdrew and joined the Ashes squad. It was an unhappy tour and we lost the Test series 3-1.

I made my Test debut in the last (6th) Test at The Oval – the wheels were well and truly off by then and we got thrashed by an innings. Gooch and Gower put us to the sword on Day 1 and then Richard Ellison swung the ball around corners - we had no answer.

354 First Class wickets is a quite incredible career, how do you look back on your cricket career?

With a lot of happiness. I made lifelong friendships and got to play cricket around the world – how good!

You moved from NSW to Tasmania, are you able to share the reason for the move?

In the 1987/88 season, I was 12th Man in 4 of the 10 Shield matches NSW played. Back then, the SCG pitch was like the Gobi Desert and we played 3 spinners (Matthews, Bennett and Holland). I was the odd man out. I just wanted to play and Tasmania offered me the opportunity to lead their attack.

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

Bruce Reid: ‘Chook’ had it all – pace, swing, height and his left-arm angle. Would have taken 300 plus Test wickets if his body hadn’t broken down.

Richard Hadlee: the total professional - gave you nothing. Carried the NZ attack for well over a decade.

Allan Donald: sheer pace. He hit me in the ribs in a County match in 1991 – sleeping and sneezing was very painful for the next fortnight.

Bruce Reid

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Shane Warne: My career was finishing as his was starting but you just knew he was headed for greatness.

Shivlal Yadav – crafty Indian off-spinner. Seemed to have the ball on a string.

John Emburey – looping off spin which always dipped in the right areas.

Shivlal Yadav

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

Javed Miandad: he scored 200 not out for Glamorgan v Australia on the 1985 tour on a pitch that resembled plasticine. I’d never felt so ineffective with the ball.

Allan Border: tough as teak and loved the contest.

Steve Waugh: he scored a masterful 196 v Tasmania and those ‘gunslinger’ eyes were in full force. I remember bowling a bouncer that nearly took his head off – he responded by charging the next ball and nearly taking off mine!

Javed Miandad

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

Allan Border’s 196 in the 2nd Test at Lord’s in 1985 which set up a nervy 4 wicket win. We’d lost the 1st Test and the pressure was on.

Allan Border

Was there any batsman in particular who for whatever reason seemed to cause you a few problems?

South Australia’s Glenn Bishop. ‘Bish’ was a ‘no frills’ opening batter – see ball, hit ball!

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

The Miandad innings referred to previously. The pitch didn’t help but it was man v boy that day.

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

Greg Dyer – we played a lot together at Club and First Class level and I can’t remember him having an off day.

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

Greg ‘Mo’ Matthews – always felt he was in the game and backed himself to the max.

Imran Khan – he played for NSW in 1984/85. He could have treated it as a holiday but didn’t. His 5/34 in the 2nd Innings of the Shield Final got us back into the game.

A photo David Gilbert took of Greg Matthews in the 1986 Tied Test between Australia and India

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

Dirk Wellham – inspiring man management and tactically astute.

Who has been your funniest team-mate?

Simon ‘Sniffer’ Davis – he has a very dry sense of humour and was always taking the mickey.

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

Grade match for Western Suburbs at Pratten Park. Greg Matthews was in the team after playing for Australia the previous week. An opposition tailender hit him for massive 6 that went into the nearby street. There was a group of drunk guys watching and one of them yelled out, ‘Matthews – how the f**k are you playing for Australia’. Next ball, Greg tossed it up higher, the tailender had another huge swing, this time missed it and was bowled. That was cue for Greg to sprint towards those guys, stop about 20m away, point his finger at them and scream ‘that’s how, punk’ ??

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Not senior but junior – getting bowled by my father in a ‘fathers v sons’ match when I was about 12 (and he couldn’t bowl). I didn’t talk to him in the car on the way home.

Who was your childhood hero?

The great DK Lillee.

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

Roger Federer, Steffi Graf and Lionel Messi.

Steffi Graf

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Mike Atherton – insightful and not self-absorbed.

Can you share the two cricket journalists whose work you’ve enjoyed most over the years?

Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock – I’ve known him since the 1980’s - and Gideon Haigh.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

SCG

What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?

Western Australia - they and NSW were the dominant teams during my career and it was a fierce rivalry.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Taking a hat-trick at the SCG in a Sheffield Shield match v Victoria in 1985.

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

The 1984/85 Sheffield Shield Final – NSW v Queensland at the SCG. It was an absorbing, see-sawing match that boasted 18 current and future Test players. NSW won by 1 wicket – I was fortunate to hit the winning runs.

NSW Sheffield Shield champions 1984/85

You were the CEO of Cricket NSW for 12 years, what are you most proud of from your time as CEO?

The camaraderie of the office – we all wanted success for each other. As a result, we dominated Australian cricket across every benchmark.

Can you share with us what you believe are the two most important characteristics of a successful sports administrator?

• Support and empower your staff
• Have a passion for what you’re doing and for the sport

 

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

I catch up regularly with most of the guys from the 1984/85 Shield Final win so I’d hate to restrict it to three!

What are your hobbies?

Love my golf – got my handicap down to 10 and striving for the elusive single figure.

Tiger Woods and David Gilbert

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Treat people as you would like to be treated yourself.

What is your occupation?

I’m a Director of the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club (they own the Wests Tigers NRL team) and an advisory member on the SCG Membership and Heritage Committees.

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

Since 2018, I’ve worked for Cricket Australia as a Match Referee overseeing senior and underage male and female domestic matches (Sheffield Shield, Marsh Cup, WNCL, BBL, WBBL etc). I enjoy working with and observing the Umpires – they are just as dedicated, committed and ambitious as players.

If there was one match up, a bowler and batsman going head-to-head at their peak, who would you choose?

Sir Donald Bradman v Malcolm Marshall