Tony Greig Tribute - Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club
Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club Sydney | July 05, 2023
In 2012 the world of cricket lost a true legend, one of the most important and pivotal figures in the history of the game up there with the likes of Grace, Bradman and Trumper. On 29th December Easts Cricket Club life member Tony Greig passed away, suffering a heart attack during his battle with lung cancer. Tony was a giant in the world of cricket both on and off the field. Between 1972 and 1977 he played 58 tests for England, scored 3599 runs at 40.43, including 8 centuries and took 141 wickets at 32.20 and 87 catches. His test performances put him in the highest echelons of all-rounders who have played the game. For Sussex (1966 – 1978) he scored 9528 runs and took 509 wickets. And for Waverley (1975 – 1984) 1,242 runs at 33.37 and 134 wickets at 16.63. He had been captain of England, captain of Sussex and of course captain of the Waverley Cricket Club First X1.
Much has been written about Tony and how be changed the face of cricket. His distinctive commentary style and of course his performances at first class and test level have also been well documented. However for the members of Waverley Cricket Club who were fortunate enough to play with Tony or have dealings with him, it was his time as club captain that changed so many of us, for which he is most remembered.
Tony was arguably the most significant player in the 150 year history of the Eastern Suburbs (Waverley) club. This is not being disrespectful to the many fine players who preceded Tony at the club. Men such as Dr. L O S Poidevin, Alan Kippax, Alan McGilvray, the Gregories, the Fingletons and Sep Carter who all made magnificent contributions to our great club. The fact is however that Tony not only changed the club forever but also club cricket across Sydney. Grade cricket clubs after Tony embraced professionalism at both player and administrator level, imported players, especially from England, on a large scale, ungraded coaching/training etc. and sought out sponsorship. Due to Tony’s continued agitation in 1975 the Sydney Cricket Association requested clubs to provide covered wickets for first grade fixtures and seven clubs immediately complied. And Waverley itself became the best known Australian grade club in England.
Tony was the first player, even though only playing at club level, to show that cricketers were worth more than the pittance they were being paid by the various cricket boards of the day. Advertisers loved him and so did the public if the success of the products he endorsed in the 1975/76 season was anything to go by. It is significant that as a club cricketer for Waverley Tony was able to earn $85,000 from cricket and sponsorship over a six month club season when, for example, English test cricketers, playing regularly to packed houses, received just $350 per test match. Tony’s earnings were heady stuff indeed given the average annual wage in Australia in 1975 was $8,100, Sydney median house prices $34,300 and $40,000 would buy you a very comfortable three bedroom house near Waverley Oval.
The recruitment of Tony to the club makes interesting reading. In 1974/75 the ailing Waverley Club, 31 years without a first grade premiership, was at the crossroads. Something dramatic had to be done. The decision to recruit Tony was best summed up in Dr. John Morrison’s 1994 history of the club “Up The Waves” in which he wrote:
“The next ten years saw revolutionary changes in the Club, the watershed mark being when Tony Greig came to Waverley in 1975-1976: amateurism was dramatically changed by a Club Executive prepared to embrace professionalism in district cricket. A re-awakening in the district was seen to be possible, for cricket generally and the Waverley Club in particular. Cricketing talents within local schools had to be rediscovered, their imagination fired and a program of action put into operation. The catalyst, the person who was to rekindle the flame in the Waverley district was to be the current captain of England, Tony Greig, at that time playing for Sussex.
In a sense what was even more important was that the Club Committee had a dream, a plan of action, which it dared to put into operation. In hindsight, the plan was simple: import a star player, get him involved in the schools, fire up the imagination of the youngsters in the district, have them and Waverley players coached by him, build up the numbers in the minor Grades under his guidance and perhaps win a Premiership in a couple of seasons. But hindsight can be an all too easy exercise.
What Waverley did in 1975-1976 was, in its time and context, a dramatic move, one which, many believed, took some courage and imagination. Others were to ask: why the change at all? The proffered answer was that the Club needed an injection of some sort to get it going again, it was gradually grinding to a halt, as Club performances from 1964-1965 to 1974-1975 had shown.”
In 1975 the Dolphins Cricket Club with its president Peter Roberts ably assisted by Robert Rheinberger as secretary, was formed to raise money to bring a professional to the Waverley Cricket Club. A Dolphins subcommittee which included marketing guru and cricket tragic Iain “both ends” MacFarlane, captain of third grade, was the key to securing Tony. Iain put in an enormous amount of work to secure marketing opportunities for Tony which included lucrative deals with Kelloggs and Waltons.
