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Geoff Williams

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Sydney, Australia

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Q: Who is the fastest bowler you’ve ever faced in a game of cricket?

A: Without a doubt Jeff Thompson.

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Q: In the early 70s I was playing for Central Cumberland District Cricket Club (CCDCC) against Balmain at the SCG. Balmain and NSW opening batsmen, Tony Steele, was in superb form and I have never heard a batsman sledge a fielding side the way Tony did that day. He would say things like " easy", "that is crap", "don't bowl that shit to me" etc. as he hit another boundary. He didn't shut up.

Our opening bowler, Bill Lothian, moved me to fine leg right on the boundary near the Brewongle Stand. Tony Steele saw this field change and practised playing a hook shot to which I cheekily responded by pretending to take a catch. Tony saw this a just gave a mocking laugh. Two balls later, Billy bowled a short ball which Tony hooked. I did not have to move, the catch was hit straight to me (it would have been a six these days). I really enjoyed mimicing Tony's mocking laugh as he trudged off the field.

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Q: Back in the early 80s John Benaud returned to Cumberland as First Grade Captain after stints at Randwick and Penrith.

During a preseason training session, we were having slip catching practice. We were standing in an arc about 15 metres from JB who was smashing catches to us. He mishit one and I ran in to pick up the ball and lob it back to him from about 6 metres away. To my great surprise, he smashed the ball hard straight at me. I instantly saw red as I caught the ball and threw it hard straight back at him, yelling "What are you trying to do, kill me?".

JB just played the ball with a straight bat and said "You will field in the gully."

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Q: Mark Van Epen – my best captain

The best captain I played under was Keith Stimson at Balmain.

He was captain of the 3rd grade team at around 50 years of age. He played many years of first grade as a successful left hand bat and captained the 1st grade team for a number of seasons leading them to the 1st grade premiership in 1967/68. His oozed experience on the field and in the dressing shed.

He was always calm and read the game well, knowing when to attack, when to defend and when to try something different. He had the respect of the players through example and knew how to get the best out of his players.

Keith’s two best leadership qualities were reading the situation of the game and man management.

One specific example of his leadership was in a game against Uni of NSW in which we had 6 overs to get 55 runs to win outright. I wasn’t confident we could do it, but Keith was always positive and looking for a way to win.

I was an opening batsman and Keith batted 6. Keith said, “Mark you and I are opening, and we are going to get these runs”. After 5 and half overs we got the runs at 0-56, I was 5 not out and Keith was 51 not out.

Keith was a life member of the Balmain District Cricket Club and the new Sydney Cricket Club. He passed away in 2018, aged 92.

A: Mark van Epen
Early in the 1981/82 season I was playing for Central Cumberland District Cricket Club 2nd Grade against Balmain at Drummoyne Oval. We scored just over 300 on the first day and had Balmain in deep trouble at 8 for 90 on a dampish wicket at lunch on the second day. During the lunch break, the Balmain captain, Mark van Epen approached our captain, Johnny Aitken, and said he would declare if we forfeited our second innings and we could play for outright points. J. A. put this offer to a team vote. I was the only person who argued against it, saying the wicket had dried out, they had a strong batting side and we were giving them two sessions to score just over 200 runs. So we forfeited our second innings and Balmain ended up getting the runs with only a couple of wickets down. I was the only recognised bowler who did not bowl in the second innings. This upset me greatly because even though I argued against the declaration, I would not consider doing anything but my very best for the team.
We ended up Minor Premiers and played Balmain, who had scraped into the semis because of that outright victory against us, in the final at Old Kings Oval. Cumberland won the toss and sent Balmain in on a damp wicket. I was brought to bowl my left arm orthodox deliveries fairly early and took a couple of quick wickets. When playing for Balmain a couple of seasons later, Mark van Epen told me that he regarded me as our team's most dangerous bowler and instructed his batsmen to attack me. He reasoned that if they hit a few boundaries off me that I would be taken off. That is exactly what happened. I was not brought back on to bowl until more than 70 runs had been added. I took 7 for 44 and we ended up losing by 65 runs.
Mark van Epen had outfoxed our captain twice in the season to win his team a premiership.

