Rowan McGregor - competition and camaraderie

Gordon District Cricket Club | February 16, 2023

Rowan McGregor first started playing cricket in Sydney with Northern Districts in 1975. After 4 seasons with Northern Districts Rowan moved down the Pacific Highway to play for Gordon Cricket Club for 7 seasons before moving across to play in Perth for 2 season.

Following his 2 seasons in Perth Rowan moved overseas and continued to play and we appreciate him taking the time to share his journey and fond memories

What year you were born?

1956

Can you remember your first game of cricket?

We moved to Melbourne when I was 5 years old and my first game was playing for Beaumaris State School team in the Primary School Metropolitan Championship. I was probably 9 or 10 years old; I think I got a handful of runs, maybe 8? The following year I left to come back to Sydney and our team won the Metro Championship. It wasn't a bad side!

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Hard to do briefly! After coming back to Sydney I played for Pymble U12's, Normanhurst U13s, then through the age groups at Shore. In the holidays I played Green Shield for Northern District, reaching the final in 1970/71.

Missed a third year of Green Shield by 1 day! My family moved to Hong Kong; although I stayed in Sydney at boarding school, I played in the Christmas holidays in Hong Kong, on the old ground at Chater Road. A great experience, and also where I scored my first century in cricket.

Later I played Grade with Northern District, then Gordon. After I moved to Perth in 1986 I played for Claremont Cottesloe (now Claremont Nedlands). I then moved to the UK and played 6 years at Wimbledon CC and also became a Playing Member of the MCC in 1990.

In 1994 I moved to Hong Kong with my job, played for HKCC sides and represented Hong Kong in International Cricket (aged 40!). I played for MCC and my village (Moreton CC) in Oxfordshire when I returned to the UK in 2000.

I also played a bit of what's called Jazz Hat cricket with Stragglers of Asia. I have also been on many tours; to the UK, US, West Indies, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, France, Germany, Channel Islands. And - bizarrely for an Aussie - I toured Australia with the MCC.  

Chater Ground closed in 1975 - Rowan played there from 1972-75 and scored his first century on the ground at 16

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

In 1975, age 18, I was graded in 3rds at Northern District (I was late into Grade because I repeated 6th form at my boarding school). That first season I was also in the NSW U19 team and got picked for Australia U19.

When I got back to Grade, I got put back in 3rds; we did end up in the final, losing to a wash out. Pretty much the rest of the U19 team were in 1st Grade at other clubs, but my time in the 3rds might have done me a favour, as the next season I was in 1sts and probably more ready for it. After about 6 First Grade games I was added to the NSW Colts squad and started going to State training. 

At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?

Nov 20 1976 and I had just turned 20. We played Sutherland at Caringbah. The two opening bowlers Dave Russell and Graham Barry were the same two who had opened the bowling in the Green Shield final back in 70/71 that we lost. I played on from a ball bowled by Graham Barry for 1. Ross Turner the future ND's skipper made his debut in the same game. I think we batted 6 and 7. 

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

I was a batsman in my earlier years, but started to bowl off-spinners later in my twenties and got a 5 fa in Ist Grade! By the end I was bowling more than batting - a complete reversal. 

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

In 1st Grade, 124 for Northern District v Gordon at Waitara. Highest anywhere was 162no for HKCC Wanderers v Pakistan Assoc at So Kon Po.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

In 1st Grade at Chatswood 5-62 v UNSW, which included the scalps of a few good mates. (Yes, you Jungle!) I got 7-75 for Stragglers of Asia v the touring HKCC team at Tidworth down in Wiltshire, UK in about 2005.

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

I always reckoned a guy from Manly called Dave Milligan was the quickest guy I played against. I think he got injured a bit, but he was a handful and always seemed to be fit enough to play us! I got caught in the slips off him down at Graham Reserve once, and they were back about 30+ yards.

It is also hard to go past my old team mate Steve 'Brute' Bernard when he went to St George. Quick enough, moved it about, got bounce.