An initial approach had been made to Dennis Lillee and he expressed interest but later withdrew. As an aside it is interesting that a front page story appeared in the Sun Herald on 2 November 1975 with the headline “TEST PLAYER LOSES HIS JOB” which reported that Lillee had been sacked from his job as a sales rep with a Perth travel agency because they could no longer afford to give him time of to play test cricket. Lillee was quoted in the article as saying cricketers were underpaid and that cricket generally lacked promotion. The drums were beating.
With the unavailability of Lillee, Bruce Francis, the first grade opening batsman and Australian representative, who had played for Essex and toured England, suggested Tony Greig might be interested and that he would fit in well at the club.
Tony was subsequently approached and sent a telegram by the management committee. The offer was modest financially but did include accommodation and a car. Tony agreed but shortly after was appointed captain of the England team. The club thought this might mean circumstances had changed and arranged a special committee meeting in the back rooms. On the newly installed club telephone committee member Phil O’Sullivan put in an overseas call to Tony. The committee held its breath and as Phil recalls the conversation went something like “Hi Tony, its Phil O’Sullivan, Waverley Cricket”. “Hello Phil good to hear from you”. “Tony first of all congratulations on being selected to captain England, it must be quite a thrill” “Yes it is Phil. I am quite pleased”. “Tony we are a little concerned about how and if you will still be coming to Australia now that you are in another role. Are the terms we sent you still acceptable?” To the relief of the assembled committee Tony replied “Sure Phil, let the boys know all is set here to arrive on 16th September and I am looking forward to a great season”. Tony was true to his word. He had made a commitment and that was that.
Phil, who was later to be club president from 1979 to 1987, would meet with Tony on his arrival at the airport, settle him in to his new home and surroundings and begin what was to become a lifelong friendship between the two.
It has to be said that Tony sticking to his agreement was a bold and courageous decision and a testimony to the integrity of the man. Here was Tony, just appointed England captain with a very young family and himself only 28, making a decision to travel across the globe to play club cricket. And this for no more than a few thousand dollars, accommodation and a car and a promise that he MIGHT earn good money – a leap of faith if ever there was one. He had clearly put enormous trust in the Waverley Cricket Club and Dolphins committee. He could have backed out after being made the England captain but he did not. It was a decision that changed his life, the Waverley Cricket Club and world cricket forever.
So in 1975 the club had an English captain playing grade cricket and at Waverley – an amazing experience for club cricketers and surely for Tony as well. Tony exploded onto the grade cricket scene in Sydney. At Waverley attendance at practice doubled, interest in local schools was reignited and crowds to grade games swelled. As was reported in the annual report on the 1975/76 season “attendance at Saturday morning coaching classes was overwhelming as was the roll up to midweek practice”. And as for Tony himself the club president Chris Walton was to state in the same report “Perhaps no single cricket personality has ever, from a district cricket base, so dominated an Australian cricket season as A. W. Greig of England, Sussex and Waverley”. Every Sunday would see headlines in the press about Tony’s performances the previous day.
Prior to Tony’s arrival at Waverley no one really knew what to expect. He was, after all said and done, the English player who had most stirred the passions of many Australian cricket supporters. The club and the team were soon put at ease however. A few days after arriving in Australia Tony met several of the first grade team at the Tea Gardens Hotel in Bondi Junction. When he strode in Tony stopped the pub. Everyone wanted a piece of him and he was more than accommodating. Here was the English captain, recently appointed to replace Mike Denness, who only three weeks prior had played to capacity crowds at the Oval in a pub at Bondi having a few beers with the locals. Here was the bloke the crowds loved to hate - at the local. It was surreal, almost unbelievable for the club cricketers to be sitting down chatting over a few beers with this iconic sporting figure. Club cricketers who, prior to this night, had only ever seen Tony on TV, in the glorious colour of the new broadcasts, doffing his cap or turning his back to D K Liilee or sending off a hapless Aussie batsman to the dressing rooms.
Any apprehension players might have had were soon put to rest. He got on famously with all the players and everyone formed the view that Tony was a “good bloke”. Bruce Francis was right, Tony fitted in immediately and would continue to do so. No affectations, friendly, interested, a good listener and a great sense of humour. And he was very humble. (in later years it is hard to recall Tony ever mentioning his stellar career during his TV commentaries). These traits were to endear Tony to a generation of Waverley cricketers. It is the reason he formed so many long lasting genuine friendships with Waverley grade cricketers, administrators and supporters. It is why so many within the club are so saddened at his untimely passing.