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A: Mark van Epen was a fine captain in his own right. His astute reading of a game enabled Balmain to win the second grade premiership in 1981/82.

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Q: Andrew Knight - my best captain

I played under some very astute captains however, undoubtedly the best captain that I played under was Former NSW and Queensland batsman Peter Clifford.

Peter was always thinking 2-3 overs ahead of most players on game days, however he was also thinking about his team winning matches 2-3 games ahead. In Peter’s side you knew your role and what was expected of you. If you got it right, he told you – if you got it wrong, he told you! There were no grey areas, however you had the opportunity to grow and develop as a player. He always wanted players to improve, and he backed those players who wanted to improve.

He was also prepared to try something different, sometimes to the surprise of his players, however he had built up credits with his players and they had confidence in him that he had seen something different, or an opportunity was available. It was no surprise when it came off and more often than not it did.

An example of this came during a semifinal in Premier 1st grade. South Brisbane had our Toombul side in all sorts of trouble. I hadn’t been having a great year with the bat and was playing more as bowler than a batsman and was slated to come in at no 9. At 4 for less than 40 he told me to pad up and go in next. Why, who knew? Cliffo had a thought. Soon we were 7-70 and as minor premiers not looking great. He came up to me at the lunch break and said, “just bat”. Hardly inspirational stuff! I knew that he had confidence in me. Time to repay the faith. Well, some 7 hours later I was the last player out. We had recovered a bit. All out 303 – I finished up with 157. We ended up making the Grand Final and winning the premiership 2 two weeks later.

Sometime later, I asked him the question as to why he put we in at 7 that day, his reply – “You were hitting them well during the week, I knew it would be your day”. As I said earlier, he had seen something and seized the opportunity!

A: Early in the 1981/82 season I was playing for Central Cumberland District Cricket Club 2nd Grade against Balmain at Drummoyne Oval. We scored just over 300 on the first day and had Balmain in deep trouble at 8 for 90 on a dampish wicket at lunch on the second day. During the lunch break, the Balmain captain, Mark van Epen approached our captain, Johnny Aitken, and said he would declare if we forfeited our second innings and we could play for outright points. J. A. put this offer to a team vote. I was the only person who argued against it, saying the wicket had dried out, they had a strong batting side and we were giving them two sessions to score just over 200 runs. So we forfeited our second innings and Balmain ended up getting the runs with only a couple of wickets down. I was the only recognised bowler who did not bowl in the second innings. This upset me greatly because even though I argued against the declaration, I would not consider doing anything but my very best for the team.
We ended up Minor Premiers and played Balmain, who had scraped into the semis because of that outright victory against us, in the final at Old Kings Oval. Cumberland won the toss and sent Balmain in on a damp wicket. I was brought to bowl my left arm orthodox deliveries fairly early and took a couple of quick wickets. When playing for Balmain a couple of seasons later, Mark van Epen told me that he regarded me as our team's most dangerous bowler and instructed his batsmen to attack me. He reasoned that if they hit a few boundaries off me that I would be taken off. That is exactly what happened. I was not brought back on to bowl until more than 70 runs had been added. I took 7 for 44 and we ended up losing by 65 runs.
Mark van Epen had outfoxed our captain twice in the season to win his team a premiership.

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Q: My son is 15 and bowls off spin and we’d like to ask about the difference between bowling overspin or side spin. He bowls more side spin now but as he gets taller the coaches are saying he needs to bowl more overspin.

Can you help about the benefits of both?

