Mark Preddey - grateful leggie
Sutherland District Cricket Club | May 05, 2023
Mark Preddey made his first grade debut on 17 February 1979 as a young leg spinner.
He’s a Sutherland junior and played all the way through from Green Shield, Poidevin Gray and the grades to be Sutherland first grade cap number 84
Let’s find out more about Mark’s journey the game
What year you were born?
1960
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I was 8 years old and playing for St John Bosco Engadine in the Sutherland Shire U/10’s competition. It was at Heathcote Oval No.2 which in those days was still partly bushland, making fielding a little challenging! The morning of the game I was so excited that I was dressed in my whites ready to go by about 4am. The first ball I faced hit the centre of the old coir matting, ran along the pitch and in my efforts to hit the ball out of the park the bat slipped out of my hands, nearly collecting the square leg umpire as I stood there helplessly watching the ball roll on to my stumps.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Back then most of us did the full journey gradually working our way through the grades. I started at Sutherland DCC playing 5th grade, Green Shield, PG’s and every grade through to 1st grade. I was also fortunate enough to play 1st grade for Randwick and Waverley. I was a member of the NSW Colts squad for a couple of seasons, playing a couple of games as well.
What is your current occupation?
School Teacher
Let’s give your employer a plug, who do you work for?
After teaching for 5 years I got an amazing job working for QANTAS as a long haul cabin crew member. It was intended as a 2 year change of pace, but it turned out to be the greatest job in the world so I stayed for nearly 27 years. Even better they had a Qantas Flight Stewards Cricket team which travelled the world playing cricket representing the company on full pay! The travelling I was required to do at QANTAS meant I could no longer play grade cricket so my grade career was done and dusted at the ripe old age of 24.
I’m back in the classroom now as a primary School Teacher
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I was playing in the U/16’s morning competition for St Pats Sutherland when I was asked to play 5th grade for Sutherland at Tonkin Oval. I would have been 15 years old at the time.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I made my 1st grade debut for Sutherland DCC in February 1979 aged 18 against Mosman at Mosman Oval (Now Allan Border Oval). Dave Colley was Mosman’s opening bowling and I sat in the stand most of the day wondering what on earth I was doing there! We won the game outright and I got a bowl towards the end of the second innings. I have some old film my dad took of me bowling to Barry Knight who kept sweeping nearly every ball I bowled to him, irrespective of where it landed! I did eventually get the No.11 batsman out LBW.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
A leg spin bowler of reasonable ability who could bat a bit. I did score at least one 1st grade 50 and seemed to be able to hang about if required, so I was usually up there with the averages at the end of the season.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
My highest score was 108 not out for Randwick in 3rd grade at Snape Park. I had been dropped from 1st grade as I’d been away for a couple of weeks with a band I was playing in at the time and so I got the chance to bat at no.3. It was fantastic!
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
My best figures were 7 for 14 playing for Randwick 1st grade team against Western Suburbs at Coogee Oval.
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Playing 1st grade cricket back in the late 70’s early 80’s meant you were often up against current NSW and Australian players. I was fortunate enough to play with and against Mike Whitney. Facing a fired up Whit on a ‘green top’ at Coogee one was a rather daunting experience!
Dave Gilbert was another genuinely quick bowler, who used to amble up to the crease and then let go these thunderbolts!
John Sullivan, Rod Foord , Evan Gordon really the list goes on. I got the chance to play with and against so many great bowlers back then.
Of those that weren’t quite as quick, there was Merv Black who could make the ball talk, Gary Bensley who must have bowled the biggest inswingers ever recorded, Graeme Spring, Peter Devlin, really the list goes on.
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
Again there were so many, but one of the best I played against was leg spinner Russel McCool. “Rusty’ had this fabulous flipper which he kept a secret from me until he visited the Bradman Museum a few years ago and we went out onto Bradman Oval where he finally revealed his secrets! The ball was actually a ‘slider’ but was a real wicket taker for him!
David Hourn was a genius and to most batsman almost impossible to play. His wrongun was difficult to pick, which he would then follow up with a flipper that would knock your off stump out of the ground before you knew it!
Trevor Jay was a great bowler, but also brought so much to the team and Randwick club.
Wayne Mulherin was a fantastic off spin bowler, so clever through the air in particular. I was also fortunate to play with and against Greg Matthews and Murray Bennett who both got to play at the highest level of the game.
Mark and his son Jack playing for Bowral some years ago
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
I got the chance to play with and against so many great batsman including Alan Turner. ‘Fitter’ was in the twilight of his career and used to bat 6 or 7 for Randwick. He made some very useful grade attacks look ordinary.
Darren and Rod Tucker could dominate almost any attack and Rod Bower hit the ball so hard it really wasn’t safe to be in the field when he batted.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
England’s opening batsman at the time Wayne Larkins was playing for Sutherland’s when I made my 1st grade debut at Mosman Oval and proceeded to hit Dave Colley’s first ball into the stands for six. I can’t remember how many he got that day but his innings soon made me realise that I was playing at a whole new level! There were many others. Rod Tucker smashed us all over Waverley Oval one Saturday and Peter Clifford did the same at Coogee Oval.
Was there any batsman/bowlers in particular that stirred the emotions and competitive spirit where you really wanted to perform against them?
Not really. To be honest I was just happy to be there, playing first grade with such great players was good enough for me. Probably not the right mindset to be successful at that level, but it meant every game was a bonus for me so I tried to enjoy every minute of it.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Alan Campbell and Steve Rixon. Alan was immaculate behind the stumps and ‘Stumper’ as the name suggests could get you a stumping from anywhere! They were both amazing keepers, mentors and team players.
