Shaun Richardson - if you are good to the game, the game is good to you
St Kilda Cricket Club | February 02, 2023
Shaun Richardson made his first grade debut in Victoria Premier Cricket during the 1991/92 season for Dandenong.
He played for Dandenong before joining St Kilda and in 90 first grade games across both clubs he scored 2,291 runs at an average of 28.28 including 16 half centuries and took 34 catches and 5 wickets.
Shaun is St Kilda CC player number 8 after player number 1 was dedicated to St Kilda players who debuted, and finished playing, before 2000.
Shaun is a first grade premiership wining player with St Kilda being part of the 2000/01 winning team and has been a player and administrator at Caulfield Cricket Club since moving away from Premier Cricket for the past 18 or so years.
Shaun has made a tremendous to the game, let’s find out more.
What year you were born?
1973
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
Very clearly. I was 10 and it was in the under 12’s for HSD in the Dandenong District Cricket Association. I opened, batted all day and made a very slow 23.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played my junior cricket in the Dandenong area, for HSD and then Endeavour Hills. Went to school at Haileybury College so played three season of APS 1st XI cricket, and went to District Club Waverley in 1988 as a 15 year old. Waverley merged with Dandenong the next season, so had 8 seasons at Dandenong, then 5 with St. Kilda before leaving Premier Cricket as a 29 year old to go to Caulfield in the sub-district comp, where I have stayed ever since as a player, then coach and Club President.
Shaun doing the hard yards
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
Aged 15 in the 4ths, playing for Waverley against Prahran.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
It was in season 1991/92. I was 18 and we were playing Richmond at Dandenong. I batted at 7 and went in late in the day and managed to be not out overnight. The next week Paul Reiffel returned from a state game and I faced him which was a huge thrill in my first game, until he had me caught in the gully for 18 I reckon. Richmond were a strong side and we had a great win.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
A batsman with limited ability who tried hard! Ok in the field and bowled straight break offies as a kid that for some reason didn’t get hit as much as they should have.
What were your strengths as a player?
I tried to put value on my wicket and play as to how the situation demanded – which happens when you end up batting week to week anywhere from 1-7 – you need to be adaptable. No doubt I became a better player and understood batting more as I got older.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
Sadly my highest score in first grade was 99 for Dandenong against Frankston Peninsula. Not sure what was worse, making 99 or getting caught by Shaun Graf! Never made a first grade 100 but made 16 fifties which probably says a bit about me as a player. Got lucky one day in a final for Caulfield and made 160 which is my highest score in senior cricket.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I took 5 wickets with my offies in second grade for Dandenong as a 17 year old against Fitzroy Doncaster. At least three blokes were caught trying to hit me out of the ground! In all seriousness I got 60 with the bat in the same game, so it was a big moment as a young kid and gave me belief I could play at Premier level.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
David Saker was a great bowler. Made the ball talk off a length, was quicker than he looked and ran in all day, just loved to compete and let you know all about it.
Josh Marquet was a massive man who had serious pace and it felt like he could have hurt you if he wasn’t such a nice bloke.
I copped Dirk Nannes when he was an unknown snow boarder in a 2’s game one day and it was frightening; the St. Kilda blokes that played that day still laugh about it.
David Saker
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Craig Howard before he hurt his shoulder could have been anything. Amazing bowler who spun it a long way, with a wrong ‘un he let you pick - and then one you literally had no idea about.
Bryce McGain was another very smart bowler, accurate and always building pressure.
Alan Melbourne was a cagey old left armer who bowled a middle and leg line and was hard to get away with a ring field, especially with Leigh Watts sledging all day at bat pad.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Matty Elliot was just on another level. Had so much time compared to everyone else, was beautiful to watch and good luck if anyone was stupid enough to bowl short.
Rob Bartlett I played with and against; unbelievably talented, front and back foot and could rip an attack apart on his day.
Warren Ayres always made runs, played beautifully all-round the wicket and was so organised at the crease and never seemed to make a mistake.
Matthew Elliott
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Rob Bartlett and Ian Harvey played some unbelievable entertaining innings I saw at Dandenong, but the best given the conditions and situation was a century Tim O’Sullivan got in a semi-final on wet deck for St. Kilda against Hawthorn in 2000/01.
Gutsy captain’s innings that basically dragged the team over the line in a tough semi and then win a flag the next week.
Chased leather when Gary Watts make 260* over four sessions one day at Fitzroy. Just took the piss for 130 overs, and he would have been in his late 30’s by then. Incredible innings.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Anyone who happened to have the ball in hand caused me problems most weeks! Not really a specific bowler, but blokes that swung it away I struggled with. Hard hands and needed to leave the ball more!
