Tim Freeburn - Sesión
Sutherland District Cricket Club | July 19, 2023
Tim Freeburn made his first grade debut for Sutherland District Cricket Club on 25 September 2004 and the proud owner of first grade playing number 208.
He played grade cricket for Parramatta, Sutherland and Bankstown and is now the co-founder and Managing Director of Sesión Tequila
Let’s find out more about Tim journey in the game
What year you were born?
1983
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I would’ve been about 10 playing for the Berala Bears – don’t remember how I went
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played junior cricket for Berala, then Green Shield and lower grades for Parramatta and played 1st and 2nd grade for Sutherland and Bankstown.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I think I would’ve been 15 or 16 and played 5th grade for Parramatta at Coleman Park with John Aitken as my captain
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed on debut?
Again I’m only guessing but I would’ve been about 20 playing for Sutherland against Gordon at Glenn McGrath oval. I definitely bowled but can’t remember how I went.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I bowled leg spin, very rocks or diamonds. Batted in the lower order, my strength was anything leg side
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
I’m only guessing again but I’d say about 70 for Sutherland, whoever it was against didn’t have a great attack that day.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
In first grade I think it would have been 6 for 19 against Randwick Petersham at Glenn McGrath Oval
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Mitchell Starc - way too quick for me and facing him I knew I was close to finishing playing.
Doug Bollinger - he could reverse the ball so easily. I once premeditated a duck and it would’ve been about just above the knee roll high and hit me in the side of the helmet. They appealed for LBW, even my batting partner Luke Dudman was crying laughing.
Grant Lambert - he was the most consistent bowler I’ve ever seen. Could bat too. He would’ve made a killing in T20
Grant Lambert
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
David Freedman - so clever, great wrong un and just a great person that helped me out a lot when he finished playing.
I once played against Mushtaq Ahmed in the UK and he got me out sweeping, I had no idea what he was doing.
Luke Dudman - I played a lot with him at Sutherland but played against him a couple of times when I went to Bankstown. Took hundreds of 1st grade wickets and built a lot of pressure.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Greg Hayne - played for Balmain/Sydney, I only played him twice I reckon and he got massive hundreds both times.
Ed Cowan - such a good player. Loved playing against Ed.
Greg Mail and Dom Thornely, both dominated me when I was bowling and were awesome to watch.
Ed Cowan
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Steve Smith anytime I saw him bat, he was a gun from when he walked into first grade at 16. He made very good bowlers look average.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Glenn Aitken, I’m sure he got me out every time he bowled to me
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
When I first came into 1st grade playing against Fairfield was unbelievable, they had Doug Bollinger, Grant Lambert, Don Nash, Anthony Clark and Ben Rohrer. I hated playing that team but always had a beer after which I loved about them
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
James Allsopp, we grew up playing against each other and then with each other at Bankstown. He was so good to spinners and took some of the best catches I’ve seen off the quicks.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Phil Jaques - there’s not a bloke who worked harder or put in the hours Jaquesy did and still does with his coaching.
Nic Madinson - was one of the most skilful players I got to play with. He’s still going well and will be back in the Australian team this year.
Phil Jaques
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Matthew O’Brien, he was a great captain for me at Sutherland. He was at the backend of his career and just had patience and tolerance when I got belted around the park. I probably got a lot more overs than I should have thanks to Mobby
Matthew O'Brien holding the Belvidere Cup in 1995
Who has been your funniest team mate?
I’ll pick 3 all very different people, Louis Talay, Jason Young, Darren Ettridge
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Yep, playing for Sutherland against Fairfield at Rosedale Oval. Daniel Rixon was our wicket keeper and a very good keeper. On this particular day he’d let through a few bye’s. One of our quicks needed sawdust at the top of his run up and called for some. John Boulous from Fairfield took the opportunity to run it out himself and put a pile of sawdust behind Rixon and then asked him if it was safe there.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Oh several, hit wicket a couple of times and I remember going for a run and being sent back and slipping, I was run out by 18 yards
Who was your childhood hero?
Steve Waugh, and I’m lucky enough to play a bit of golf with him these days. Great man.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Phil Mickelson, John Daly and Michael Jordan
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Trent Copeland
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Bankstown Oval
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Sydney University - always played tough but always had a beer after. I play golf with half of them now and they’re still a punish.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Phil Jaques as captain telling me to bowl a meter outside off stump to Ed Cowan for about 4 or 5 overs straight. Ed was sledging me while he’s batting then finally smoked a cover drive to short cover (Steve Cush), took one of the better catches I’ve seen. Probably the only time I got Ed out.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Nathan Fitzgerald, knows a good wine
Andre Adams, can cook a cracking BBQ
Joey Yovich, doesn’t drink so can get everyone home safely
What are your hobbies?
Golf and fishing consume my spare time
You’re the co-owner and Managing Director of Sesión Tequila. Can you tell us a little about the business and how the cricket community can look to be a customer?
Yep I’m one of the founders of Sesión Tequila along with Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall. We launched in Australia in 2016, now in a few markets around the world. The US is ours and the biggest tequila market in the world, we’ve been sponsoring the LA Clippers over there. In Australia we’re in plenty of bars and restaurants around the country and available through Dan Murphys, Boozebud, etc. I probably don’t need to tell cricketers how to find alcohol.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
No I’m not involved in any cricket anymore
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
It’s probably a lot harder these days with the volume of cricket being played at the top but having senior and elite players not playing grade cricket certainly weakens the competition. It would be great if they could do more to encourage senior players to hang around in the game longer, it’s not reality to have the top players come back and play so it would help the younger guys coming through to have that leadership around.