Steve Rixon
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Mike Whitney was fiercely competitive, but a team man, always offering encouragement and a kind word. The Randwick /Petersham club have been blessed to have a President with Whit’s character and integrity for so long now.
Merv Black was a Sutherland stalwart who was not only competitive, but one of the funniest men I have ever met.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Having a leg spinner in your team is a challenge for any captain, so I am so grateful to all those who did their best to help me along the way. My 1st grade captains were Brian O’Dowd, Andrew Hilditch, Gary Bensley and Ian Greig and I am so grateful to them all for giving me a go and managing my efforts at this challenging level with the ability I had. One of the best was certainly my 2nd grade captain at Sutherland Ian Everett who showed me such great patience and allowed me time to gain my confidence back.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
The entertainment both on and off the field was as good as it gets for a Saturday afternoon. Imagine sitting in the stands with Mike Whitney telling stories with Alan Turner throwing in some of his anecdotes. Merv Black was hysterical, Les Johns would tell a joke between overs that would take half an hour to get to the punchline which would have us all falling about. Wayne Seabrook was a hoot, Steve Rixon used to wind me up a bit and really that is just the tip of the iceburg.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
There were a few bowlers I played with that could bowl both left and right handed. Sutherland’s Paul Fisher was one of them. Normally a pretty useful right hand medium pacer ‘Fish’ could bowl a pretty handy left arm orthodox delivery as well. It was the last over of the day at Petersham Oval with not much doing so ‘Fish’ decided to bowl an over of his left hand orthodox.
For some reason Brian ‘Grumpy’ O’Dowd decided to sit right on top of this poor batsman at silly mid-on and give him a bit of lip. Unfortunately for the poor guy he was beaten all ends up by Paul’s first delivery at which point ‘Grumpy’ blurted out, ‘That’s how good a batsman you are pal. He normally bowls right handed!’
Mark man of the match - NSW Veteran's team at the State carnival
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
In my final year of grade cricket in 1984 playing for Waverley, I had a friend of mine visiting from Scotland come to the game. He was a mad cricket fan and photographer and as Waverley was batting that day he was hoping to get a few shots of me in action. Unfortunately the first ball I faced was a pretty useful yorker from John Skilbeck and I was back sitting in the stands with my mate before he even got the chance to change the film in his camera. I bumped into John last season and told him the story. He was most apologetic!
Who was your childhood hero?
All the Australian guys at the time of course, but as a kid I would come home from school and watch the last session of the shield game on ABC in stunning black and white!
At the time the two NSW opening batsman were Ron Crippin and Marshall Rosen and I was frankly in awe of the way they would smash the attack around in that last session.
I got to meet Ron for the first time on the field at Coogee Oval when facing a fired up Mike Whitney. Ron was fielding right next to me at silly mid-on in living colour!
I finally met Marshall Rosen for the first time last season at Chatswood Oval when I finally located the owner of a beautiful Mercedes that had parked me in! Marshall apologised but I was thrilled!
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Shane Warne, Abdul Qadir and Michael Holding
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Richie Benaud. During my days at Randwick, Phil Tresidder organised for Richie to come to training one afternoon to have a look at my bowling. What a kind and generous man he was.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Coogee Oval
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
I can’t recall any team in particular, but you always knew you were in for a tough day. The great thing was the camaraderie back then. Everyone seemed to know each other quite well, so it was always good to catch up with whoever was in the opposing team that day.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
The camaraderie most of all and the friendships I have made. My son Jack is Captain at Easts and what has been a great joy to me is getting to wander around some of my old haunts again and bumping into some grade players and officials I haven’t seen for 35 years! Anyone who has played grade cricket in Sydney definitely shares a special bond. There’s no doubt sport teaches you most of life’s lessons as well.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Probably getting my 7 for 14 for Randwick. I was playing in a rock band most Friday and Saturday nights at the time and would often be still lugging out a PA system in the early hours of each Saturday morning. On that particular Saturday I remember not getting to bed after the gig until around 3am.
On top of that I hadn’t had a bowl in a game for a while as the Randwick team were so strong the quicks were always going through sides!
For some reason captain Gary Bensley woke me from my semi slumber and threw me an almost new ball in the second innings against Wests. After bowling Matt Troy with a half tracker I actually went through them myself! Most things happen in sport when you least expect it!
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Really any win where I felt I made a contribution was a great win for me. Being part of the Randwick team winning the 1st grade premiership was a great thrill.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
I could not possibly name just three!
What are your hobbies?
I am a keen musician and was lucky enough to play with a couple of working bands for a few years, back when every pub had a band playing in it. I do recall one weekend playing a Saturday/ Sunday game for Randwick 1st grade team against a Petersham team captained by Graeme Hughes. I left the game and flew to Dubbo on the Saturday night to play at this crazy country B & S ball and caught a flight back the next morning in time to be back on the field at 11am. I still play with a bunch of old mates in the ‘Broken Watch Band’ every now and then at the Coogee Legion Club.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
From Richie Benaud. Look at the spot on the pitch where you intend to land the ball and only ever think about one thing at a time when you come in to bowl.
If you were running Cricket NSW what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
I’m really not sure how to answer that, but what I do know is that the volunteer base is diminishing for a number of reasons and without these people sport in general will have a limited future.
Back when I played grade cricket there were the most amazing administrators running the clubs. Lyall Gardner, Phil Tresidder, John Smyth, Tom Iceton and Bob Horsell just to name a few and of course this work continues today.
I am so grateful to all those who spent countless hours working to ensure this little old leg spinner has had the opportunity to play cricket for the past 52 seasons!
