Brendan McDonald - enjoy your team mates success

Gordon District Cricket Club | March 07, 2023

Brendan McDonald joined Gordon District Cricket Club for the 2005/06 season after making his first grade debut for UTS North Sydney against Randwick during the 2003/04 season.

A talented leg spinner Brendan took 172 first grade wickets for Gordon with best figures of 6 for 65.

He was more than handy with the bat scoring 1,849 first grade runs with 8 half centuries and a highest score of 98 against Bankstown.

Brendan travelled to Adelaide and played for Woodville in 2010/11 where he tool 24 first grade wickets and then to Hobart the following season to play for Lindisfarne and took 21 wickets.

He returned for one more season at Gordon in 2012/13.

Brendan McDonald bowling against Hawkesbury

What year you were born?

1983

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I was later than most as I played baseball as a junior out in Penrith. I was 11 at the start of high school, I opened the bowling and remember being told by the umpire that ‘it would’ve been lbw if I had appealed’ – this is probably what led me to appeal for anything remotely near out over the next 25 years…

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Kerry O’Keeffe was my coach as a teen, so he got me to start grade out at St George in 2000/01. He was picked up by the ABC about a month in, so I moved the following year to Nth Sydney as I was living in Crows Nest. I had a lot of fun in the five years there with some good blokes that I’m still close with today. A move to Gordon came in 2005 when I was really trying to have a crack and develop my game under Matt Nicholson’s tutelage. A shift to Adelaide to train with the SACA’s came in 2010/11 after 3 years in the NSW 2nd XI, and with Steve Smith just starting to get going it was a logical move. Woodville are a great club and were great to me. The following year a move to Hobart came around, with an opportunity to train full time with the Tigers. One summer with Lindisfarne there, which was great value but my bowling was on the decline so I moved home for one last year with Gordon in 2012-13 where I played one year too long. I was over it. I had 6 stints in the U.K too - Formby, Didsbury, Wokingham, Beckenham and Winchmore Hill. Too many legends to name.

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

I was 17 and played 4th Grade for Saints. Both of our openers got hundreds and it washed out the next week. I was then dropped after not even taking the field. Welcome to grade cricket son!

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

I was 19, it was at Nth Syd vs Bankstown. I didn’t take a wicket but was happy with how I bowled.

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

Bowler that pretended to bat a bit. Craig Simmons used to call me ‘pig dog’ because I enjoyed fielding too much…

What were your strengths as a player?

I was always up for a contest. I’d like to think for the majority of the 2000’s that I could really bowl to my field for long spells.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

I had three not outs in the 90’s in first grade, with the highest being 98 not out Gordon vs Bankstown at Bankstown. Scott Thompson bowled a bouncer to our no 11 Dylan Connell, when he thought he would impersonate Viv and hook him in front of square. He gloved it to the keeper, and Scott turned to me and said ‘suck shit!’ He was always good fun to play against.

Brendan McDonald

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

There was a 6 for vs Syd University in there which was a fond one.

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

Daniel McLauchlan – He was rapid and literally wanted to injure me before my impending dismissal. I have never been as scared as when I hit him for four once. He told me in no uncertain terms that he was about to kill me – and I believed him.

Grant Lambert – He was the complete cricketer and a better bloke. His last ball of the day was as vicious as his first. He deserved every bit of success that went his way. Next time you are bored at work look up his stats – they are a joke.

Mark Cameron – He was just business. Put in all day. Bowled rapid and didn’t carry on. You could hear him coming in his run up – he sounded like a racehorse galloping. No thanks.

There were plenty more, but a few I never actually faced in a match– Burt Cockley was a guy that I successfully avoided for years. Matt Baker was one I was glad was on my team too.

Grant Lambert

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Adrian Tucker – I really looked up to him when I started out. I just wanted to learn the game that he had. I would always race to the sheds after the game with a beer so that he couldn’t move so I could pepper him with questions about leg spin. He used to hide his lunch money in his pads – it all came out once when he had to dive whilst batting at Nth Syd Oval!

Anthony Clarke – Always found a way. Turning wicket, slow wicket, flat track – he was always influencing the game. Top bloke and one I loved playing against. We would talk non-stop at each other from slip – some good battles in there over the years.

Xavier Doherty – Was so controlled. Turned it and would get great drop. Wasn’t much between his worst day and his best. Also loves fishing, which gets him points!

Adrian Tucker

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

Phil Jaques – He was an absolute machine. Hit the ball so hard. Whilst he was in, they were in front. A top fella too that put a lot of time into new and younger blokes.

Grant Lambert - Pretty sure he scored 630 odd not out over a three innings period against us. He got a double hundred once after I dropped him at second slip first ball. He sweated out 19 beers from the Toongabbie RSL that hot day at Killara.

Michael Di Venuto – Obviously knew he was a good player before meeting him, but seeing it live was very impressive. Had all of the shots. Was very stylish and a cricket brain to boot. Genius coach.

Phil Jaques

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

Craig ‘The Big Ship’ Simmons scored 100 on a wetty at Syd Uni in a quarter final. They had Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Mark Cameron, Greg Matthews and Greg Mail whom was a nightmare on that wicket. We rolled them for 180 odd and he just launched. Second best score on either team was about 19. Celebrated with a mars bar and a can of coke as he always did. Usman Khawaja scored back to back doubles in 2ndXI one year too – pretty impressive stuff.