Then for a third I would throw a blanket over Geoff Lawson, Dave Chardon, Len Pascoe, Mike Whitney, Dave Gilbert, and David Colley. Finally, not that he was fast, but Ken MacLeay in a grade game in Perth was impossible to hit off the square. Good track, he just kept hitting the splice. He bowled one of the most economical spells ever in ODIs, and I am not surprised. 

Steve Bernard

Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?

I always had trouble with Ro Shelton the leg-spinner from North Sydney; mind you, the games were played on raging turners! But he was quickish through the air, accurate and mixed it up.

I played against a guy called Peter Ferguson in a Super grade game once and he completely bamboozled me with his left arm wrist spinners. He was playing then for Southern NSW, but had previously played for Wests.

I had played with Steve Whitfield at NDs, but playing against him on a turning track wasn't my idea of fun. Of course David Hourn, Greg Matthews, Paddy Grattan-Smith, Mark Ray, Murray Bennett, Wayne Mulherin. Mick O'Sullivan, Tom Shiner and others are all worthy of mention, but the first 3 are seared on my memory.

Who have been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

In Sydney Grade, I would go firstly for Les Johns the Rugby League great. What a talent! He got a hundred for Sutherland aged nearly 40 against us (NDs) at Somerville Oval which had a sporty deck to say the least. We had a top attack too.

Steve Waugh always came up trumps against us....again on dodgy wickets.

Mike Gatting played a flawless innings batting all day at Drummoyne in possibly his last Sydney season. Was impossible to knock over.

But so many others....Doug Walters, Graeme Hughes, Alan Turner, Dirk Wellham, Brad McNamara, Rod Bower, Steve Small, Steve Smith (the first one), Mark Waugh.

There were lots more that I admired. In Perth Robin Smith absolutely pulverised us a couple of times. And Alec Stewart was showing what a good player he was going to be.  

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

I played in an era when the wickets were not that great. Certainly where I played! Rarely did we play on a road and the good innings on flat decks don't stay in the memory quite as much as when the conditions were challenging.

Bankstown was nearly always an ok wicket, but we played them on a poor wicket there once in the mid-eighties. We had their very good batting line up 6 for about 70 with Steve Waugh hanging in there.

Against perfectly good bowling on a helpful wicket he gradually took control and got 121 not out, from a score of about 180. Played all the shots and just worked us around. We ended up getting about 160 in reply which was a huge effort. He was just on another level.  

Steve Waugh in his early years playing for New South Wales

Was there any bowler that seemed to have the knack of challenging you more than others?

I mentioned quite a few earlier. But it has to be Mike Whitney.

We had some big battles which probably over the years ended up a draw. He would huff and puff and stare with those crazy eyes. And bowl his heart out. Massive effort every ball. And I decided that he wasn't going to get me out....over my dead body stuff.

After playing him I'd have bruises everywhere; he hit me in the throat once. Years later I ran into him at a function at the SCG and with a huge smile he said there were two guys he hated more than any other in Grade. Me and another opener called Jamie Baker.... a very nice guy from UNSW. I took it as a huge compliment! Great competitor and a great bloke. 

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen first-hand playing with or against?

Steve Rixon is the obvious one. Phil Emery I played with, but his best years were after I left. An Englishman called Pat Fordham in Hong Kong was a very good player. 

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

I played with a phenomenal bowler at Wimbledon called Simon Dyson. He would get hatfuls of wickets at very low cost year after year. I was on an MCC Tour of Australia with him in 1994/95 and against very good sides at both the MCG and SCG he got 5 wickets each time. A Corinthian in spirit, he was nevertheless one of the great 'workers' of umpires. He was offered County contracts a few times but resisted - a great Amateur.

I'll also go for another Wimbledon player, Stephen Henderson (may as well spread it around!). Not sure I've ever seen anyone hit the ball quite so hard. He plays the clown all the time and is very amusing, but when he was on song as a batsman, look out. I saw him play some great innings (mind you he'd tell you about it afterwards….) Got 209 not out for Cambridge against Middlesex with every bowler having played Test Cricket. Something else he'd tell you!  

