Robert Radley - straight drives along the carpet
Gordon District Cricket Club | May 09, 2023
Robert Radley made his first grade debut for Gordon Cricket Club in October 1992 to become the clubs first grade player number 454.
Robert played his junior cricket on Sydney’s North Shore and played Green Shield Under 16s for Gordon before progressing through the grade ranks. He still holds the record for having the highest average in a season in 3rd Grade when he averaged 90 during the 1990-91 season.
In the 1999-2000 season Robert scored 609 runs in the season, 280 is 1st grade and 329 in 2nd grade.
Robert also played first grade cricket for Mosman before returning to Gordon at the end of his career.
Let’s find out more about Robert’s journey in the game.
Robert Radley as a young cricketer
What year you were born?
December 1971
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I don’t recall much of my first game apart from donning the white shorts and a penguin shirt and being very unsure of the fielding position names. I wasn’t convinced that I really wanted to play cricket until my primary school mates urged me to play for Hornsby RSL U10s in the Hornsby Ku-rin-gai competition. Back in the school yard I was a fast bowler who bowled off the wrong foot, front on and with a decent inswinger. You would often see me playing with the year 5 and 6 kids on our school malthoid wicket as a year 3 student. This is where I earnt the nickname Rocket Radley.
My dad was always instrumental in any sport I played as a kid namely, soccer, tennis and golf but it was cricket that he and I fell in love with and coupled with greatly supporting me with until I retired in 2001. The poor guy would have balls belted over his head in the nets at Hornsby Heights after bowling in the heat over a few hours to me. Great times!
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I was born and bred on the Northshore of Sydney and played for Hornsby RSL from U10s to U16s and collected two overall club champion awards during that time, I also represented Hornsby Ku-rin-gai Teams from U12s to U15s then found my way playing for Gordon District Cricket Clubs U16s Green Shield side amongst many fine future first grade and state representative players – Kevin Roberts, Paul McLean, Matthew Phelps, and Ed Howitt just to name a few. Four years later after learning my craft on Chatswood Oval my first grade debut for Gordon kicked off in October 1992. I became first grade player cap number 454.
Looking to open the batting more, I then joined Mosman Cricket Club in 1994 as first grade player cap number 377. I had two first grade seasons with Mosman which I can only describe as two very different years with them. Cellar dwellers year one but having said I had a lot of fun with the playing group and then managed to play in a new side the next season boasting Shane Lee, Marty Haywood and Craig Hughes. With this level of fire power we were able to notch up some decent wins.
In 1998 I spoke to my uncles mate who was a overseas cricket player agent who managed to line me up with Clacton-On-Sea Cricket Club. I played in the Two Counties league for Clacton, Essex & Suffolk in 1998 and in 1999 & 2000 we were selected to start in the Premier League competition set up across England in 1999. Our team was strong with County & Minor County players such as Adam Seymour (Essex and Worcestershire), Gary Kirk (Suffolk), Trevor Moulton (Suffolk), Chris Seal (Suffolk) and Chris Swallow (Suffolk).
Robert Radley 101 not out against Sydney University
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
After playing Green Shield for Gordon I trialled for grade and was highly disappointed when I was initially selected to play 6th grade in the local comp. That season I soon rocketed up into 5th Grade & 4th Grade after scoring some handy runs as a 16 year old.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I debut in first grade with a fairly late call up to the game by Michael Cant who was captain as a 20 year old in October 1992. I was pretty excited to crack into first grade but I soon learnt a number of valuable lessons about the standard required to play well at this level. In my very first dig, I was facing up Phil Alley who was all of 208 centimetres and quick. I think at the time he was named one of the tallest and fastest bowlers in the world and was compared to many West Indian bowlers who were terrorising batsmen during that era across International Cricket. Here I am facing up to this rampaging specimen on Killara Oval and not picking up too much after the ball left his hand. I lasted all of five balls and was caught by a rearing in ducker into the gloves that ballooned behind square leg for a very simple catch.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Top order batsmen who managed to see off the quicks but wasted so many starts hitting 30s and 40s like a lot of us. I really enjoyed the challenge of batting against any current or former Australian and NSW state representative bowlers at the time.
What were your strengths as a player?
I could see off many of the opening bowlers and was particularly strong off my pads including hitting straight drives along the carpet plus taking the aerial route when needed. Also, if I got into the 70s I often had the nerve, patience and focus to turn them into centuries which I am extremely proud of. I particularly liked to go after any spinner by moving my feet down the track which got me unstuck a couple of times throughout my career.