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

All of them. Blokes that would deck them back in would get me out for fun. Scottie Moran, Scud Cameron, ‘Motha’ Farquarson, Ed Zelma, Scott Thompson, Mott, Goldsmith, J Moss, Copeland, Keen, Starc, Green, Eve, Bird, Hazlewood, Lalor. I need to stop thinking about them – I feel sick.

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to? 

Two stick out.

Facing Shaun Tait in the old dark indoor nets on a cold June Adelaide morning. I thought to myself ‘If this is International cricket – they can have it!’

In Hobart we were doing a weaving and avoidance drill with the ball machine pumping tennis balls at your head from about three feet away, I was trying not to die when I hear Mark Cosgrove pulling them in front of square in the next net. He played a different sport to most of us.

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

I enjoyed bowling to Adam Crosthwaite. He was good, annoyed batsman and could bat himself. I was very lucky to have Iain Beverley for most of my time at Gordon. Great trainer, always smiling and just got it done. Brett Rosen, Tom Triffit, Tim Cameron, Nigel Taylor and Pete Nevill were always clean with the gloves too. Leggies always appreciate the good keepers!!!!!

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

Greg Mail – was a great leader. Led from the front with bat, ball and in the field. He was always so well-mannered whilst dominating at the same time – it was eerie. I enjoyed my time in second XI learning from him. Just don’t get him started on maths or Paul Kelly…

Chadd Sayers – He would bowl at both ends if he could. Once he got the pill in those tiny, tiny little hands of his, things would happen. By far the most enjoyable slip fielding experience that season. He was unstoppable. A model for hard work gets results.

Greg Mail

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

Matt Nicholson – He was just full of so much knowledge and if you put in, he would reward you with it in spades. No bullshit about him. He made your role so clear and knew when to talk and when to be silent. It was no mistake that I started to find my feet when I started playing under him.

Jimmy Jack Peterson during the start of my time in 1’s at Nth Sydney was also invaluable.

Matt Nicholson

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Tom Triffit is a close second to Dylan Connell. The bloke ‘bruise’ was an enigma. He had the biggest head in world cricket – and the smallest helmet. He couldn’t throw over arm and bowled for 15years of grade cricket with the same hanky whilst wearing basketball high tops. Groaned like Chewbacca and berated himself in the third person when he misfielded. Refused to start any spell with anything other than a wide and would take a few 10 fa’s a year. Ripper bloke!

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

One day I was fluking some hook shots off Dougie Bollinger. He kept on trying to hit me in the head and I just kept shutting my eyes and hitting him for six. He got taken off and Dougie abused me from the long off boundary for the next 20 mins. I cut Bumper Boulos straight to point and Doug ran from long off to send me off, but the sheds were at third man at Killara – by the time he got to me his head was so red, he could barely get the abuse out in between breaths, as I was now about 5m from the gate. He must have run 300m! I could hear the Fairfield boys still laughing as I was taking the pads off. A funny man Doug, I always enjoyed his banter and enjoyed seeing him do well.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Nicholson ran me out without facing a pellet once at Syd Uni. I waited about 5hrs 50mins that day to bat for 3 seconds. Cheers.

Who was your childhood hero?

Dean Jones - Couldn’t get enough. Brad Fittler too.

Dean Jones

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

Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt, Rhys Wesser. Three of the world’s great specimens.

Usain Bolt

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Damien Fleming does well I reckon. Callum Ferguson is a smokey for future honours.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Definitely not Bensons Lane, every time I played there Brett Collison would hit me over the Blue Mountains. Lindisfarne in Hobart on a sunny day was good value. A soft spot for Chatswood Oval.

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

I got on well with St George and the Fairfield Liverpool boys. There was always plenty flying around in those games. They were strong sides and I liked the way they both went about it. It was no fluke they had the success that they did.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

The year we made the Grand Final with Gordon was good fun. One 2nd XI tour where we played at the WACA and Adelaide Oval over two weeks was good value with some top blokes. Seeing mates get the rewards playing Test cricket is also enjoyable.

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

Beating a red hot Randy Petes side in a Semi Final. Katich, Khawaja, Hauritz, Jimmy Byrne, Cockley, (the fastest spell of bowling ever seen!)

Brendan McDonald

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

Julian Stephenson as he always brings a case and is shit at beer pong. Jackson ‘Squid’ Bird to mumble all afternoon like Beavis and Butthead. Ed Cowan for his cooking and to elevate the standard of chat. (Stew McCabe sneaks into fourth because he just turns up anyway!)

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Matt Nicholson – ‘Enjoy the success of your team mates and you will love cricket every single day, as your good day only comes around every so often’

What is your occupation?

Work in a family business in Asset Management in the Industrial Property space.

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

No. We had fun, now it’s time for golf and fishing! A few mates are still running around so I keep a little eye on them and that’s about it.

Brendan McDonald with Woodville Cricket Club in Adelaide

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?

Keep the state boys playing and training in and around their clubs. This is invaluable.

Don’t overdo the Twenty20.