A: I am an ex left arm orthodox bowler (75 yo). I was lucky enough to play 20 years of grade cricket in Sydney- half of that in 1st Grade. Your son should concentrate on perfecting bowling side spin. That is your stock ball. Learn to perfect it bowling over and round the wicket with variations in pace, close to the stumps and wider out. It is the ball you bowl probably 90% of the time. Bowling over or top spin is something he will need as variation as well as an arm ball as he progresses. However side spin should be his stock ball. When I was first selected in 1st Grade I could only bowl side spin but could bowl it very well with variations in pace and angle of delivery. Hope this helps.

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Q: I was given a few tastes of first grade at the age of 17 and was captained by former NSW and Australian 2nd X1 batsman Tony Steele. Tony was a hard man but a very fair man for those that got to know him. Tony was a perfectionist in every venture he undertook, socially and in his business life. If it was a game of tiddly winks, tennis or golf Tony would want to win and find a way to take the cash every time.
My first-grade introduction was a baptism of fire and some of the best learning experiences ever. I was now playing with grown men who were duelling it out like there was no tomorrow which I took parts of into my future cricket career.
One of those early games was played at Manly Oval on a flat track of rolled baked mud recovering from the rugby season. When Tony gestured me up from fine leg for a bowl and placed the ball in my hand, he looked me in the eyes and said, “nothing short to this bloke. His name is Peter Toohey, and he is one of the best hookers and pullers in the game and doesn’t own a baggy green cap for nothing.”
Tony set the field for a flat deck accordingly. Yeah right, I thought. I used most of the first over to loosen up and said to myself it’s time to test this bloke out. The next ball was a rank half tracker that didn’t gut up above waist height that Peter pulled in front of square hard and flat. The ball didn’t go above head height and hit the mesh on top of the brick wall on the bowling club side of Manly oval.
After that over Tony called out Andy, got a sec. Tony’s summary and advice post my first over was ……. “If you bowl another short ball to Rats in this session, I will not bowl you again and you will be running from fine leg to fine leg for the rest of the game.”
My next over and contrary to Tony’s advice ……. I tried the old 3 card trick on the 5th or 6th ball with everything I had and was dispatched high and long into the top of the Slaggy Miller stand that backs on to Sydney Road. All be it over fine leg. I bowled 2 overs that game and true to his word Tony had me running from fine leg to fine leg till the close of play. Valuable lesson learnt. Don’t wear speedos under your creams.

A: My first experience playing against Tony Steele was in 1972. I was playing for Central Cumberland District Cricket Club against Balmain at the SCG. Tony Steele opened the batting for Balmain. I was shocked at how Tony sledged the bowlers, I had never heard anything like it before. He was in superb form and kept telling our bowlers how crap they were each time he played a fine shot for a boundary.
Our opening bowler, Bill Lothian, then moved me to the fine leg boundary in front of the Brewongle Stand. Tony saw this fielding change and practiced playing a hook shot which I responded to by pretending to take a catch. When Tony saw this he gave a mocking laugh. A few balls later Bill bowled a bouncer which Tony hooked in the air straight to me, I didn't have to move. I then delighted in mimicking Ton's mocking laugh as he trudged off the field.

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Q: I’m a left arm orthodox bowler and like to attack the off stump. Should I have a 5/4 field with 5 on the off side or 5 on the leg side?

A: Hi Tim
I am an ex left arm orthodox spin bowler (too old now) and I agree with most of what Paul Ryan says. Generally as a finger spinner you will come on to bowl against set batsmen and often with a ball that is far from new. Sometimes a batsman will have a rush of blood just because you are a spin bowler and gift you an early wicket but most times you have to strangle them for runs and then the wickets come. Most definitely start with 5 on the off side. A slip, backward point, cover point, shortish cover and mid off saving a single. On the on side I would start with a fine leg saving one at about 45 degrees, a forward square leg, mid wicket and mid on all saving one. You want bring the batsman forward most of the time and with variations in pace, angle and spin create a situation where the batsman is more worried about losing his wicket than scoring runs. The only way they can score is by playing a good shot through the field or risk hitting over the top.
I would always have a backward point not a square point. He has more chance of fielding cut shots and often attempted wild hits to cow corner will slice off the bat and give a catch to backward point. This is a starting field for normal conditions. Mid on and mid off can be moved back if needed as well as mid wicket if the batsmen are getting on top.