During that first week Tony met with all of the first grade team. From the outset he was intrigued with his new team mates. For example he was quite bemused about the marital status of the first grade team. Remembered well was one of the first questions he asked in the dressing room “How many of you guys are married”. When he realised quickly he was the only one he said, tongue in cheek, “Hm. I think I’m in for a very interesting season”. Tony was also amazed at the social habits of the team but never made adverse comments and actually embraced the back rooms even though it must have been foreign territory, a massive change from the Long Room at Lords to the Back Rooms at Waverley. Perhaps, dare it be suggested, it must have also seemed somewhat surreal to Tony. Tony was to often say that when the kegs arrived at the Oval player’s concentration used to go out the window. Tony was to tell Dr. John Morrison many years later “It was incredible that these chaps could drink so much and play cricket as well as they did. It was absolutely quite fascinating to me”.
As can be imagined patronage of the back rooms increased markedly during Tony’s first season. Opposition players were keen to talk to Tony, find out what he was like and listen to his stories about cricket at the elite level. He had time for everyone and the demands on him were relentless. But he never shirked his responsibilities. Tony just loved cricket and the company of cricketers.
Early this year a number of emails, unsolicited, were received from grade players of the 70’s who had played against Tony. They were all complimentary of Tony and to quote a few:
“I recall Tony Greig did give encouragement & praise. He would acknowledge good play, which was commendable”. Greg Fitzgerald, Balmain CC..
“But it was what happened after the game that impressed me the most. Back in those days the lower grades often returned to the clubhouse for a cleansing ale & a few stories. I remember chatting to TG & suggested it would be brilliant if he hung around for a while. Well he stayed until after 10pm. Answered a million questions many of which would have been asked a million times. He was humble polite engaging & more than happy to put a little back into the game. It was one of my special cricket memories”. Brett Johnson
“Anyway there wouldn’t be too many (if any) of you guys on this list that that did not experience the usual after match hospitality in the famous “back room” at Waverley Oval whenever we played there. On this day Greigy and Kepler stayed back for some time while we all enjoyed a few coldies and told some lies. But it turned out the two of them were waiting for some bloke to turn up to take them both out to dinner. After an hour or so, this bloke turned up all right, and I remember the stunned silence amongst our blokes as KERRY PACKER walked into the room. I guess a lot of blokes would just pick up their gear and take off at this point. But NOT Greigy. My fond memory of this is that Greigy walked KP around the room and introduced him to blokes he had played with and against that day. So there we were shaking hands with probably the best known Aussie Icon of the times. And all because Tony Greig thought nothing about doing this. And regardless of our opinions of the imposing bloke we encountered out in the middle in those days, this experience taught me what Tony Greig was really all about”. Peter Taylor, Petersham CC.
A great player. Great communicator and leader. A big loss”. Glen Bailey, Sutherland CC.
While everyone took to Tony he also embraced the lifestyle of the Eastern Suburbs. The club located a home, settled him in and of course Tony was to spend the rest of his days in the area. It also has to emphasised just what a commitment Tony had made in coming to Australia – a young man with a young family and just made captain of England, coming to Australia to play club cricket. It must have been a huge gamble but one that Tony would later say was the best decision he had ever taken. Also what none of the players knew at the time, and only a handful of close friends knew, was that Tony battled daily with epilepsy. His epilepsy was quite a burden and in hindsight was probably the reason Tony used to take regular rest breaks in the dressing rooms. To have been able to forge such a wonderful career in spite of this only adds to the stature of the man.
There are many who hold the view that Tony’s experience with Waverley was where it all began, the cricket revolution that is. As Tony was to tell a full house at Lords in his Cowdrey “Spirit of Cricket” 2012 oration.
“The previous season's cricket with Waverley in the Sydney grade competition created a great thirst to work in Australia. I was not only paid £50,000 for five months work but more excitingly, I mixed work-wise and socially with a number of Australia's leading businessmen. This opened my eyes to a world that I didn't know existed”.
Tony’s experience at Waverley raised the bar for both cricketers and cricket administrators. It set in train thought processes relating to the potential earnings for players which later became a catalyst for the WSC era. The Waverley committee, without realising it, in 1975/76 had let the genie of player’s remuneration out of the bottle. One which was to turn the world of cricket upside down the following year. And it was not surprising – in today’s values gate takings for the 1975 Lords Ashes test were £1,230,000 and the players cut, from both sides, just £49,500 or 4%.
The importance of Tony Greig to this club cannot be overemphasised. He introduced a professionalism, enthusiasm and will to win; a new way of playing the game. Players who had drifted along in previous seasons suddenly saw a resurgence. None more so than David Hourn whose performances for NSW soared after a season at grade level with Tony. During the 1975/76 season David was to take 23 shield wickets and push his credentials for test selection. David was to later say that Tony was the best captain he played under, a captain who knew how to set a field, when to attack and when to defend and he led from the front.
