Craig McGregor - watch the ball right out of the hand.

Gordon District Cricket Club | December 26, 2024

Craig McGregor was a hard working wicket keeper batter and is the proud owner of Gordon District Cricket Club player number 449.

Let's find out more about Craig's journey in the game.

What year were you born?

1971

Can you remember your first game of cricket?

I think I was about 7 in the Gladesville Junior Cricket Association Under 10s comp, playing for Gladesville Ravens. No idea how I went so couldn’t have been too good!

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

My junior cricket was in the Gladesville junior competitions. We won the Under 10s Foster Shield which was the first competition win for Gladesville in a long time and I still have solid memories of that. I played Green Shield for Balmain for 2 years and started Grade there, eventually getting to 2nd grade before moving to Gordon when I was 17. Played the rest of my career at the Stags.

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?

Played 5th grade for Balmain when in Green Shield, so would have been 14 or 15

What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?

First Grade was my highest grade (and was always going to be!). My debut was against Manly at Manly Oval, I remember getting a couple of stumpings off Mark O”Neill and getting to 12 with the bat before getting strangled down leg side…..funny how you can still remember things like that so far down the track. We won the game and I recall the song being a good one.

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

I was a wicketkeeper who Adam Gilchrist ruined. Before Gilly came along you could average 20 with the bat at 8 or 9 as a keeper as long as you could keep well. That was me, could keep OK and would like to think I could contribute with the bat even though I only had about 3 shots :). Thanks Gilly……

What were your strengths as a player?

Probably for others to answer, but I would like to think people would say I was a good team man who was competitive with a strong will to win. Cricket wise, I loved keeping up to the stumps to the spinners and medium pacers. I obviously didn’t want my mates to fail at the top of the order, but if they did I liked to be in a “backs to the wall” type scenario and did my best with the bat generally when that was the case.

Who was the best spinner you had the good fortune to keep to?

Probably Jon Davison, very good off spinner who had it all with his drift and sharp spin. Kurt Morrison, Paul Grimble and Mark O’Neill were quality as well.

Who was the best fast bowler you kept to?

Have to say Richard Stobo, although not 100% sure he qualifies for this question - hi Stobes! Made keeping pretty easy really as never bowled a bad ball. Matt Nicholson was pretty handy as well, he improved from his first ever ball in 1st grade that I caught over my head on the full. Seeing him make his debut for Australia in the Boxing Day Test was a great thrill for all his mates at the club.

Richard Stobo

Was there any one bowler who you really enjoyed keeping to?

A guy called Steve Milne comes to mind, who played some 1s and 2s during my early years at Gordon. He bowled these left arm hooping out swingers that weren’t too quick so it was possible for me to keep up to the stumps. He hated me doing that as he thought he was a “quick”, but didn’t complain when I started to get a few stumpings off him!

Can you recall a catch or stumping that still fills you with pride and puts a smile on your face?

Leg side stumping off Richard Stobo - can’t remember the actual game or opponent, just Stobes asking if that should count as a wicket for him or not.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Highest grade score was 87 in 2nd grade versus Penrith at Howell Oval. As soon as I thought I was getting a hundred it was all over! 62 was my highest in 1s against St.George at Killara. Made a comeback playing local park cricket a few years back with my son and got a hundred in my first game - does that count?

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

Didn’t bowl a ball in any senior cricket until I was captain in 3rd Grade where I bowled 1 over in my last season taking 0-2 (although had a plumb LBW given not out).

Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

Phil Alley from St.George because of his height and awkward bounce

Angus Fraser because I had zero options to score

Wayne Holdsworth because he was too fast for someone with my ability.

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Greg Matthews was a genius at getting drop on the ball - I liked to use my feet to spinners but in one game at Waverley Oval I recall trying to get to the ball on the half volley multiple times when he was bowling with zero success.

David Freedman had a very hard wrongun to pick

Adrian Tucker was difficult as he was quick through the air and hard to score off as a result.

Who were the best 3 batters you’ve played against?

Only played Michael Slater once and he only got 2 or 3 ( nice Liggo) but I saw enough of him on the TV to have him in my top 3!! Mark Higgs scored 200 against us one day at Waitara and it was phenomenal so have to include him

Greg Hayne was more fun to play with than against.

Greg Hayne

Who played the best innings you’ve seen first hand playing with or against?

Mark Higgs innings above honourable mention, as was Paul McLean’s 100 against Bankstown when he was about 17 at Bankstown Oval, but I would have to say Greg Hayne scoring 40 no against Waverley/Easts at Waverley Oval one day. The wicket crumbled completely on a length to the point where the umpires wanted to call it off but the captains agreed to keep going. They got 70 odd which seemed like 500 on that deck and we got them 8 down with Boris playing an unbelievable innings. I got the most rewarding and valuable 5 no in my career. Another great song as I recall.

Was there any bowler or batsman in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?

I played Ken Hall a number of times. For some reason he didn’t get me out too many times, but I think I scored about 3 runs off him in total! Short odds on a maiden if I was on strike with Ken bowling.

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?

Faced Angus Fraser on a seamer at Pratten Park one day. Needless to say he was hard to score off! He came down and sledged me at one point so I asked him who he was expecting at number 8 in First Grade, Ricky Ponting? Seemed to smile, albeit slightly. I counted that as a ‘win”.

