Dean Tuckwell - fun and adventure
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Brisbane | January 27, 2023
Dean Tuckwell had a long and decorated career in Queensland Premier Cricket. He represented Queensland in Under 16 and Under 19 at the National Championships and is a premiership winning players who played 21 season of first grade cricket.
He has a love of adventure which is also the way he played his cricket. Let’s find out more about Dean’s journey in the game.
What year you were born?
1967 in Adelaide
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I reckon I was about 9 and in what was to become a recurring theme failed to score in my first game – I remember the cork ball jagging quite sharply on the 3rd bounce and cannoning into the stumps
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played junior cricket with North Star on the North side of Brisbane and as I got older would play juniors in the morning before turning out for their senior Warehouse team in the afternoon.
At Norths I played under 18 & 19 and a season of 3rd and 2nd grade before making my 1st grade debut with Colts under John Buchanan. After a 2nd year at Colts under Ian Greig I moved to Wests where I played the majority of my cricket only punctuated by 2 enjoyable years for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers.
I also played 2 years in the Central Lancashire League for Royton and a lot of Winter cricket with Mater Hill. All up I think I played 21 seasons of 1st grade and won 2 premierships and 2 One Day titles with Wests as well as under 18, 19 & 3rd grade with Norths.
What other sports do you play?
A bit of tennis, Aussie Rules, Rugby, Squash & Athletics but really I played cricket whenever I could.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I think I was 15 playing in the under 18s but don’t think I scored too many
At what age did you make your first grade debut in Brisbane Grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I was 18 and was stumped for 0 off the bowling of Greg Ward but did take 2 wickets opening the bowling which doesn’t paint a flattering picture of Colts’ bowling attack or Easts top order. I did manage a century in my 2nd match though.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Always an aggressive top order batsman, I did bowl medium pace when I was younger but gave that up together with running between wickets in my mid-20s. There are a handful of 1st grade batsmen who should be ashamed of getting out to my dreadful leg spin.
What was your highest score in Brisbane First Grade cricket?
166 opening the batting for Wests against University at Uni
What were your best bowling figures in Brisbane First Grade cricket?
4/30 for Wests at Graceville against Souths
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
We defeated Sandgate-Redcliffe by about 400 runs to win Wests’ first A-Grade premiership in 20 years bowling them out for 50 in their 2nd innings. It went some way to making up for them bowling us out for 30 the previous year when we were chasing 80 to win the flag.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Steve Paulsen scored a run-a-ball hundred in the above-mentioned grand final against Sandgate.
They were our great rivals having defeated us in the 2 preceding grand finals and we held a narrow first innings lead but with over 2 full days left in the match it was clear that there would be an outright result. We were all very nervous after the debacle of the previous season but Harry opened the batting and flayed them to all parts of the ground hugely releasing the pressure and breaking their spirit.
Steve Paulsen
Andrew Courtice was a dogged (hence his nickname) opening batsman and battled to 30 not out at lunch against a Wests attack including Carl Rackemann, Greg Rowell & Dick Tazelaar. I had always thought Dog was a fine player but with fairly limited stroke play before this day – he was out in the first over after tea for 196 – it seemed like he hit every ball for four. It was an amazing innings and the most bizarre I have ever witnessed.
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
I played against India in England in 1989 when Sachin Tendulkar was 16. He scored 100 against a Test attack and whilst he had such sweet timing, on occasions hit the ball as hard as anyone I have played against.
I first met Matthew Hayden when he was about 10 when I played with his brother Garry and followed his amazing career with great interest. Whilst Wests kept him in check on occasions he had a few days out where he put us to the sword. Never short of confidence he was such an imposing figure at the crease and hit the ball brutally hard.
I had the pleasure (?) of watching Kepler Wessels score 140 at Valleys and have never played in a match where a century seemed so inevitable – it was the season where he was having a lot of trouble with Bob Willis and it was like watching a high quality net session. Despite the lesser standard bowling he only ever played “his” shots and didn’t get bored. I guess that’s why he averaged about 80 in his time at Valleys.
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Carl Rackemann was quick of course but it was his bounce and accuracy made him so difficult to play.
I opened the batting against Michael Holding (with Ezra Moseley at the other end) in a benefit game in England. Every ball hit the seam and if he wasn’t beating the outside edge he was cutting me in half. I don’t remember hitting a ball so he obviously didn’t bowl at the stumps.
You had to be on your game when facing Adam Dale as he put you under pressure every ball. He had a beautiful outswinger and always just short of a driving length. Although you could pick his inswinger it was always on the money as was his bouncer which was a yard quicker than his stock ball.
If Chippin wasn’t quick enough for this list I’ll throw in Joe Dawes – accurate and bowled a heavy ball at a nasty length.
Michael Holding
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
I faced Ashley Mallett in a practice game at the cricket academy in Adelaide when he was in his forties and he still had the lot – accuracy, curve, drop and spin.
I don’t recall ever facing a bad ball from Paul Jackson and he always had a plan to tie you (make that – me) up and get you out.