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

This will sound terrible, but I think I played against better ones than I played with. When I wasn't a captain I would captain the team in my head…and I didn't always agree (in my head) with what the real captain was doing.

I wish I had played under John Benaud, who I thought was tremendous. Good man manager, good tactics, knew the game. Made moves that as an opposition you didn't want.

I was in Neil Marks 2nd's team for a few games at NDs and he was very good. On a tour I was captained by Mick Hill from Newcastle and John Rogers (father of Chris). They were both very good, but a tour isn't quite the same, and both would have been great in Grade. Pat Fordham from Hong Kong was very good. 

Rowan with Graham Mackie, Mick Falk, Tony Wilson, Dick Guy (RIP), Andy McElroy (RIP), Phil Emery, Trevor Chappell, Brett Papworth at Chatswood Oval

Who has been your funniest team mate?

The late Phil "Feather' Blazey at ND's was a funny man. We were in the covers one day at Rushcutters watching a Southerly buster with terrible black clouds descend upon us. Blaze commented this particular cloud was of the 7 schooner variety. He detected my puzzled look to tell me that the expected amount of rain meant he had time to drink 7 schooners before he had to go home…and so it proved. Steve Whitfield is funny without knowing it sometimes. Ross Collins was very witty; came up with nicknames and had some good one liners. Stephen Henderson was an ex-pro at Wimbledon and is very funny. 

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

The late Brian Riley was involved in a great exchange one day at Chatswood. We were playing Petersham and chasing about 150. My old opening partner Mike Falk and I were trundling along nicely at about 0-80 and Petes were getting frustrated. One of the Bain brothers induced a nick from Falkie on the last ball of an over....'not out and over' said the umpire.

Riles chucked his cap down and proceeded to kick it over to his new fielding position. The very correct umpire coming in to take the next over was the nice David Freed...a lay preacher. Riles passed him and in a loud voice proclaimed.....'They **** heard that one up at **** Grace Bros David!! (Grace Bros being the big department store that loomed over the ground in the distance). To which the reply came, in a very clipped manner. 'Yes Brian, and they also gave it not out up at Grace Bros!' It took a while for play to resume with Riles still muttering away.  

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Plenty. Most embarrassing was after dismissing Penrith just before stumps and having to face one over to finish the day at Chatswood and their big quick Peter Clough steaming in to bowl. He bounced me (of course!) and I hooked a four. You can imagine all the chatter with just an over to go. I decided to put the hook away and facing the last ball he gave me another short one, which I pulled away from....or so I thought. It just nicked my glove on the way down the leg side. I then had to endure the hooping and hollering as I walked off. Last ball! Next week I turned up and just read the paper, watching. That was embarrassing

.  

Who was your childhood hero?

Doug Walters. Without a shadow of doubt. And years later I played against him out at Old Kings and we both scored hundreds in the same game. Only thing was, I saw his, and he never saw mine. The following week he and Greg Matthews went off to play a Shield game, and we managed to chase down their score. And they'd been replaced by bowlers! The scorecard is a prized possession

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

I have met a few sports stars and they invariably disappoint me, so I will decline to suggest anyone. Then – one day, I might then be nicely surprised.

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Jim Maxwell. Dennis Cometti back in the day was good. McGilvray was so long ago, but the voice of my youth.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

The grounds that you get runs at are always good. But the surroundings of Church Road at Wimbledon takes some beating. The All England Tennis Club opposite, look up the hill to St Mary's Church, sailboats on the lake. A busy club bar. Love it there. 

What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?

UNSW – they and Northern District shared a strong bond for a while, which went back to the Australian Old Collegians trip to the UK in 1977 where there were quite a few tourists from both teams.

Sydney Uni - I played Inter-varsity for them so knew those guys well. Bankstown – I played Supergrade with some of the Bankstown team and I enjoyed that. Tony Radanovic and Lennie were different to play with as opposed to against! And in England the Wimbledon v Esher match was always incredibly keen. We have a lunch now that the old timers turn up to - good fun, and lots of lies. 