I also took a lot of pride in my fielding and would basically have an internal competition going in my mind which was to not let any balls go past me within reach in basically a V format from the batters end. It kept me focussed in the field during those long hot drawn out days.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
154 not out mostly in boundaries for Clacton-On-Sea Cricket Club at Vista Road Essex, England.
Robert Radley facing Gavin Robertson at Manly Oval
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I managed to get a few wickets here or there along the grades but as captain of a Gordon 2nd grade side one season I took the ball a little bit more frequently. I do recall a 4 fa 30 odd on Chatswood Oval bowling my skidders off a short run.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Brett Lee at Allan Border Oval bowling rapid. I managed face a little bit of his spell and remember one nut outside off stump where I shaped to hit a back foot cover drive and I couldn’t even get the bat down quick enough. It hit my inside edge and rocketed to the fence for four down to fine leg.
Stuart Clarke was just at you all the time and Glenn McGrath obviously made a career out of hitting good lengths and got me out caught off the glove for 0. I think I was his only wicket for the day.
Brett Lee
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Gavin Robinson was someone I highly respected as a spinner. Robo certainly kept me tied down for a few hours at one end at Manly Oval as I compiled 72 runs against the other bowlers.
Facing Greg Matthews at Waverley Oval was just plain old unfair.
I’ll also pick facing Peter McIntyre as the overseas pro for a Holland side on a cricket tour I did with the Essex Hoboes. Pete played 2 tests for Australia and was meant to be our countries leg spinner till one Shane Warne arrived on the scene followed by Stuart McGill. Pete was at me from ball one and once I could pick up his length, I went on the attack to make 52 in fairly quick time.
Gavin Robertson
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
There was a number of Australian cricketers that I was lucky to play against during my 8 years playing first grade, but I will go with some first grade cricket run scorers being Rod Davison who rarely gave away his wicket and would punish you once set. I remember him scoring runs on a very wet wicket and did it easily by balancing his ability to defend and nudge the ball about.
Kevin Roberts was an old Gordon teammate of mine but I also saw him score plenty of runs for Bankstown. Kev would simply find the gaps with the full face of his bat coupled with quick footwork.
Greg Hayne was always ahead of his years while coming through the ranks and all I saw was runs flow off his bat from the age of 15 in the U16s Green Shield competition right through to first grade when he played mostly for the Tigers. Boris is a cracking bloke on and off the field and I was fortunate enough to play alongside him while he was at Gordon for a short stint.
Two of Robert's old team mates - Kevin Roberts batting for NSW and Adam Gilchrist wicket keeping for WA
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Murray Rayner dominated second grade while playing for Penrith in the 1992/93 season and this was only reiterated by him scoring 230 in the semi-final that year. Our side met up with Penrith in the grand final in what should have been a very close contest. He punished us with scores of 73 in the first innings and 84 in the second innings over the 3 day final for us to go down at the final hurdle.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
On a couple of occasions Warwick Adlam had a knack of messing with me out on the middle. I recall an innings at Alan Border Oval and being set up for a short one to come from Wick. The next ball smashed into my grill and it squashed it against my face. I looked up…and there was Wick with the ball somehow back in his hand just smiling back at me.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
Oh yeah, facing Mike Whitney at Bert Oldfield Oval, Killara. I was nervous as hell as I saw Whit at the top of his bowling mark followed by him pulling up his knee guard up in readiness. Here was the guy on the Tooheys ad scoring the winning runs and who had played for Australia. I saw Phil Emery play and miss at a couple while I was at the other end which didn’t help me with my nerves at all. I managed to score my first real 1st grade runs and spent some time at the crease that day (I think 37) and had the great Whit join me for a beer and chat in our tiny dressing room. I was chuffed that he did that and also recognised that it was only one of my first few games at this level.
Mike Whitney
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Without a doubt Adam Gilchrist for Gordon and playing against him at Northern Districts. Of course, Gilly’s batting and keeping ability was always first class but what I admired the most was his ability to bring every player in that team together. He’s still that champion bloke that everyone recognises today.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Wayne Holdsworth would run in hard and hit the deck all day and he also didn’t mind having a healthy chirp towards any batsmen.
Jason Arnberger was also all class with the bat in his hand. He hit the ball so clean from the get go and was always determined to compile big runs.