Trevor Hohns wasn’t a prodigious turner but was very accurate. You would be waiting for a bad ball and then go back to a short one only to find his flipper canon into your pads.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Peter Anderson – Ian Healy developed into a wonderful keeper but when he was selected to play for Australia Ando was streets ahead. He had the softest hands and was lightning fast removing the bails.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Greg Rowell had successful stints with NSW, Queensland & Tasmania and in another era could have had a prosperous Test career. He suffered some serious injuries and at 30 with most thinking his 1st class career was behind him played an entire season of 2nd grade as a batsman before regaining fitness and again representing Queensland. He loved and valued club cricket like few others and treated every game like a Test match. Opposition batsmen would have nightmares knowing they had to come up against him and he was still the best fast bowler in the competition when he retired at 40.
I also had a taste of what made Andy Bichel such a great competitor. I recall coming up against him on the slowest wicket I have ever seen. He was entrenched in the Shield team so had nothing to prove but despite the pitch nullifying his pace he still put in for 16 overs straight. Had it been today the medical staff would probably have preventing him playing the game in the first place.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with? And if you could add a few words to why
Jon Dooley was a terrific captain – a great knowledge of the game, a good planner, smart, positive & competitive. Qualities that make him a great administrator – he could be running Cricket Australia.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Paul Henricks always lifted the dressing room with his wit, eternal positive attitude & stories of his full life as a single man on the Sunshine Coast lawn bowls circuit. He is also my most calamitous teammate – there is nothing like one of your mates tripping over in the outfield to engender team spirit.
I’ve also had a lot to do with Greg Ritchie who is a very funny man with a quick and wicked sense of humour and if you ever get a chance to listen to Andrew Courtice host a function – take it.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Not so much banter but watching Jon Dooley go down in the outfield after simultaneously cramping up in both hammies sticks in my mind – we thought there must have been a sniper in the Sandgate clubhouse (but that was obviously too far away). It was like a scene from “Platoon”
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
I would say that there were none except I know that Sandgate players read this also. I hit a ball to the deep point boundary and felt that I had hit it well enough. I swear that the square leg umpire give a subtle signal to his partner indicating it had gone for four so I stop for a mid-wicket chat as the fielder throws it back to the keeper who removes the bails. Matthew Goggin was on the fielding side and will tell you that the square leg umpire made no such signal but are you really going to believe someone nicknamed “Booger?”
Who was your childhood hero?
I always batted in a cap and long sleeves to emulate Greg Chappell until I saw Ian Botham score a hundred at the Gabba in short sleeves and a Chappell hat and figured I more resembled Beefy and that became my preferred ensemble. Perhaps I would have scored more runs if I had stayed with the cap and kept the ball on the ground. That said, if I could have copied Viv’s swagger…….
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
- Muhammed Ali
- Keith Miller
- Kurt Fearnley
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
David Gower – articulate, witty, erudite & frugal with his comments
What is your favourite sporting film?
Million Dollar Baby is one of the all-time great films but perhaps Any Given Sunday for Al Pacino’s speech alone.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
It was always a privilege to play at The Gabba
What did you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Batting is simply one of the great pleasures in life when you are dominating. I also loved the chat in the dressing room after a hard day’s play and enjoyed a country road trip with Greg Rowell.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
You play for premierships so both my first grade finals hold a special place – the first as a young bloke as it was the highest quality match I had played in at that point. The second because it had taken 20 years to follow up. I was also lucky to play in Queensland sides that won Australian titles in under 16 & 19.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
My 3 favourite teammates are Greg Rowell, Jon Dooley & Paul Henricks but I would also call Brad Murphy, David Cook, Evan Bancroft & Gavin Brown
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?
I used to help Fat Cat in the early days of Mahatma Cote -“Fatima Pants” is one of mine
What are your hobbies?
Travelling, mountain climbing, scuba diving, solving complex social & political problems with my mates
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Don’t drive Mocca if he gives you a half volley
What is your current occupation?
I own a travel agency “The Adventure Traveller”
In February we celebrated 20 years in business and looking at a record year and by March the world had changed completely and we were scrambling to bring clients back to Australia from all corners of the globe. We have gone from sending clients on African safaris & trekking in Peru to booking their weekends on the Gold Coast. Things are pretty tough at the moment but it will change in time. I am very happy to look after some new cricketing clients – I have the time!
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Unfortunately not apart from emceeing a few functions
If you were running Cricket QLD what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in QLD remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Value grade cricket and pick teams on performance.
Paul Matthews was a left-arm spinner I played a bit with with at Norths and his career illustrates exactly what made Australian cricket strong throughout history. Paul would be the first to say that he wasn’t the most talented player but he worked hard, was keen to learn and was smart. Unknown when he came to the club he started in 5th grade where he played the entire season, took 40-odd wickets and scored handy runs earning a start in 4ths the next season. Again he played the whole season in the 4ths taking another 40 wickets repeating his ascension in 3rd & 2nd grade before finally becoming a more than useful 1st grade cricketer. Reliance on “pathways” upsets this type of progression and Australian cricket is poorer for it.
I’m not saying that everyone has to serve such a long apprenticeship but if a player dominates at one level they have earned a chance at the higher level. Also, players learn “their game” at different ages – when did showing potential at age 15 become so important?
