Michael Swan - aim to be better

Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney | February 03, 2023

Michael Swan made his first grade debut for Western Suburbs on 23 November 1986 against Fairfield. He’s the proud owner of Wests first grade cap number 518.

In 181 first grade games Michael scored 4,462 runs with a highest score of 120 not out against Petersham. He took 136 catches.

In all grades Michael scored 6,848 runs and took 194 catches.

Michael is a Life Member and the current President of Western Suburbs District Cricket Club.

What year you were born?

1967

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I remember playing in the Under 9s for the school. Don’t recall how I went but I remember it to be a lot of fun.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I went to Scots College and as we were part of GPS it meant we had to play for the school on Saturdays.

Being from the Eastern Suburbs I played Green Shield for Waverley (now Easts). My Year 10 Economics teacher was John Hurley and he played for Western Suburbs.

During the school holidays John suggested I play grade cricket for Western Suburbs and he would go out of his way to drive me to and from training in Ashfield. I really enjoyed being part of Wests and played my first grade game in 1983/84 and my last in 2000/2001.

I also played 2 seasons with Gravesend in the Kent League. We won the competition for the first time in the clubs history in 1990 and along with a Wests mate Brad Wilson we had a great season.

Michael batting for Scots College

What other sports do you play?

Skiing Golf and tennis

You’re now the President of the Club, what would you like to achieve in the next couple of years?

Our club motto is “Better people through cricket” and we’ve done a lot of work over the past few years following on all the good work from when David Gilbert was the President and we will always continue to strive to be the Premier Club in Sydney.

We also want to provide the environment in which our players can excel play first class cricket.

Can you tell us which players in the club we should be looking out for in terms of higher representative honours?

Josh Clarke was the leading run scorer in NSW Premier Cricket and w have a number of other players in Nick Cutler, James Psarakis with the bat, all-rounder Jono Cook (Sydney Thunder) and our big quick Muhummad Irfan Jnr who’ve enjoyed some success and all capable of playing first class cricket.

Ok, back to your journey.

What’s your highest score in senior cricket?

In first grade 120 not out against Petersham. I did score 182 not out for Scots against Shore in a one day game including a six which landed on the roof of my dad’s 3 day old car!!

Michael 2nd on left in front row as captain of Wests first grade team who finished 3rd on the ladder in 2000/01

What has been your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

Frustratingly, no first grade wickets. I did have a catch dropped by one of the best fielders in the competition though (thanks Burks).

Who were the best three fast bowlers you played against so far?

Chris Killen and Ken McLeod bowled lightening quick one day at Campbelltown. Killer bowled into the wind and then came down breeze.

I was batting with Greg Edwards who kept baiting Killer (Killer used to play at Wests) and suggesting he had lost it and was a has been. He just got quicker and quicker.

Dave Gilbert broke my arm in England so I guess he makes the list. Geoff Lawson, Brett Lee. In our own side, Steve Nikitaras and Dan Horsely had batsman jumping about and were great to be in the slips to.

I did play a game in England against the former West Indian fast bowler Eldine Baptiste and when he bounced one of our players, the batsman ducked but unfortunately his own wicket keeper was not so quick and got hit flush in the head. Ambulance required to ship the keeper off to hospital. He was quick that day.

Who were the best three spinners you have played against?

Greg Matthews. Mo bowled me at Waverley Oval with one that drifted and then spun back to hit the top of off. Best ball I think I have ever faced. Tommy Shiner was a genius and Gavin Robertson seemed to enjoy bowling to me!

Michael taking his 5th catch in an innings against Gordon at Pratten Park

Who were the best 2 batsman you’ve played against? 

Steve and Mark Waugh and thankfully that didn’t happen every year. Rod Bower was a magnificent bat. But there were plenty over the years……Greg Hayne was always hard to shift. I watched Corey Richards score 200 against us at Bankstown.

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

I can’t remember the year but we played Sutherland on a wet wicket and both batting sides were jumping all over the place to balls that were spitting off the wicket.

John Dyson however was in a different class. He was leaving balls so late and then wait for one in his zone and just smashed it. I can’t remember how many he got but it was educating and the class difference was so evident.

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

Greg Dyer’s hands were incredible. Paul Ryan was a great keeper and very unlucky not to have played for NSW. Andrew Fitzhenry and Mark Atkinson also amazing keepers.

Greg Dyer

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Who’s been your funniest team mate?

Hard to say, so much time out there on the field and in change rooms. Always plenty of humour

Who was your childhood hero?

It was Greg Chappell growing up. When I was 16 I was the scorer for GPS v CHS and Steve Waugh scored a big hundred…..from then on he was it. 

Steve Waugh

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

I played a season with Dirk Wellham. He was a phenomenal cricketer and an incredible cricket brain. Standing next to him in the slips cordon was a great education.

Michael Clarke was amazing. We watched him come through the grade ranks, playing initially in first grade as a left arm spinner and batted 7 or 8. His professionalism and dedication was evident and his rise to number 1 in the world didn’t surprise any that knew him well

Dirk Wellham

Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?

When we were kings…..about Muhammad Ali

What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?

I could concentrate for 6 hours standing at second slip, yet probably only 45 minutes while batting!                                 

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

Muhammad Ali, Viv Richards and Jack Nicklaus.

Muhammad Ali

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Kerry O’Keeffe and Michael Clarke.

What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?

I loved the battle. The comradery. I can’t think of another sport where you spend so much time with teammates. Seeing teammates perform and a team perform after all the hours put in is incredibly satisfying.

What has been your most memorable moment in cricket? 

Believe it or not it was in 4th grade a couple of years ago.

My eldest son Lachie started playing with Wests and I found myself back on the sideline watching.

I figured the view would be better if I played so I played a handful games and prior to my two hamstring tears from a sniper at Penrith while running a quick single I managed to bat with Lachie a couple of times.

On one occasion we shared a hundred partnership which was so fantastic. Our mid pitch chats were fun as my vocabulary was different to what he had been used to at home. An absolute highlight as I don’t think too many father and sons have been together for a 100 partnership.

I also got to present Lachie with his Western Suburbs First Grade cap which was also a huge thrill

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

In 1994/95 Wests were first grade minor premiers and we won a lot of tight games. One that sticks out as a favourite of mine was against Randwick at Coogee Oval.

It was a Saturday, Sunday game and for whatever reason there was plenty of aggression and words spoken from both sides. We were bowled out for 140 on day one and Randwick were about 4 for 80 at stumps. The next morning our England Test fast bowler Angus Fraser who’d been left out of England Touring team for the Ashes that summer was fired up and took 6 wickets for not many and we bowled Randwick out for 120.

It was an incredible game and in our 2nd innings we lost wickets quickly which meant the game was back in the balance and had become even more competitive. Fortunately we hung on and kept the first innings points and I distinctively remember one of our players being given advice all the way to the boundary rope by a number of Randwick players when he lost his wicket.

After play, having a beer with your team mates and the opposition was one of the greatest parts of the game even if it was after a feisty day on the field.

Some days we would still be in the sheds for 3 or more hours after play. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be that way anymore and I think it’s a real shame.

What are your hobbies?

My wife and my 4 children…..plus skiing!

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

From a West Indian in England “aint no boundary in da sky!”

What are your cricketing ambitions?

To help Western Suburbs become the premier club in Sydney.