David Somerville - cricket is in my blood
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | July 15, 2023
David Somerville made his first grade debut for Randwick Cricket Club during the 1988/89 season and in 7 seasons for Randwick he took 142 first grade wickets and 197 grade wickets overall.
As a fast bowler with the pace to be a finalist in the Gestetner NSW pace bowling challenge in 1988 David also played for NSW Country.
Let’s find out more about David’s journey in the game.
What year you were born?
24th November 1966
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
From memory first game of cricket was when I was at Narrabri (North West NSW) in the mid 1970’s playing in the local age and school competition. It was at this stage I took a hat trick in a final (first 3 balls!) in the Under 11-12 division and also represented the North West Primary Region at the State Primary Cricket Carnival in 1978. Looking at the programme (needed to dust it off) players such as Justin Kenny, Scott Hookey and Jaimie Bray swung the willow at the same time
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Though I was asked to play for grade at Narrabri, I made my debut in 1st grade with Thirroul (Wollongong) in 1982-83 against Balgownie. Fortunately the cricketing god’s looked over me and I represented Illawarra from the U 16’s division through to the seniors until I joined in Randwick 1988-89. I was selected in the NSW Country in 1986-87, 1987-88 and cap number 27
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
Debut for Randwick Cricket Club 1st Grade in opening round 1988-89 vs Fairfield. (1-49 from 16 overs)
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Definitely a quick bowler who enjoyed fielding. I believed I could hold an end up when batting but most of the time my team mates showered to go home.
My Randwick record of having more wickets than runs speak for itself. I always enjoyed batting on the edge wicket as I could hit it off the square. There was a game where Trevor Jay and I put on a significant partnership and after Trevor was dismissed we were asked to bat again. Thus out I walked as an opener and did not bother the scorer too much!
Therefore I did open both bowling and batting in first grade.
As a fast bowler I was a State Finalist at the SCG for the Gestetner pace bowling challenge in December 1988
David Somerville at North Sydney Oval
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Illawarra 6-27 vs Wests from 20.2 overs 1988-89
Randwick 7-68 vs Bankstown from 25 overs 1989-90
5-19 (Tooheys Cup) Berry
Randwick v Bankstown 12 March 1990
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Wayne Holdsworth and Andrew Jones - venom and pace
Special mention to my partner Mike Whitney who had a bigger heart than Phar Lap.
Peter March, complete gentleman until you gave him a cricket ball.
Greg Rowell, Phil Alley and of course Anthony Stuart
Wayne Holdsworth
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Can’t go past my team mate Trevor Jay. Plus Ken Hall, Nazir (Charlie) Javed, Greg Matthews and the legend David Hourn,
Trevor Jay
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
As a quick I didn’t have much time for the batters but looking back I relished bowling against the NSW batters whenever they played. Special memories bowling against Martin Haywood, Phil Emery, Steve Small, Corey Richards, Mark Taylor and a young Adam Gilchrist.
Martin Haywood
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Only two players come to mind. Richard Chee Quee and Rod Davidson. Both professionals within their own right. Proud to call them my team mates.
In a tight fix and need runs.. Andrew Millican, Paul Toole and Marty Haywood.
Richard Chee Quee
Was there any batsman in particular who whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
As a bowler my job was to get them out. I hope that they knew when facing me it wasn’t going to be easy…
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
Naturally my first grade debut and probably debut in NSW Country. But in recollection if players believe in their own ability and learn from the result, and use the experience to grow, they will become better players for the experience.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Andrew “Spike “ Millican, no doubt. Great cricket brain and should’ve in my opinion being selected to play for NSW.
Lesser known, Richard Bennison, from Randwick. Consummate in his work ethic. Fantastic team mate and club member
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Mike “Roy “ Whitney. He’s the reason I went to Randwick – you could throw him the ball anytime of the day and he’d cause trouble for the opposition.
Trevor Jay – he never gave in and his record speaks for itself.
Mike Whitney
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Andrew Millican. He was so passionate when he put the Wicks cap on and he knew his players well. Only Captain to tell me that I was dropped from 1st Grade due to Mike Whitney or Anthony Stuart coming back into the team from NSW duties and knowing training would be hard as I would be trying to prove my point in the nets.
Andrew Millican
Who was your childhood hero?
Had the honour in meeting Harold Larwood at his home. No comment needed and he’s been a hero ever since. My collecting memorabilia is based around him. Enjoy all the players from 1920’s -30’s.
What are your hobbies?
Current interest is researching cricket history and helping fellow researchers. Recently published a book, and in the process of another two.
As a father there’s a continual interest in developing my boys in the game. Son Andrew, did me proud in gaining a NSW Country cap and Matthew in playing 1st Grade within the Newcastle competition. Funnily enough my eldest Ryan, never followed cricket but he was a natural leg spinner, work that out
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
All I can advise is, as a fast bowler, it is not an easy trade but if you do the hard work behind the scenes and the rewards are very enjoyable.
The miles of running, weights etc that no one knows about, only you. To become a fast bowler, you need, and it comes from deep down, to want to send the batter back. It never leaves you.
