Brad Patterson - camaraderie and competitiveness

Northern District Cricket Club Sydney | May 27, 2024

Brad Patterson made his first grade debut for Northern District at the age of 21 in 1981. He was a very proud member of the Northern District first grade premiership winning teams in 1985/86 and 1986/87.

A tall elegant batsman who actually made his first grade debut opening the bowling.

Brad’s cricketing journey has also taken him to places not many get to experience. He’s the very proud dad of Australian Test Cricketer No 457, Kurtis Patterson.

Let’s find out more about Brad experiences in this game he cherishes.

Welcome Brad, what year you were born?

1960

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

9 years old playing for Wentworthville RSL Youth U/10s. I scored 164 not out and took 3 for. Honest!

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Wenty RSL U/10, Kenthurst CC from U/11 to A Grade, NSW JCU U/21, Northern District, Mosman, Teddington (Middlesex), Sydney University, Strathfield Shires

What other sports do you play?

Golf only these days but played Rugby Union, League, Soccer and Tennis as a young bloke. I broke my neck (C4-5 dislocation) playing League when I was 19 courtesy of a large forearm to my neck in a tackle which put my cricket career back a year or two.

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

4th Grade at Northern District when I was 17 at Tonkin Oval. I took 7 wicket and got a 2nd ball gozza. The worst start for someone who wanted to be a batting all-rounder.

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

21 for Northern District. We lost 2 quicks from the year before so I was pitchforked in as an opening bowler and batted 8 or 9. I bowled 5 overs and managed to get one through Rowan McGregor’s defence for my first wicket. I fielded the rest of the day and didn’t bat.

My first bat was next game against Waverley. David Hourn bowled me a no-ball (I think he did that a bit) and I hit it for 6 over mid-wicket for my first runs in 1st Grade. Next ball was a wrongun which I played and missed and the stumping appeal was turned down but the umpire at the bowlers end gave me out caught behind. Welcome to 1st Grade!

What prompted the move from Northern District to Sydney University?

We moved house to Roselands closer to where I was teaching at the time and to my wife’s family. It was always going to be difficult travelling an hour to Waitara to train twice a week and my old mate John Grimble invited me to join Sydney Uni. I loved NDs but the travel would have worn me down so I made the move.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

157 for NDs in 1st Grade against Parramatta at Waitara. For some reason I always made runs against them.

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

Steve Bernard- only played him once at the end of his career but he just relentlessly hitting the seam with his perfect fast bowlers action. His leg cutter was unplayable and his off cutter cut you in half. I felt like I was batting with a toothpick.

Dave Gilbert- We played Wests at Pratten Park the day the Cricket Association experimented with the orange ball. “Lizard” surprisingly bowled uphill into the breeze till it was apparent he was bowling into the infamous Ridge. He put one past Angus Farncomb’s nose, it sailed over the ‘keeper’s head and half volleyed into the sightscreen. Randal Green and I were padded up in the stands, said nothing to each other and both silently shit ourselves! I top scored with 26 that day and that was the quickest bowling I’d encountered. The orange ball left a comet like trail so its depth was hard to pick up. Good decision to abort it and try the pink ball.

Murray Radcliffe- Always seemed to play him on rain affected decks where he was a world beater. Great control and very difficult to get off strike.

Len Pascoe and Andrew Jones both very rapid. A young Glenn McGrath went ok too.

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

Tom Shiner- Big turner of the ball and very good control for a leggie. Loved a contest.

Murray Bennett- Had the best arm ball I’d ever seen. I let one go outside off stump at Hurstville Oval one day before it hit the top of middle. I walked off in disbelief that I could misjudge one so badly. Muz reminded me years later that he cleaned bowled Viv Richards in the Sydney Test with the same ball. That’s about all I had in common with Viv unfortunately.

Greg Mathews- Turned them sharply for an offie with beautiful flight. Always at you in the contest as well.

