About Me
Dirk Wellham
Brisbane, Australia
Played NSW Premier Cricket for Western Suburbs in Sydney and a Life Member of the Club.
Played first class cricket and captain of NSW, Tasmania and Queensland. Life Member of Cricket NSW.
Played 6 Tests for Australia and proud owner of Australian Test number 314
Played first class cricket and captain of NSW, Tasmania and Queensland. Life Member of Cricket NSW.
Played 6 Tests for Australia and proud owner of Australian Test number 314
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My Activity
answered
Q: My son is 15 and loves cricket. During the off-season last year, he worked really hard on his batting.
He was opening the batting and really enjoyed it and wanted to get a lot better. But after two games and he scored 33 and 41 the coach said he batted too slow and for the rest of the season he was batting down the order and didn’t get many chances.
No, he says what’s the point of training this off season. It’s sad as he really does love batting and the game. What advice could anyone offer?
He was opening the batting and really enjoyed it and wanted to get a lot better. But after two games and he scored 33 and 41 the coach said he batted too slow and for the rest of the season he was batting down the order and didn’t get many chances.
No, he says what’s the point of training this off season. It’s sad as he really does love batting and the game. What advice could anyone offer?
A: Thanks for asking...batting is always the balance between run scoring, and not taking too many risks so that you are out. Every ball is an opportunity to score, and the batsperson has to figure out where the best and safest scoring opportunities will be (where the fielders aren't). Equally batters have to be ready to instinctively whack a loose ball for four...batting is about experience, intelligence, and instinct.
It's a silly game isn't it
It's a silly game isn't it
question
Q: As a captain, I believe the following themes can help build a successful team.
• Everyone must think and be sharp to contribute to planning and decisions.
• Anyone can come up with a great idea that can be implemented.
• The captain must lead by performance, particularly when it's darkest – lead the team to a positive outcome. If you are not out, chasing a total, don't leave it to someone else.
• Physically work hard on the skills (especially fielding, Steve Rixon was a terrific example).
• Read the opposition batsmen - if they are tentative, attack and crowd them. If they are aggressive, catching positions are deeper, often. Read how the batsman is likely to want to play your bowler.
• You must be able to bowl the opposition out. Tactically, find a way, don’t give up.
For example, on flat slow Hobart decks, Dave Gilbert's third slip would move to third man because that was the easy shot. Rod Tucker would bowl one ball each over or so, wide down legside, hoping for a cheap catch.
• For every problem, the team and the captain have to provide at least one solution, if not move to plans B and C.
• Team success is everything - egos need massaging, but not at the expense of the team's success. Play that very tough. “I was nasty but only when we needed to be”.
• Establish in the minds of the players why their team is special, historic, deserving, belonging to a bigger cultural picture. Really, what is the team trying to achieve, and for what reasons?
I hope the information is helpful, best of luck to all
• Everyone must think and be sharp to contribute to planning and decisions.
• Anyone can come up with a great idea that can be implemented.
• The captain must lead by performance, particularly when it's darkest – lead the team to a positive outcome. If you are not out, chasing a total, don't leave it to someone else.
• Physically work hard on the skills (especially fielding, Steve Rixon was a terrific example).
• Read the opposition batsmen - if they are tentative, attack and crowd them. If they are aggressive, catching positions are deeper, often. Read how the batsman is likely to want to play your bowler.
• You must be able to bowl the opposition out. Tactically, find a way, don’t give up.
For example, on flat slow Hobart decks, Dave Gilbert's third slip would move to third man because that was the easy shot. Rod Tucker would bowl one ball each over or so, wide down legside, hoping for a cheap catch.
• For every problem, the team and the captain have to provide at least one solution, if not move to plans B and C.
• Team success is everything - egos need massaging, but not at the expense of the team's success. Play that very tough. “I was nasty but only when we needed to be”.
• Establish in the minds of the players why their team is special, historic, deserving, belonging to a bigger cultural picture. Really, what is the team trying to achieve, and for what reasons?
I hope the information is helpful, best of luck to all
answered
Q: Round 9 of the 2023-24 NSW Premier Cricket season takes on a special significance for Western Suburbs District Cricket Club and Manly Warringah District Cricket Club.
On Saturday 16 December 2023 Western Suburbs and Manly will play an historic day night at Wade Park in Orange in the Central West of New South Wales, some 250 kilometres west of Sydney.
It is a tremendous initiative by both clubs and an exciting weekend for all cricket fans in Orange and surrounding districts.
The brainchild of Manly’s Vice President David Gainsford and Western Suburbs President Mike Swan. Both should be congratulated for their proactive support for regional cricket in New South Wales.
David Gainsford has a very strong connection with cricket in the country as he spent his early years in Narromine and his father Brian was a long serving Chairman of Country Cricket NSW.
On Saturday 16 December 2023 Western Suburbs and Manly will play an historic day night at Wade Park in Orange in the Central West of New South Wales, some 250 kilometres west of Sydney.
It is a tremendous initiative by both clubs and an exciting weekend for all cricket fans in Orange and surrounding districts.
The brainchild of Manly’s Vice President David Gainsford and Western Suburbs President Mike Swan. Both should be congratulated for their proactive support for regional cricket in New South Wales.
David Gainsford has a very strong connection with cricket in the country as he spent his early years in Narromine and his father Brian was a long serving Chairman of Country Cricket NSW.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/32/paul-ryan/blog/1818/western-suburbs-and-manly-warringah-to-play-an-historical-nsw-premier-cricket-day-night-game-in-regional-nsw
A: It's a good deck at Wade Park, with fond memories for me.
answered
Q: Vale Betty Davidson
Everyone connected with the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club is saddened by the loss of one our nearest and dearest, Betty Davidson, who passed away peacefully on Saturday 1 July 2023.
The late Alan Davidson AM MBE and Betty were married for seventy years.
Such a formidable combination, with Betty at Alan’s side as they organised functions and Alan conducted his duties as President of Cricket NSW over a period of 33 years.
Prior to that, during Alan’s illustrious cricket career, Betty was the rock their family was built on as Alan toured the world.
Always bright and cheerful, Betty Davidson made an impression on all she met. We’re all better people for knowing her.
She was a good judge of horse flesh, carefully scanning the form and almost inevitably seeing her $1- selections get home each Saturday.
Rest in a well-deserved peace, Betty Davidson.
You will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
Everyone connected with the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club is saddened by the loss of one our nearest and dearest, Betty Davidson, who passed away peacefully on Saturday 1 July 2023.
The late Alan Davidson AM MBE and Betty were married for seventy years.
Such a formidable combination, with Betty at Alan’s side as they organised functions and Alan conducted his duties as President of Cricket NSW over a period of 33 years.
Prior to that, during Alan’s illustrious cricket career, Betty was the rock their family was built on as Alan toured the world.
Always bright and cheerful, Betty Davidson made an impression on all she met. We’re all better people for knowing her.
She was a good judge of horse flesh, carefully scanning the form and almost inevitably seeing her $1- selections get home each Saturday.
Rest in a well-deserved peace, Betty Davidson.
You will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
A: Rest in great peace together, Betty and Alan.