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Darren Berry. Incredible standing up or back. Used to stand up to fast medium bowlers when he wanted to and make it look easy, and had a real presence when up to the stumps; not so much talking to you but more about the game and creating doubt in your mind.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
The most skilful cricketer I saw at Premier level was Ian Harvey. He could literally do everything. Bat, bowl, throw both arms – people forget he was the Victorian U/19 wicketkeeper before he started bowling, and that only started because he was bored fielding in a 2’s game one day at Dandenong.
Saw him fly in one morning from the AIS in Adelaide for a game against Prahran, go to sleep in the rooms, need to be shaken awake to bat and then make 100. Also saw him convince Brendan McArdle he should bowl an over of leg spin one day because we needed a wicket; it took him 4 balls.
In the subbies it was a guy called Sean Ayres. Superb left handed allrounder who dominated matches, I think won 5 premierships but was a great competitor and still a very damaging player well into his 40’s.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Tim O’Sullivan. Captained 5 first grade premierships for the Saints. Amazing competitor who stood up in big games as great captains do, had enormous presence on field and was just a superb leader of men. Loved playing under Brendan McArdle at Dandenong too; I learned a lot about cricket and life.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Adam Ryan at St. Kilda. Left field - at times bordering on weird - but a very, very funny man. Once went off the grid for three weeks so he could grow a full blown moustache and surprise the boys for a trip away, and then wore the same dodgy leather jacket and aviator sunnies around Hobart day and night for three days. Also walked out to bat one day in the 2’s at St. Kilda and told me mid pitch he would sweep the spinner for the first three balls that he faced – no matter where he bowled – and he did. Honourable mentions to Tim Kelson and Peter Eyers, both very funny blokes.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Not so much banter, but there was a day at Hawthorn when Brendan McArdle forgot to tell the umpires we were enforcing the follow on, and two fielding teams walked out on the field at the same time. Listening to “Bushy” muttering and chastising himself under his breath as he approached the umpires to plead his case, then in the rooms when we were hastily padding up to bat again, was very funny. We had them 8 down in the second innings and just missed the outright too!
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
How long have we got? Plenty spring to mind. The worst was when I got to 30 one day against a really good attack at Northcote and was playing well when we were in trouble. Batting with McArdle, he cut one out to the fence at point and I stupidly thought the umpire had called “4”, so stopped running. The ball had stopped just short, Bushy came back for what should have been an easy 3, we were both at the non-strikers end - and I got run out by half the pitch. That made us about 5/80 at lunch and fair to say I copped the biggest spray you’ve ever seen during the break.
Who was your childhood hero?
Can’t split Dean Jones or Tim Watson.
Dean Jones
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
James Hird, Tiger Woods and David Warner – just to ask all three blokes WTF happened?
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Tim Lane. Masterful, and better on radio than TV.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
The Junction Oval
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
At St. Kilda, it has to be the first grade flag in 2000/01. It was a great outright win in a low scoring match played over three days; amazing experience. Was lucky enough to play in two more flags for Caulfield, and be President for another two, something I am very proud of.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The second grade premiership for Dandenong in 1991/92. We had a team of young blokes who rolled an experienced Melbourne team for 176, slumped to 5/35 overnight and got up to win 9 down the next day.
Its 30 years ago and the players in that Dandenong team are still the best of mates. It’s what makes cricket such a great sport, the memories and friendships that you create.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
This is near on impossible because I have so many good mates out of cricket, but I’ll go with Paul Murray from Dandenong, Peter Eyers from St. Kilda and Tristan Banks from Caulfield. Three great blokes who love a laugh and a beer and would make it a great day.
What are your hobbies?
I got hooked on F45 gym training about three years ago and still go 4-5 times a week; I love the physical and mental challenge of pushing yourself at 6am each morning. Apart from that its supporting my son Rocco (11) and daughter Orietta (10) with their weekend sport.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
“If you are good to the game, the game is good to you”, from the legendary Brian Morrison at Caulfield.
What is your occupation and who do you work for?
I’m a Business Banking Executive with NAB, so look after a team of business bankers in Collins St in Melbourne.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
I just finished a second stint as President at Caulfield, so for the first time in 20 years I won’t have any playing or administrative role next season. Will probably find myself getting more involved with Rocco’s cricket; he has a deep passion for the game and I love watching him play.
If you were running Cricket Victoria what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
So this will sound very ‘old school’ from a bloke that played in the 90’s but somehow find a way to keep older players playing Premier cricket, because that’s how young players learn the game, by being challenged and developing their skills against experienced players.
I’m also worried about short form cricket completely taking over the game, but not sure how you’d fix that! It’s not a Victorian problem, it’s a global issue really.