Northern District Green Shield team

What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?

I am very competitive so cricket satisfied that aspect of my personality on the field. But I enjoyed the camaraderie of team mates and opposition afterwards. One of my biggest influences was a guy called Chris Brown at Wimbledon. He wasn't everyone's cup of tea. He would say in the dressing room after the game (even if the game had been moody) that we needed to go and drink the fixture back. In other words, end on good terms with the opposition. And if we were in the bar talking amongst ourselves he would chide us. We had to get in and drink with our opponents. 

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Early days (just 14) playing in a Green Shield final at SCG No 2. We lost to Andrew Hilditch's Sutherland, but it was such a thrill. Seemed like the big time - full scores in the paper, lunch in the Member's Stand. And, years later, to walk out to bat at Lords for the MCC. Down the stairs, out through the Long Room. A dream come true. 

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

Probably beating Randwick down at Coogee in the early 80's. We were going through a very fallow patch and Randwick were riding high. A premiership team. I honestly can't remember too many details, but it got down to them being 9 down and needing something like 4 off the last over to win. Trevor Chappell was bowling it to Trevor Jay. A couple of balls went by and Trevor C bowled a bouncer and Trevor J gloved it through to Mick Cox and we won. Afterwards at Randwick Rugby Club we enjoyed ourselves and the Randwick blokes just moaned. Was a good tonic for what was then a lowly team. 

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

Wow. Tough one. When I come back to Sydney we have a lunch for the guys who went on the AOC trip in 1977 to the UK. Those guys are top of my list. 

Outside of them 'Jungle' Jim Robson, Tom Jenkins from Syd Uni and my old opening partner Mick Falk would make up a good crew. 

With fellow tourists Peter Tout, Kerry Mackay, me, Steve Whitfield, Denis Lynch, Michael Hill, Steve Bernard, Michael Hewett.

What are your hobbies?

Playing golf and following the St Kilda FC (Aussie Rules). And family of course. 

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

I had just joined Gordon after a poor year at Northern District. We played Mosman at Killara and I got a few....maybe 40. The following week we were washed out and ended up at the Greengate Hotel for a drink.

Barry Knight - who I had never spoken to before came over for a chat and told me he thought that I had batted well the week before. He said he'd dropped one short and I hit him off the back foot, and then he pitched one up and I drove him though the covers. He then said he didn't know where to bowl to me.

Rubbish of course - with his ability and experience but he was making the point that you need to put yourself in the shoes of the opposition, because they get nervous too. For someone low on confidence at the time, it was a great thing to hear, and I used it whenever playing and coaching thereafter. And Barry is another I wished I'd played with. 

What is your current occupation?

Retired. I worked in the Television industry for 27 years in Advertising Sales. Firstly at Channel 9 during World Series Cricket. Then in the wine industry for 10 years. And then I did coaching. I am a Level 3 ECB coach. 

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

We came to Scotland due to my wife's work about three years ago and so I gave up coaching at that point. I had coached in Oxfordshire for about 10 years, mainly looking after the County Under 14 team. 

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

I am far removed, having left Sydney in 1986. But I return each year (or did before COVID) as my mother still lives in North Turramurra, and when I do, I make sure I catch up with both of my old Sydney clubs.

I listen to people I respect in the game. It has pained me to hear how Grade cricket has been treated the last few years, and the imbalance of the game alarms me. There might have been 15 centuries in First Grade a year when I played, and now there is nearly that each round. Something isn't right. 180 was often a winning score. I have watched a few games and see players with not great techniques just bully attacks. Half hits go for four, sometimes for 6. To be honest, I am not sure what the answer is. And the other thing that I note is that the older guys from 1st and 2nd Grade aren't playing down the Grades and teaching the young guys - they just stop playing. Maybe we should incentivise the experienced guys to remain in the game. No easy answer I'm afraid.