Len Richardson was another to flourish under Tony’s captaincy. In 1975/76 he debuted for the state but was thwarted in his ambitions when Jeff Thomson broke his arm on the SCG when he was on 87. Len did however go on to play for Queensland where he opened the batting with Viv Richards.
At a personal level Tony was very generous with his time and advice and other matters. Players recall how often he put his hand in his pocket to shout them a meal at Mrs Wong’s, our local Chinese or wherever - be it the back rooms or sponsors pub. Tony gave all of his gear away when he finished his first season. Tony handed over an award he had won of a cruise to the “odd couple” – Ron Crippen and Dave Gibson. He gave of his time freely, always available to run coaching clinics, talk to schools, act as MC at various fund raising functions and so on.
Tony had a great sense of humour and could always see the funny side. One memorable incident occurred when the first grade team in 1982, then under the captaincy of David Hourn, played Penrith. An overnight stay was organised. Whatever the reason, in the confusion that reigned on the Sunday morning in a “who’s on third” moment, the motel bill was overlooked. The result – the motel proprietor had the police go to Howell Oval. The police, on arrival, went straight on to the field, made a bee line to Tony who had absolutely no idea what was going on. Tony in his diplomatic way smoothed things over and was to tell his captain afterwards that it is the first game he had ever played where “police stopped play”.
In another “incident” Tony conspired with the players from an opposing team to play a trick on a fieldsman in the gloom of a Rothman’s Knock Out limited over match at Waverley Oval. Tony bowls, the Randwick batsman Billy Knowles hooks and Tony screams to the visually challenged fieldsman who is fielding in the dark at deep fine leg, “Hournie Catch it, Catch it”. Hournie of course runs around in circles looking for the ball but it can’t be seen. After an agonising twenty or so seconds and a fruitless search for the ball he looks up and sees Greigy sitting on the pitch laughing his head off holding the ball up in the air. The crowd and opposing team are also laughing because Greigy had cooked up a scheme to bowl a “dummy” and for the batsman to play a ‘dummy’ hook shot. Everyone was in on the act except Hournie. Greigy dined out on that incident for a long time at club functions.
However it was not true to say that he was loved by all – he could really get under the skin of opposing players and while most times acrimony was left on the field they sometimes boiled over off the ground. An often recalled confrontation took place against Sydney when the opposing opening batsman John Pearson stormed into the dressing room after the game and wanted to “have it out” with Tony. We were all stunned as Tony copped a spray for a good five minutes without saying a word. After JP left the room Tony turned to the team with a massive grin on his face and said “what ……..was that all about” and continued on as if nothing had happened. It took a lot to ruffle Tony Greig.
And then there was the run out of Tom Woods from Randwick for 28, reminiscent of the infamous Kallicharran run out, when Tony removed the bails after TW left his crease which he claimed was for a mid-wicket conference. This incident did not endear Tony to the Randwick team. Tony really did play hard ball on the field.
Tony was also tough on the grade umpires, perhaps even intimidatory, but he also earned their respect. And it is true to say that umpires performances improved under the pressure that Tony would apply. That pressure was never more exemplified in the 75/76 season when he appealed for an “obstructing the field” decision against tail end batsman John Todd in a tense match against Gordon when Tony claimed Toddy had interfered in a run out attempt. However despite all the pressure applied it is safe to say umpires looked forward to a Tony Greig game just as much as the players.
Tony was firm, but very fair, with his players. This writer, exhausted after bowling a couple of overs before lunch was dozing in the field before dropping an absolute sitter at point the last ball before the break of Tony’s bowling – if looks could kill and lunch was indeed very hard to digest. But if I was exhausted before lunch I was positively spent by afternoon tea having to traipse from fine leg to fine leg each over for two hours.
The 1975/76 season, when Waverley won the first grade premiership, was the season for which Tony is best remembered, however it could not have got off to a worse start. The first game was against St. George. Tony went out to inspect the wicket, came back and said “no cricket today’. He couldn’t believe it however when the umpires ruled the wicket fit for play. Probably what influenced the umpires was the large crowd in attendance replete with dozens of journos, cameras and even footballer, turned TV sports show host Rex Mossop, who had little interest in cricket. Tony lost the toss and Waverley was bundled out for 33. That bought a wry comment from Jack Gibson, former opening bowler for the club, and coach of Eastern Suburbs who played in the Rugby League grand final the previous Saturday. As it happened Jack’s opponents were also St. George. Easts won that game 38 nil which was a record. Big Jack stuck his head in the dressing room at the change of innings and muttered in his inimitable style “We scored five more than you last week”. That really hurt. Perhaps the only one not feeling the pain however was John Rheinberger, our number six bat, who had played in that grand final as outside centre and was probably still on a high..