Wayne Holdsworth
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
I’d have to say Geoff Hickman who was my 2nd grade captain at Gordon who turned a motley crew of young players (some bordering on being reprobates) into Grand Final contenders against Penrith. Hicko led from the front and always made sure that every player knew what they offered the team. We ended up being beaten by a pretty slick and hungry Penrith side over the 3 day final.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Stefan Hutton, absolute crazy man that had all his team mates in stitches week after week. He also had the biggest grin in Sydney Grade cricket to match at the time.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Whitney telling me at the non-strikers end while walking back to his mark, ‘hey….tell ya old man he needs to take a photo soon as you aint gonna be here for much longer’. I think my dad was slightly more in awe than I was at the time.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
I finally get my chance to tell the truth and Glenn Tullia just needs to sit back read this. After scoring a chanceless knock of 130 odd in the first innings at Hurstville Oval against St George in a second-grade match both GT and I managed to get a second dig in the 2 day game. The ground look superb and the deck even better. GT and I toddled out and he would take the first rock as usual. Here I was thinking I’ve never scored two tons in one game, and this could be it. GT was a pretty determined left hand bat with plenty of experience but on this day he left that all behind. GT squirts one behind gully and calls me through (not his call mind you), I stupidly backed up but found myself in complete shock and bewilderment as the fielder got the ball square into his mitts, so I do the honourable thing and continue the run. Run out for my first and only Golden Duck without facing a ball. Of course, my teammates where dirty on Glenn except for Nick Cutler and Steve McGuinness who were giggling like school girls in the stands because of my dismissal. I also think Glenn has a slightly different version of this story to tell, but it’s not about him. ??
Who was your childhood hero?
Gary Sweet - the number of times I watched Bodyline over the school summer holidays and thinking that he was real deal as Bradman
Gary Sweet
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
All golfers, as I’m a complete golf tragic these days - Jason Day (AUS), Paul Casey (ENG) and Padraig Harrington (IRE) are my favourites
Padraig Harrington
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Adam Gilchrist, all class and he cleverly keeps Shane Warne in check
What was your favourite ground to play at?
So many good ones in Sydney Grade cricket at the time but North Sydney Oval was always special and one I loved batting on.
Was there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Bankstown was always so tough and competitive. In the era I played they always had a few ex or current Australian and NSW Shield players coupled with first graders who all seem to perform on a regular basis
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Scoring 100 N/O in first grade admittedly in a second innings dig against Randwick Petersham in not many balls at Chatswood Oval. It was an unusual game but still quite memorable for me. My batting partner, Anthony Sherman told me at the time to just defend this out until the tea break and we may get the game called off early if there was to be no outright points on offer. I may have used some stern words to Sherman at the time, and then proceeded to say while on 16 runs, ‘no way, I’m getting a ton today’. It was just one of those games where everything came out of the screws over 23 overs.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
These 3 are all close mates of mine.
Matt Kelly (Gordon) – he has the uncanny ability to just recall so many events around our cricketing days including several mine that I had completely forgotten. He’s also a pretty good cook and partakes in some quality red wine so our BBQ would be humming with Kells.
Nick Cutler (Gordon) – who still loves to stir me up but we share the love of golf along with Matt Kelly and generally enjoy giving each other crap. Cuts loves a good quality pinot as well.
Dean Gilchrist (Gordon & Mosman) – we can just talk about anything from sport, business, current news and life itself. Dean taught me how to coach junior cricketers to another level of which I still use as fundamentals to this day.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Cuthy Berenger who played 3rd grade with me as a very experienced player (old!) would often tell me and other young players at the time that if you score 100 it must be Not Out. He would make an effort to look me in the eye at a drinks or at a tea break and make me repeat it back to him. I managed a few 100+ not outs in my career so it must have sunk in Cuthy. Thanks!
What is your occupation?
In February 2020, I became the Executive General Manager for Nelnet International which is a highly progressive Technology company that is providing core systems and payment technology solutions to the Education, Government, Healthcare, Aged Care and Book Retailing market right across the globe.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Over the last few years I have coached a number of local juniors. I am also assisting an amazing 16 year old from Victoria by reviewing some video footage passed on by his dad David who was an ex professional golfer. Keep an eye out on Max Heffernan who is a gifted batsman and bowler doing great things in the VIC cricket carnivals this year.
I’m also behind getting a number of Gordon District Cricket Club old boy gathering events up and running for the players, fans and administrators at the club that were involved during the 80s right through to 2000’s. As you would suspect, the stories always get that much better as the years go by.
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?
For me, it’s simply always about making sure that young boys and girls get access to the best facilities and coaches. This has been said so many times, but I would also like to see more first-class players filtering back to grade cricket and connecting with young cricketers in various formats. I was lucky enough to spurred on with the level of cricket I got to play because of the likes of Mark O’Neil and Phil Emery who were both busy first-class players at the time but who still mixed it up with their club mates when they could for games and training sessions.