Barry Thebridge and Gav Robbo always tough opponents.

I wouldn’t swap any of them though for the 2 spinners we had at NDs in Steve Whitfield and Peter Taylor.

Steve Whitfield - left arm spinner

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

Mark Waugh- Just made batting look so easy. He made 140 odd against us one day and I reckon he faced 80% of the bowling. Hit a 4 early in the over and a single late. The best I played against.

Rod Bower- Scored 100 out of about 200 first innings in a game at Waitara. We declared about 140 in front and dobbed them back in where he just smashed us again for 96. Hit the ball extremely hard particularly between backward point and cover off the back foot.

John Dyson-technically perfect and therefore very hard to get out. Would defend, defend, defend and the next one was on the Grandstand roof.

Graeme Spring, Scott Hookey, Justin Kenny and Mark O’Neil also played some impressive knocks against us.

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

Mark Waugh against – see above. I also remember an innings he played against us when I was captaining Syd Uni on Cox Plate day. He came in an hour before the race and had backed Super Impose to win at 25-1. He batted normally for 20 mins and then tried to get out to go across the road and watch the race. Between the 2 of us we couldn’t do it till he was just shy of 50. Super Impose won and we lost!

Randal Green hit 120 odd in our semi against North Sydney at Drummoyne to win the game and send us to the Final in 1986. We were 5 for about 80 chasing 230ish and he played the best knock I’ve seen from him (and he played a lot of good ones). He’d just reached 100 at tea and we had 25 to get when the message from Ross Turner at the break was to be sensible, get them in 1s and 2s and we play next week. The game finished 2 overs later as “Sleepy” defied Captain’s instructions and smashed them. Terrific Grade batsman who would’ve played more 1st Class cricket if his knees weren’t shot.

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

Tim Ebbeck – Outstanding gloveman and great feet. Flashy but can’t recall him dropping one and his keeping up to the stumps to Whitfield and Taylor was first class. Loved getting under the skin of opposition batsmen and in the showers with 1st Grade debutants.

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

Hands down, Ross Turner. An outstanding man manager who brought the best out of everyone who played under him. He was a very good coach and so was able to set fields according to batsman’s strengths and weaknesses very early in their innings and he was always ahead of the game. As a result he was 30 not out before he put the pads on. A calm, thoughtful person who always appeared in control. Highly respected by all he played with and against.

Ross Turner

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Michael Coote. Funniest man on the planet. Love him to death. 4 hours on the drink with Cootey feels like 40 mins because it’s fast forward stories non-stop.

Timothy Charles Ebbeck a close second.

Who was your childhood hero?

Doug Walters. He actually married my teacher, Miss Redman when I was in 1st class.

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

No one now because they’re all no longer with us. Give me Cootey, Tim Ebbeck and Ian Moore with a carton of Stella and some Barossa Shiraz and I’m a happy camper.

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Jim Maxwell, Kerry O’Keefe

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Waitara Oval (now Mark Taylor Oval)

What was your most embarrassing moment playing cricket?

We bowled first against Saints on an overcast day at Waitara. I bowled 1st change and the ball was swinging round corners. Geoff (Spike) Milliken was playing really well when wickets were falling at the other end. He clipped one down to backward square off me where fine leg had to run around to gather and, realising they were looking for 2, I turned to cover the stumps at my end. We confronted each other as he turned for the second, tried to avoid each other and he was run out at the keepers end by a foot. I felt responsible as he walked off “thanking me” for his dismissal. I suggested to Mark Taylor who was captain we should call him back but I was outranked. At the innings break I went way out of my comfort zone and sought out Spike in the Saints change room to apologise. At least 7 blokes wanted to mug me. Once again, sorry Spike!

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

Parramatta. Scored 2 hundreds against them (including my first – very special) and just seemed to score runs most games. St George and NDs always had a great rivalry and mutual respect.

What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?

The camaraderie of my teammates and the competitiveness. They were the 2 things I missed most when I finished playing.

