Brad King - control your own performance
Armidale District Cricket Association | November 08, 2023
Brad King has played all his cricket in the Northern NSW town of Armidale.
He started playing for Hillgrove Cricket Club when he was 15 and has played with “The Grove” ever since. He is still their first-grade captain and continues to make a very valuable contribution to cricket in Armidale.
Turning 50 and Brad is also playing Veterans Cricket and was recently selected for the NSW Kookaburra to play in the Over 50s National Championships in Victoria in December.
Brad and his family run the local pet shop - Armidale Pet Shop and Aquarium
Let’s find out more about Brad’s journey in the game.
What year you were born?
1973
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
First game of cricket was with Martins Gully, I think I was around 8 years old. Not too sure how I went.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played my primary school cricket with Martins Gully and my high school cricket with Armidale High School. I started my senior cricket with Hillgrove Cricket Club in 1988 when I was 15 playing 5th grade.
Over the next few years, I progressed through the grades and played my first-grade debut game when I was 17. I didn’t really play any junior representative cricket and made my senior debut for Armidale when I was around 19. In 1999-00 I captained Hillgrove 1st grade and I’ve captained Armidale and Northern Inland representative cricket teams
Brad King batting
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
I made my debut for Hillgrove 5th grade when I was 15. In my first grade debut I made 65
What was the highest grade you played in senior cricket?
I captained and played for Northen Inland which is like zone cricket in Northern NSW. From memory I made a couple of 30s and took a few wickets in each match.
I have also played in a few Tooheys Cup matches and other matches that involved NSW state players which was great fun.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Batting allrounder in my younger years but as I got older, I stopped bowling medium pace and just bowled the odd off spinner.
What were your strengths as a player?
Not too sure what my strengths are or were really.
As a batsman I liked to take it up to the bowler and put the pressure back on to them. As a bowler I prided myself and line and length bowling. I also liked the challenge of trying to set a batsman up for a dismissal. As a captain I believe I read the game well.
Who was your childhood hero?
Sir Vivian Richards
What’s been your highest score in senior cricket?
My highest score is 171 against Easts at the Armidale Sportsground in 2010
What’s been your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I remember getting 11 wickets in a 2-day 4th grade semi-final.
Also 9 for 51 in another 2-day game against City 1st grade at the sportsground
My best in a single innings was 6-17 vs Easts.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Andrew Starr- tall left arm quick, he was all class and enjoyed the battle. Helluva nice guy
Craig Trindall- very classy bowler in the typical tall West Indian style, beautiful action and did plenty with the ball.
Adam Majoribanks- Left arm quick, if you had a bat in your hand, he hated you.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Neil Baillie- right arm off spinner, he just didn’t give you anything to hit away
Andrew Newling- right arm off spinner who was always just investing when I got him away to the boundary, nearly always got me caught at long on or long off when trying to hit him out of the ground
Brad Schumacher- had pretty good control for a leg spinner
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Lachlan Fulloon- classy and elegant batsman who rarely through his wicket away
Todd Francis- Another batsman that was difficult to get out.
Mark Haydon- Gutsy and determined batsman.
Hillgrove First Grade
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Warwick Browne - we were in 7 for 158 against Ex Services and Wok came in at no 8. Almost right from the get-go he was scoring runs at will. Not at any stage did he look like getting out it was just a matter of our last few batters hanging in there with him. He hit the bowlers to all parts of the ground. We ended up declaring at 8 for 353 and he was on 101 no. A truly remarkable inning from the no 8 batting position.
Was there any bowler or batsman in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Greg Carson and I had a running battle over several years where we used to get each other out. He would often have me caught and bowled or LBW. I think he finished on top getting me out 11 times and I had him out 8 times.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in senior cricket?
We were playing Warilla in a Country Cup final 8 teams match and the 2 opening bowlers for them were bowling fairly rapid. We had lost 3 wickets for around 25 or so and I came out to bat with Lachlan Fulloon.
The openers were just finishing their spell and the first change bowler came on. He bowled his first ball to Fulloon, a leg bye to fine leg. I defended the next ball before playing and missing the next 3. He walked down the wicket and said to me are you actually trying to hit those. I laughed and said yeah I’m trying. The next ball was short and fairly quick, I was going to unload on a pull shot and the ball thundered into my bat and the ball spat out to cover. I was then beginning to think I am way out of my depth here.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Tom Groth is a pretty handy keeper.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Garry Phillips (Gadget)- I’ve seen him call players back after been given out LBW when clearly, they had hit the ball first. He was also a gun bat.
Andrew Starr- Awesome bowler and more than handy with the bat too. Ultra-competitive on the field but we were pretty good mates off the field.
New England Veterans Cricket team
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Blair Chalmers - He led by example with the bat even in the toughest of times, he read the game so well. He managed to get under the skin of opposing players without being disrespectful to them.
What are the two attributes of a captain you admire most?
Respect for both the opposition and their own players. Be hard but fair.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Adam O’Sullivan- we would talk anything but cricket on the cricket field.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Playing against Easts we were sent in on a sticky wicket. Pretty sure were 3 for not many and I came out to bat. Andrew Starr had his tail up and was charging in and I've played and missed a few times. He walked down the wicket and says to me “game on Kingy” and I said “that’s what I'm here for let's go”. We both laughed and got on with the game.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
After facing some ordinary bowling in the nets on Thursday where I got a lot of balls going way down the leg side, I came out to bat in first grade on the Saturday. After getting a start a bowler came on and was bowling a few balls down the leg side, not just down the leg but way down. On one of these balls I swung the bat one handed, the ball proceeded to hit the back of the bat and I was caught at gully. Very, very, embarrassing!!
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Stephanie Rice
Ricky Ponting
Roger Federer
(Warnie would have been at the top of my list)
Roger Federer
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Kerry O’Keeffe
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Armidale Sportsground when it was just a cricket ground.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Way too many to mention, mostly the lifelong friendships
The 171 against Easts was pretty memorable too.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
When we won the 2011-12 Grand Final we were chasing 239 for victory, at 9-182 it wasn’t looking likely for a win. Our number 9 and 11 put on 57 for the last wicket and we snuck home. Talk about snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Never say never! That was a pretty good moment.
My most proudest moment in cricket was playing a couple of seasons in first grade with my son Harrison
Harrison King and Brad King
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Adam O’Sullivan
Matt Schaefer
Lachlan Fulloon
There would be a lot of topics covered here and not all sport!
What are your hobbies?
Fishing, Golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
“You can only control your performance”.
What’s your occupation?
Pet Shop Owner - Armidale Pet Shop and Aquarium
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
After resigning from the preparing turf wickets and being representative convenor for over 10 years and coaching junior cricket I still play and captain Hillgrove 1st grade, coach the grade players at Hillgrove, play for New England Vets and have just been selected to play for NSW Kookaburras to play in the Over 50s National Championships in Victoria in December.
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Cricket is played outside of Newcastle, Sydney, and Wollongong Support the regional areas and get more kids involved at the grassroot level. Keep it fun for everyone but don’t lose the great aspects of cricket.
Keep bringing the big names and games to the regional areas because it's great for the sport and people to see and meet the big names in person.
Legend. Seen that shot a few times!