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Trained a lot with Phil Emery but never actually played obviously with him as I was in 2s when Fatty was available! But he was great gloveman. Mark Atkinson was also a fantastic keeper.

Who are the two players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

Ross Toohey was great to play with - tough, uncompromising and a huge competitive spirit. Opponents disliked him often, but we loved him. Skill wise Greg Hayne was hard to beat - I recall him hitting the first 5 balls of the game for four in a 1st grade game at Chatswood Oval - huge play and miss on the sixth! Shame he wasn’t in the 20/20 era, reckon he could have earnt some good $ these days.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

Even though nobody listened to his pre-game speeches :) I would have to say Michael Cant. He lead by example, was tough, got the most out his abilities and scored a truckload of runs. A very good cricket brain as well and one of Gordon’s most successful captains ever.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Stefan Hutton was very funny and perfect for gully. I found Stephen Liggins very funny, but it does depend on your definition of funny. Great man Liggo. There was also a gentleman at Gordon called James Clarke - cricket wise a 5th grader at best but humour wise was in 1s every day of the week. He used to turn up at 1s for the warm up as 5s was starting later, come on when someone had to have a toilet break for an over and count it as another 1st grade cap. Very funny man and brilliant on the circuit.

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

We got rolled cheaply against St.George at Hurstville Oval one day and Paul Grimble was our number 11 and 0 no in the first innings. We were forced to follow on and he was so ropable with the batters that he asked which one of Canty or Boris was going out with him to open in the 2nd innings. He stood in the dressing room shouting “who is coming with me” over and over again. Dicko and I had to walk out of the room so we weren’t seen laughing when we just got rolled. Had to get our President to physically stop him at the gate from going out.

One more…..we were playing Sutherland at Chatswood Oval, and the wicket was on the side of the square so the boundary was about 30 metres. I top edged a sweep and it landed about half a metre over the boundary. Stuart Clark asked me if it was my first ever 6 in any form of cricket and I just said ‘yes”. In hindsight, with more time to think it through and seeking 100% clarity on the scenario, I think it was my second Stuart (if you are reading this).

Off the field, whoever got the Sydney Grade Cricket UGLE X1 published in the Herald was an absolute genius.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

I wouldn’t say it was “senior” cricket but it’s the one I remember. I joined Microsoft in the early 2000s and the MD heard I played some cricket and invited me to play in his team in an upcoming “charity” match at the SCG - he said it was all nice and casual but he didn’t want to lose! I got bowled 2nd ball by some 60 year old accountant because I was so nervous after the MD talked me up to the rest of the team as an ex first grade cricketer! Not a great start to my career at the software giant :)

Who was your childhood hero?

Like many in my era I am sure, AB was the man. Loved the guy until he turned down an autograph request at the SCG when I was about 10. Still liked him though, just not as much!

Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?

Until recently I would have said Justin Langer to see if he hit that one off Wasim Akram at Hobart - but I did a corporate event with him not too long ago so I asked him on stage and he said he smashed it!

So I will go with Rory McIlroy to enquire about his real thoughts on LIV golf, Nadia Commaneci to see if she thought it was really worth a 10 and Imran Khan who would have some stories from an eventful life ranging from reverse swing to prison time, with a bit of quality circuiting thrown in as well I am sure.

Nadia Commaneci

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

I loved the combative style of Ian Chappell growing up, but in more recent times I definitely like listening to Gilly (he is a Stag after all).

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Have to say Killara Oval, but for away games North Sydney Oval was always pretty nice to play at.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Probably my last ever game for Gordon. For a couple of years at the end of my career I captained 3rd grade which I really enjoyed - had a few good mates in the side I had played higher grades with and then also enjoyed assisting the younger ones in the team. We won the premiership in 2001/2 against Mosman in the GF, the first premiership for Gordon in any grade for some time. Good way to retire!

What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?

The 3rd grade Grand Final mentioned above. We were chasing over 300 and in massive trouble at about 5 for 100 and got over the line. Under the pressure of a Grand Final it was an unbelievable chase.

Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?

Richard Stobo, to stimulate my intellectual side, Stephen Liggins, to stimulate my spiritual side and Richard Dixon to see if he has forgiven me for dropping Steve Small in the First Grade semi final at Bankstown Oval in 1996. I loved my fast bowlers ( or medium/fast in Stobes’ case).

What are your hobbies?

I am still involved in junior cricket, having coached a couple of my sons club and rep teams over the years. Love umpiring in the juniors, feels like I am out there again in the middle! Enjoy golf, watching the Wests Tigers in the NRL ( this is their year!) and trying to stay as active as possible.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Cricket wise, watch the ball right out of the hand.

Non cricket wise, someone once said to me if its not going to matter in 10 years time then it doesn’t matter now.

What’s your occupation?

I work for a global software company called Okta in a leadership role. If anyone has any increased Cyber risks through their lack of protection related to the Digital Identities of their teams reach out!

Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?

As above, still coaching junior teams. My son played a few years at Mosman as well so enjoyed watching him play grade cricket. I said to him I hope they win every game except when they play the Stags!

If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities be to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?

Coach the coaches at junior rep level. Always respect anyone who volunteers their time, but from a pure cricket perspective in my experience there are very few junior coaches that know enough about the game to actually really improve the better junior players.

I think they have done a good job at this in recent times, but with so many other competing entertainment options these days we have to keep emphasising the fun piece of the game at the younger years - no stress needed!