Denis Lynch - stay down and come up with the ball

Northern District Cricket Club Sydney | May 21, 2023

Denis Lynch made his first grade debut for Northern District Cricket Club on 6 March 1971 against Randwick at Coogee Oval. Denis is Northern District first grade player number 236.

As a wicket keeper Denis played 141 first grade games and took 284 dismissals including 235 catches and 49 stumping’s.

Let’s find out more about Denis journey in the game.

Denis Lynch takes a diving catch down leg side off Steve Bernard

What year you were born?

1948

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I was 9. Under 10 Xavier College v St Kevins in Melbourne. I was an opening bowler and the keeper missed everything, I told the coach I would take over and never stopped keeping.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I made the Xavier College in Melbourne 1st X1 in 1963 when I was in year 9 after playing one game in the 15A’s. My dad was transferred to the Phillipines so I boarded at St Ignatius College Riverview in Sydney. I was in the 1st XI 1964-1967. The last years as captain and I made the NSW GPS 2nds in 1966 and the NSW GPS 1sts in 1967.

I had twelve years in first grade with Northern District over fifteen years with three years out, one year with Melbourne Cricket Club, one year for business and one year travelling in Europe after the 1977 Australian Old Collegians tour of the U.K.

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

Second grade when I was 19

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

20. It went pretty well. Neil Marks in his team report in the 1968/69 annual report said he thought I had a bright future

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer? What were your strengths as a player?

Wicket keeping was my strength and as a batsmen I only averaged about 13. I could hang about with an established batsman if required. I held out Lawson and Watson for a few hours to help Peter Tout and Steve Bernard win a game against UNSW in UNSW first premiership year. I could also score quick runs if needed. In a Poidevin Gray game against Manly at Manly Oval I scored 37 not out in 14 minutes with five sixes and a cross bat four that hit the sight board on the full

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

Steve Whitfield and Peter Taylor were great but the best spinner I kept to was David Sincock. It took me about two weeks to pick his wrong’un. Most batsmen couldn’t pick him at all and consequently in 1971-72 he took 33 wickets at 15.96. I took 28 catches and 19 stumping’s that season largely due to Sincock. It was the most number of stumping’s in Sydney grade since WW2.

David Sincock

Who was the best fast bowler you kept to?

Steve Bernard was very quick and a clever bowler. In 1972/73 he took 42 wickets at 12

Was there a bowler who you really enjoyed keeping to?

Both Sincock and Bernard

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

A diving catch down leg side to catch Kepler Wessels off Steve Bernard at Waitara Oval

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

83 for the Australian Old Collegians at Leigh on Sea in the U.K in 1977

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

I only ever bowled 2 overs in first grade for Northern District at Waitara Oval. My figures were 2 overs, 2 for 13

For Australian Old Collegians against West Drayton at West Drayton in the U.K I took 1 for 4 off 4 balls. I think this gives me a better strike rate than Scott Boland

Denis Lynch takes the bails off for a run out against Manly in the 1970s

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

Jeff Thomson, Len Pascoe, Geoff Lawson because they were quick and I wasn’t a great batsman,

Jeff Thomson

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

David Hourn, Bob Simpson, Dick Guy. I didn’t know much about what they were doing

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

Doug Walters, Neil Harvey, Brian Booth were a class above and all had so much time

Doug Walters

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

Walters on a wet track at Old Kings. Great control over great bowling and a difficult wicket

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

Most of the bowlers.

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?

Facing Jeff Thomson and Len Pascoe wasn’t fun

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

Mal Elliott from Manly

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

Kerry Mackay was a great batsman, bowler and an outstanding slips fieldsman. He’s up there with Mark Taylor and Bob Simpson in the slips. Kerry also had a very competitive spirit.

Steve Bernard had great skill and speed, a huge heart and a very competitive spirit

Kerry Mackay

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

Ross Edwards - professionalism and enthusiasm

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Michael Coote

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

There wasn’t as much banter then and my memory is fading

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Playing on the SCG in a grade game. I had a sty in my eye and I thought the red spot going past the fieldsman was the ball, not the sty and I was run out by yards and a long walk back to the pavilion. 10 team mates who were in disbelief

Who was your childhood hero?

Doug Ford and then Wally Grout

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

Kurt Fearnley, Roger Federer, Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Ricky Ponting

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Sydney Cricket Ground

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

UNSW, we had a friendly rivalry. The Australian Old Collegian team to the U.K in 1977 was mainly Northern District and UNSW players.

I also played intervarsity for UNSW in 1968 or 1969. They weren’t a first grade club then and were allowed three grade players to bolster them.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

The 83 in England as I hadn’t had many scores north of 50. It capped off a great tour with seventeen great teammates.

Back Row - Austen Hughes (Manager), Kerry Mackay, Max Shepherd, Greg Watson, Tony O’Loan, Steve Bernard, Steve Whitfield, Denis Lynch, David Oman, Brian O’Dowd, Tom Cooke (Assistant Manager). 

Front Row - Peter Tout, Rowan McGregor, Max Fox, Jock Martel, Michael Hill (Captain), John Rogers (Vice Captain), Paul Lee, Michael Hewett, Paddy Grattan-Smith

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

The win over UNSW in their premiership year when I stayed around for an hour or more being peppered by Lawson and Watson to assist Peter Tout then Steve Bernard pass their total

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

There are so many from Northern District and Australian Old Collegian so I couldn’t choose.

What are your hobbies?

Golf, charity work and walking, swimming and coffee’s at Freshwater where I live.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

In regards to wicket keeping:

• stay wide enough to see the ball bounce with gloves outside the outside edge so if it is snicked your gloves are in place and are not moving.
• stay down and come up with the ball
• stay close enough to the stumps to reduce the time of a stumping.

 (watch Sarah Taylor’s best stumping’s on youtube ) brilliant.

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

I go up to St Ignatius College once or twice a year to give a few tips to the wicketkeepers.