Adrian Tucker - hold your nerve
Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club Sydney | February 10, 2023
Adrian Tucker made his first class debut for NSW during the 1989/90 season and went on to take 4 wickets in the 1989/90 Sheffield Shield Final won by NSW. Memorably he took the wicket of Allan Border the Australian captain in both innings.
In 17 first class games Adrian took 45 wickets at 40.13 with best figures of 5 for 38.
In NSW Premier Cricket Adrian played for Balmain and Waverley/Eastern Suburbs from 1985 to 2006. He took 424 first grade wickets at 23.54 with best figures of 7 for 64 and took 5 wickets or more on 11 occasions
Adrian was a very well respected leg spinner and shares a tremendous insight into his strengths as leg spinner along with a subtle message for all.
Let’s find out more about Adrian’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1969
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Don’t know, but I remember getting the same bloke out 3 times in a row in about 4th grade at primary school…bowling quickly.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Sydney (Rushcutters Bay is still the best ground in Sydney), Balmain, Adelaide, Teddington, Waverley/Easts
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
14, for Sydney
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
15 vs Campbelltown…didn’t get a bat or a wicket but Craig Peck couldn’t pick my bosey (wrongun)
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Leg spinning all-rounder and when I was young, part time opening batsman…solid number 11 post age 33.
Adrian Tucker bowling for NSW
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
120 something I think, either for Adelaide or Easts
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
7 for 64 against Parra
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Wayne Holdsworth got me out every year> When he was “on” he swung it at excellent pace. He normally laughed at me.
Brett Lee – he was bowling pretty ordinary one day on a Waverley Oval shit heap, maxing out at about 125, until he dropped a sitter and was abused by his captain and brother Shane. He then cranked it up about 30k’s, hit Paul Pratt in the head and bowled me with a knee high, late swinging fully that hit middle about half-way up
Kevin Roche – Peppered the inner thighs of Waverley batsmen in the nets during the 90’s
Wayne Holdsworth
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill – I played against ‘em so they have to be here…both prove that a leggies greatest weapon is a big leg-spinner
Greg Matthews bounced me one day at Uni – “That was your freebie Tuck!”, then got me out LBW, a decision I still dispute.
Chris Muldoon – The most cerebral of spinners. Gave the ball an amazing rip and always seemed to be one step ahead of the game
Stuart MacGill
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Darren Lehmann – an artist with incredible hand control. Didn’t just hit your good ball for 4, he hit your really good ball for a single wherever he wanted
Jamie Siddons – Brutal on spinners
Honourable mention – Vaughan Williams – I didn’t like bowling at him as he used the crease really well and was very unorthodox, and therefore hard to set a field for.
Darren Lehmann
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Plenty to choose from in both First Class and Grade cricket, but the one that immediately comes to mind is Greg Hayne at Waverley on a terrible wicket. There were jigsaw pieces coming out of it (the groundsman had pulled to many bongs the day before) and it was debatable whether we should have played. Balls were either jumping at his head off a length or running along the ground to the extent that we had to put a backstop in when Adam “Snake” Smith was bowling. He got 90 odd through exceptional concentration and technique.
Greg Hayne
Was there any batsman in particular that stirred the emotions and competitive spirit where you really wanted their wicket?
Paul Ryan, Rod Tucker, Mark Atkinson - I really wanted to get my mates out
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Darren Berry was exceptional and Mark Atkinson wasn’t far behind him…all had strengths and weaknesses
Mark Atkinson
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
There was a bloke called Kevin Mackintosh who I played with at Teddington who is first to come to mind.
You made your first class debut in 1989/90 and after another season or two moved to the UK. What prompted the move and when did you come back to Sydney?
I went over to play with Teddington and to work in the stock market with Barclays. I missed two Aussie summers as I made the (probably wise) decision that the markets would take me further than my cricket career. I was also sick of cricket by the time I finished the season with Teddington. I had played 5 seasons in a row between the AIS and England and was mentally cooked, cricket wise.
In returning to play cricket was Sydney the only option or did you think about going interstate?
I never seriously thought about moving, my job would have precluded that.
In many interviews you feature prominently when players from your era rate the spinners, what do you believe your strengths were as a leg spinner?
My career is an interesting case study for spinners. I was pretty good in my young up and coming days, but I gave it a good rip and had an excellent wrong-un.
Then from about 1994-98 I went into a cricketing dead zone. I was an excellent one-day bowler, but an appalling longer form bowler (check the stats!).
This was mainly because I had stopped turning my leggie and became very one dimensional. My leggie was coming out the front of the hand which effectively meant I was bowling zooters and wrong-uns, not a bad recipe in one dayers, pretty crap in two dayers.
I sort of worked it out around 1999 and became a good grade cricketer.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
I had plenty of good captains, and some crappy ones, but Mark Taylor was the best…his plans B and C were better than the rest.
Mark Patterson was excellent at Grade level.
Mark Taylor
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Everyone says Brad McNamara but I don’t think he was that funny…
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
I faced the first ball of the innings from Don Nash one day, and turned it down to fine leg for a lazy single, he said “fuck off you four-eyed little xxxx”…and we went on to become firm friends.
Don Nash
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Hitting a full toss back to Matt Todd who was playing for Gordon, after I had said to Phil Emery behind the stumps that “If this bloke gets me out I’m retiring”
Who was your childhood hero?
All the standards…Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Allan Border, Viv Richards …and I did love watching Abdul Qadir bowl.
Abdul Qadir
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Greg Maddux, Larry Fitzgerald, Ken Griffey Jnr
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Mark Waugh is pretty good
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Adelaide…but my numbers there were shocking
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Randwick – the local derby was always fun
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
The competition and the friendships
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Getting Allan Border out twice in the Shield Final…and Tom Moody hitting 30 of an over at the SCG
1989/90 Sheffield Shield Final - Stumps Day 2
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Easts chased down 450+ vs Wests following a Michael Clarke hundred…I made no contribution as I did my calf bowling , but it was a great team effort…Haddin, Marshall, Patterson and others all made great contributions
How would you have gone at T20?
Probably OK, but it would have made me retire early I reckon…take 5 hours out of your day to bowl 4 overs, get slogged and not get a bat ain’t my idea of fun!
Who do you want next to you on a SYD-LON flight?
I don’t know but I just want them to shut up. Jason Swift is not welcome under any circumstances. or Paul Byrom.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Hold your nerve and you’ll win…Greg Matthews’s pre the 2003-4 Grand Final vs Randwick
What is your current occupation?
Self Employed at DOGUE – we own a chain of dog boutiques (grooming and retail) and a Dog Retreat in the Southern Highlands
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Not any more…
If you were running Cricket NSW what would be your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Like most old blokes I believe that grade cricket has to be made as strong and competitive as possible
Peace and Love,
Tucks.