Going into our third game we were still without a win. Tony must have thought at the time what have I got myself into here. However if he had any regrets about his decision to play club cricket he never showed it. In that game we were eight down for 48 at stumps on the first day needing four runs to overhaul Gordon for our season’s first win. This writer being the not out batsman and on strike when play resumed had a very, very long and nervous week knowing that the batsman to follow, David Hourn was a bit of a rabbit.
Tony contacted me several times during the week and insisted I wear my glasses instead of my contact lenses when I resumed batting. Tony was very anxious and clearly a little concerned about my form with the bat and with some justification it should be added. As it turned out I didn’t hit the winning runs, they came courtesy of four leg byes but such was the tension and then absolute relief at gaining our first points for the season. I think Tony was nearly as happy with that win as with a test win!
The press had a field day with Tony in these early games. But like everything else Tony did while he was here he turned the press around too. The clip on the left is from page three of the Sun Herald the day after the debacle against St. George showing a disconsolate Greig trudging from the field after being dismissed for a duck. The right in the SMH the day after our premiership win, Greigy held aloft by Dick Rowland, Dave Gibson and Bob Rheinberger.
What a turnaround. As they say, winners are grinners.
As for Tony’s performances in 1975/76 – well they were simply outstanding. Tony opened the bowling in most of the games bowling off spin and in a very wet season he was unplayable as shown by his figures - 75 wickets at 12 in just sixteen games. Some of his individual bowling performances were quite incredible. In successive games he took:
1. 7/38 against Gordon
2. 8/38 against Petersham
3. 7/22 against Nepean
4. 5/57 against Balmain
5. 5/35 against Wests
6. 6/63 against Mosman
7. 6/46 against Sydney University
8. 8/87 against Bankstown (two innings)
9. 5/44 against UNSW
It is doubtful in the 120 year history of Sydney Grade Cricket, with the exception of the great Bill O’Reilly, if any bowler has ever strung together such a performance.
With the bat he also dominated leading the aggregate and averages with 544 runs at 32 including a beautiful innings, a real captain’s knock of 95 in the semi-final against the strong Wests team, led by Bob Simpson whose team included three other current test players. There were six test players and another six first class players in all playing in this semi-final and it was a match of the highest calibre. It should be noted that many imports over the years have underestimated the strength of club cricket in Sydney and have been unable to rise to the challenge. But not Tony Greig. He played every game like it was a test match.
And then there was Tony’s fielding. First grade players had never seen someone who fielded so close to the bat – at times he would be just about standing on the batting crease himself – players reckoned the batsmen could just about hear Tony’s heartbeat. And this was before helmets. In this first season with the club he took 14 catches, one more than the keeper was to take. But incidentally five less than Ron Crippin, who Tony often described as the best and most courageous short leg fieldsman with whom he had played. Ron was to take nine catches of Tony’s bowling that season.
After this first successful season Tony continued his association with the club and played, when his commitments allowed, until 1984. His brother Ian also played with the club and captained first grade.
Tony made friends for life at Waverley, the friendship was genuine and he always had time for the club, the administrators, players and supporters. He appeared wherever he could at club fund raisers. He made regular mention of Eastern Suburbs cricket in his television commentaries.
In 1985 at the Annual General Meeting held at the Bondi Junction Hotel Tony was granted life membership of Waverley in recognition of the way he changed the club and for his contributions both on and off the field. In his quite emotional acceptance speech he expressed gratitude to the club and he was genuinely humbled by the honour of life membership.
We are all aware of just what a loving family Tony had. Tony opened his 2012 Cowdrey lecture thanking his family for affording him the opportunity to pursue his life in cricket. To his wife, Vivian, sons Mark and Tom, daughters Samantha and Beau the club extends its sincere sympathies. It is comforting to know that Tony’s association will live on through Tom who is a talented off spinner/batsman and a junior member of Easts Cricket.
Tony Greig’s career with Waverley will never be forgotten while ever grade cricket is played in Sydney. His passing came as a shock to his many, many friends at the club and leaves a void impossible to fill. Fittingly the club does have under consideration a memorial of some type to ensure Tony’s club cricket legacy.
This club, just like cricketers across the world, owes a great deal of gratitude to Anthony William Greig.
Dennis Hourn
June 2013.