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Q: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen happen in a game of cricket?

A: In the early 70s I was playing for Central Cumberland District Cricket Club (CCDCC) against Balmain at the SCG. Balmain and NSW opening batsmen, Tony Steele, was in superb form and I have never heard a batsman sledge a fielding side the way Tony did that day. He would say things like " easy", "that is crap", "don't bowl that shit to me" etc. as he hit another boundary. He didn't shut up.
Our opening bowler, Bill Lothian, moved me to fine leg right on the boundary near the Brewongle Stand. Tony Steele saw this field change and practised playing a hook shot to which I cheekily responded by pretending to take a catch. Tony saw this a just gave a mocking laugh. Two balls later, Billy bowled a short ball which Tony hooked. I did not have to move, the catch was hit straight to me (it would have been a six these days). I really enjoyed mimicing Tony's mocking laugh as he trudged off the field.

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Q: As a young captain I’d like to ask why the Gully position is popular for fast and medium pace bowlers. I tend to see more balls go the 3rd or 4 slip area and wondered should I be using them instead of gully?

A: So many variables in this. It depends on the the pitch, batsman and type of bowler. You are the captain, go with your gut feeling. Whenever possible I like to have a natural left hander in the gully to a right hand batsman and a right hander at slip. That way the fielders strong side is covering the large gap between slip and gully, effectively making the gap smaller.

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Q: If you have a right arm off spinner bowling to a right hand batsman is it better to have a close in fielder on the leg side or offside and what are the determining factors?

A: If you are spinning the ball from off to leg the first option should be for close in fielders on the on side. The batsman is more likely to get an inside edge onto his pads and pop up on the onside.
I used to play with Bobby Aitken who would field that close at silly mid on that he would try and dive forward and catch the ball just after it came off the face of the bat. I remember one time during a team discussion someone asked him why he fielded so close. He answered that you were less likely to get hurt close in because the ball hadn't had time to build up speed. He wasn't a physicist.

blog post

Cricket Recollections - Geoff Williams

Around 1963 I used to ride my bike down Pennant Hills Road every day during the school holidays and play “Test Matches” in George Horwood’s (one of our coaches) backyard against his son Richa ...

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Q: My son is 14 and I want to help him play the pull and hook shots the right way. Is it better to teach him to play the shots with his hands coming up under the ball or try and get his hands up higher and over the ball so he has a better chance to hit the ball along the ground?

A: Teach your son to get his hands higher and roll the wrists at point of contact when playing cross bat shots. This will enable him to hit with power along the ground. The majority of dismissals are caught out. Bradman hit 618 fours and only six sixes in his Test career.

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Q: I’m 23 and a captain in my first season. I want to ask why spinners are so quick to want a fielder at deep point. In my opinion it’s just an easy single for the batter?

A: I was a left arm orthodox spin bowler and played more than 20 years of grade cricket in Sydney. I never ever had a fielder on the boundary on the offside in more than 5,000 overs (650 wickets). As Paul said you don't set fields for bad bowling. Had a lot of catches taken at a regulation backward point when batsmen would try to hit the ball on the on side but would only succeed in slicing it to backward point. A cover point on the boundary has become fashionable these days in limited over cricket but is wasted in normal two day games. It is a negative position. If batsmen keep hitting you there you are bowling too short. Pitch it up!

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Q: I’m a fast medium bowler and would like to ask what bowlers are thinking about and looking at when they’re running into to bowl?

A: Decide what ball you are going to bowl before you commence your run up and where you want it to pitch (yorker, good length or short) and pick a spot on the pitch where you want it to land. Always pick a spot never an area. It is always easier to hit an area if you are trying to hit a particular spot

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