What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?

My son Kurtis receiving his Baggy Green. Prior to that, hitting the winning runs and playing a crucial innings to win the 85-86 season Final against the Dragons.

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

That Final against Saints and then back to back next season defending only 158 against Campbelltown. They were 1-57 overnight and after the first half hour next day they were 4-58. Steve Whitfield and Peter Taylor strangled them and we won by about 25.

Northern District First Grade Premiers 1986/86

Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?

Caddyshack and Happy Gilmour.

What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?

Breaking my neck when I was 19. I just don’t talk about it.

What are your hobbies?

Love the Horse Racing. Is that a hobby or just a vice?

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Go with your gut feeling.

It would be remiss of us if we didn’t ask you a couple of quick questions about your son Kurtis, Australian Test Player #457.

Can you share what the emotions and moment was like when Kurtis was presented with his Baggy Green prior to his Test Debut?

Thought you’d never ask! In a nutshell it was the proudest moment of my life. At 14 Kurtis scored the most runs in the Green Shield competition and represented NSW U/15 Schoolboys. From that point on it was clear he was a cut above most other young batsmen in the State. I dared to dream that one day he might play for his country as no doubt every Dad did in that situation.

When he was drafted into the Test squad and finally told he was playing it was a dream come true. I didn’t know who was presenting his cap but was hoping it was either Mike Hussey who Kurtis payed with at Thunder and who had become a mentor, my old mate at NDs Mark Taylor or Murray Bennett who presented him with his NSW Cap. Mike Hussey it was.

As he spoke about Kurtis and the responsibility of being a custodian of the Baggy Green I knew the moment I’d dreamt about for 10 years for my son was about to happen. Huss presented him with the Cap and as Kurtis placed it on his head, I had tears streaming down my face. I was literally living the dream! He had worked so hard for it and through consistency and recent weight of runs I knew he thoroughly deserved his chance. My wife Dana and I were literally beside ourselves.

He scored his maiden Test Century in only his 2nd Test, as a proud father and a cricketer himself can you describe the moment and the emotions you remember?

The pride and emotion I experienced at Kurtis receiving his Baggy Green was matched by the sheer excitement when he reached his maiden Test hundred. Believe me I face every ball with him when he bats and when he hit that ball through the covers for 3 to bring up the ton it was unbridled joy and relief at the same time.

I was so proud at his reaction to reaching his ton. He didn’t overreact, just lifted his helmet, raised his arms and acknowledged the crowd and us. That’s my boy!

Kevin Roberts made us feel very welcome over the 2 Tests and after the Aussies declared he came up to see us and told us the Governor General wanted to meet us. I hadn’t had a beer while Kurtis was batting but quickly starting making up for lost time. Dana, Jocelyn (Kurtis’ fiancé) and I met Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife which was a great thrill and honour.

We also spent some time with Brian and Judy Booth. Brian was the last St. George player some 53 years prior to score a Test hundred. Who better to share a beer with at that time. Brian was very proud and emotional.

St George Cricket Club legend Brian Booth was the most recent player from the club to score a Test century v West Indies in the 2nd test of the Australian 164/65 tour

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

Not anymore. I was assistant coach at Saints when Kurtis played Greenies and Poidevin Gray Shield but even though I’d love to still play a part I want to be able to watch Kurtis play more.

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

I just think more emphasis should be placed on 1st Grade performances. Under Age National Carnivals are important and pits the best of that age against each other. But playing against men with experience AND skill sorts a few out. Should carry more weight than it does.

I also think there is no substitute to coaching basics to kids. Yes the game has changed and there’s more emphasis on attacking cricket but a solid technique is still the most important platform to work from. Not everyone is going to be a world beater. Reducing the duration of games in Junior cricket particularly at Rep level favours the big strong kids with limited ability at the expense of others with more upside. This needs to be corrected or too many potentially good cricketers will give it away at an early age. I don’t get it!