Tim Curran - proud St George Cap No 258
St George Cricket Club | May 06, 2023
Tim Curran was a tall left arm fast bowler who burst into Sydney Grade Cricket at the age of 23 from Newcastle.
In his 2 season with St George Tim captured 97 wickets at the incredible average of 15.
Let’s find out more about St George first grade cap #258
What year you were born?
16th June 1952 in Newcastle
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Cardiff Junior Cricket Club – 9 year old and got 30 runs opening the batting (LOL)
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Joined Cardiff Boolaroo D.C.C in Newcastle at 13 year old. Played 4th Grade and worked my way up to 1st Grade. Joined St. George Cricket Club in Sydney in 1975 for two seasons. Returned to Cardiff and then captained/Coached Newcastle University.
What other sports did you play growing up?
Played Rugby League, Soccer, Baseball and Tennis
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I was 13 when I played 4th Grade in Newcastle and 23 when I played 1st Grade for St George in Sydney
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Strictly left arm fast bowler
What can you remember about your first grade debut for St George?
My 1st Grade debut in Sydney was against Waverley in 1975. It was also Tony Greig’s first game for Waverley. I took 8 wickets for the match and we won on the first innings.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
Did not do much batting for St George.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Best bowling for St George 8 for 40 against Gordon at Chatswood Oval
Best bowling in Newcastle 9 for 85 against Cardiff at University Oval
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Andy Roberts – effortlessly quick
Jeff Thompson – frightening
Len Pascoe – gave no favours
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
Erapalli Prasanna
Robert “Dutchy” Holland
David Hourn
They were all masters of their craft.
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Geoff Boycott
Sunil Gavaskar
Colin Cowdrey
All had so much time to play
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Brian Booth for St George against Nth Sydney. We were chasing 230 in a one day game. We were 3-3 when Brian joined Jon Jobson and scored a fantastic century against a very good attack. He also helped Jon to a century as well.
Who has been the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Without a doubt Steve Rixon. Brilliant up to the stumps.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Brian Booth and Kerry O’Keefe. Both had great skill and loved the challenge on the field.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Gordon Goffett former NSW Opening Batsman, taught me about strength and weaknesses of batsman and the effort required to play cricket.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Ray “Lurch” Davies always made me laugh. A great teammate and friend.
Who was your childhood hero?
Alan Davidson without a doubt
Who was the biggest influence in your cricket career?
Gordon Goffett - he pushed me, got me to go to Sydney to play and introduced me to Warren Saunders.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Jack Nicklaus
Bobby Charlton
Kurt Fearnley
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Jim Maxwell – The rest run a distant second.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Hurstville Oval – still love the place now
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Petersham because you knew it was going to be a tough battle to the end.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Cricket has always been my love – tough on the field and mateship off it.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Playing for NSW in Colts and Second X1 and playing against MCC and India for Northern NSW.
Northern NSW team to play India in 1977
After 2 very successful seasons playing first grade for St George why did you leave and return to Newcastle?
NSW have a very strong fast bowling contingent when I was at St George. Thomson, Pascoe, Gilmour, Bernard, Lawson, Clews and others and I was travelling down from Newcastle every weekend. We’d just built a home in Newcastle and there was no money for playing so it became a financial decision. I do often wonder but I just didn’t think I’d get picked to play for NSW
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Captaining Newcastle University to its first ever final win against defending Premiers Belmont.
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
“The Natural”
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?
I play tennis left handed and golf right handed
What are your hobbies?
Golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Never, ever, give up, you never know what could happen.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
I’ve spent the 25 years coaching at NSW Pathway Level and at grade cricket clubs as a Specialist Bowling Coach.
A short stint coaching in Vanuatu.
If you were running Cricket NSW what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in NSW remained strong and successful on and off the field?
NSW domination has always been built on a strong grade cricket and junior pathway in both men’s and women’s cricket