It’s nice to know that after all these years, people still come up to me and remember who I am /was. No NSW Baggy Blue, but a fair dinkum competitor who played the game as it should be, hard but fair. I hope that is what I am remembered for.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Very much so. When asked, I coach fast bowling for Newcastle and Toronto Representative and Club teams I’ve been doing it for quite a few years and though I can’t bowl the ball as quick, it’s nice to see what I provide to the players puts a smile on their face.
Can I also add and acknowledge how much that my brother Peter has done for the game of cricket especially for Wollongong University Cricket Club as a player and as a Clubman. Pete has achieved so much within the game and especially off the ground. It’s not what you put into the game itself but what you can continue to give. I’m very proud of Peter’s contribution to cricket in the Illawarra region.
David Somerville - Randwick Cricket Club
David Somerville was a fast bowler with a good turn of pace. “Speed-gun” measurements weren’t available in his day, but good judges claimed he would have nudged 140 km if timed. Certainly Bankstown felt the full force of his thunderbolts in 1989-90 when he took 7-68 off 25 overs on an unresponsive Coogee wicket to set up a solid win for his team. Four of his wickets were clean bowled with a fifth caught and bowled.
David Kerry Somerville was born at Lismore, NSW, on 24 November 1966. Following a family move to Narrabri, he started playing cricket and had his first taste of “rep” cricket when selected in the North West Primary team. A work transfer for his father to the Illawarra area saw the youngster turn out with the Thirroul Cricket Club, making their 1st XI at the tender age of 16. His fast bowling skills quickly developed and in 1986-87 he became capped player no. 27 when he opened the bowling for the NSW County team. His raw pace also saw him make the final of the Gestetner fast- bowling competition at the SCG.
In 1988-89, a work move to Sydney and a desire to test himself in Sydney Grade Cricket, brought Somerville to Randwick. The opportunity to perform under the watchful eye of former Test fast bowler Mike Whitney, was another attraction for the young quick. And that was a plan which worked perfectly, as in his debut match against Fairfield at Coogee in round 1 of the 1988-89 season, he and Whitney shared the new ball. They also shared the first two wickets with Somerville enticing a catch behind off the opening bat to finish with an impressive 1-49 off 16 pacey overs. His skills were again highlighted just a few matches later, when he led the charge to defeat Gordon at Killara, with a 4-68 performance.
Gordon was on the receiving end again the following season, with Somerville returning 3-62 in a match eventually washed out with no result. A 3-50 effort off 24 overs followed next game playing University of NSW which was the lead up to Bankstown’s demolition for 255 at Coogee, with the young quick producing what turned out to be, career-best figures of 7-68. His effort was awarded the top points in The Sydney Morning Herald Player of the Season competition. He also played a couple of matches in 2s that season when Whitney returned from State duty, taking 5-53 against Parramatta.
Over the following three seasons, Somerville was a leading wicket-taker for Randwick’s 1st Grade team. By the end of 1992-93, he had taken 119 1st Grade wickets which dwarfed the meagre 88 runs he had scored. Included in that tally were 41 scalps in 1992-93–his best season. His average was just 17.73 runs per wicket at an economy rate of only 2.90 runs for each of the 249 overs he sent down. A feature of his play, quite apart from the pace he generated, was the consistent line he bowled over long periods.
A back injury reduced his 1st Grade appearances in 1993-94 although he managed to play in the Resch’s Cup Limited Overs Competition which Randwick won, giving David his first Sydney Grade Cricket premiership. Despite rehab limitations, he came back through 2nd Grade taking 18 wickets, including a 4-23 performance to set up an outright win over Western Suburbs after the side was behind on the first innings.
By 1994-95, an injured knee was playing havoc with the 28 year old fast bowler and he played just a handful of games across 1sts, 2nds, 3rds and 4ths. Early in the season, Somerville returned figures of 3-18, 3-39 and 2-39 in 1sts while in the last round in 3rds, skipper Denis Hinds claimed in his annual report that his 4-52 to knock over Bankstown showed that “he is a great bowler and should get all thoughts of retirement out of his mind”.
Unfortunately, retirement was far from being out of his mind and at the end of that season, the enthusiastic cricketer succumbed to his troublesome knee and brought his stirring career to an end. In seven seasons, David Somerville captured 197 Grade wickets plus another four in under 21 Poidevin-Gray to nudge him over the 200 mark, to an impressive 201 wickets. Of those, 142 were in 1st Grade. His 154 Grade runs and 172 in all, confirmed that his batting skills were well below his fast bowling expertise.
His loss was a blow to the club as he was a keen trainer and one always willing to help up-and-coming youngsters. A member of the club Management Committee, he was also an enthusiastic volunteer and helper who was first to offer to lay covers, turn-up in working bees, represent the club at junior cricket presentations and the like. He also had a keen interest in coaching which made him an obvious choice to take over as Development Officer following the resignation of Barry Davison in January 1995. He had also coached Randwick Green Shield under 16 teams as well as assisting with the Poidevin-Gray under 21 teams.
A devoted club man, he was named the winner of the Tim Towers Memorial Clubman of the Year award at the conclusion of 1993- 94. He had been given the honour of being a “capped “player the previous season. Interestingly, his involvement with cricket oval preparation led to a career in that field and today he is one of Peter Devlin’s most trusted lieutenants at North Sydney Oval-second in cricket venues in Sydney behind the SCG.
