Murray Rayner - it’s never as hard as it seems, play every ball and it will get easier

Penrith Cricket Club | February 06, 2024

Murray Rayner made his first grade debut for Penrith Cricket Club during the 1990/91 season and is the proud owner of the clubs first grade player number 111.

Murray was awarded the A.W Green Shield Player of the year award along with Geoff Sullivan in 1989/90 and in the same year won the Trevor Wholohan Fielding Award.

In 1991/92 Murray won the clubs Poidevin Gray player of the series award.

In all grades for Penrith Murray scored 3,080 runs and still holds the record for the most number of runs in a 2nd Grade season when he scored 899 runs in the 1992/93 season.

Let’s find out more about Murray’s journey in the game

Murray Rayner

What year you were born?

1973

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I was 9 years old and got 8, 2 fours and out. My son Jack actually played his first game at the same field and same age and he got 35 not out retired and reminds of this every chance he gets.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I was a Penrith junior and played Green Shield and was lucky enough to get the Stan McCabe Medal for Green Shield Player of the year.

I played with Penrith and Gordon CC in the Sydney Grade competition and Sydney Shires for Epping, Souths, and Strathfield.

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

In the same year I played Green Shield I made by grade debut in 5th grade.

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

Played my first game in 1st grade when I was vs Gordon. I remember Adam Gilchrist and Kevin Roberts smashed us everywhere and we were 1-3 before being washed out. I was 2 Not out. It was amazing to play against Gilly, Kevin Roberts, Richard Stobo, Mark O’Neil and a few boys I played with later in my career at Gordon like Michael Cant and Phil Emery. They were an amazing side and won the competition that year. It was a real buzz.

NSW Under 17s Cricket team - 1990/91

Back Row – Rocky Harris (Manager), Brendan Shoebridge, Paul Pratt, Matthew Nicholson, Daniel Ryan, Troy Marchant, Craig Glassock, Graham Errington (Coach)

Front Row – Geoff Sullivan, Chadd Porter, Murray Rayner, Nathan Ashley (Captain), Geoff Fogarty (Vice Captain), Chris Sheppard, Stuart Collins

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

I was an attacking middle order bat through my early years and Green Shield and loved attacking spinners. It wasn’t until we had an injury in a 3rd grade game when I opened the batting and got 70 odd and that was it. I was an opener from that point on until my later years in Shires Cricket. I was strong off the back foot and generally always tried to take the game forward. I always tried to put pressure on the bowler by never trying to let them settle. Loved giving them a little word also to try and get under their skin. Bowled some pretty ordinary off spin but jagged a few crucial wickets like Michael Clarke, but he was 16 but it counts to me.

What were your strengths as a player?

My strengths were square of the wicket like most left handers and as I grew up batting in the middle order I loved to sue my feet to the spinners.

I think as an opening bat it’s crucial to be able to take the game forward and look to score and I think that was definitely a strength. Lastly it was being able to convert my starts. I think too many people are happy with 40-70 and I just wanted to bat for as long as possible and go big.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

My highest score was 230 vs Randwick at Howell Oval. I’m sure it still stands as the highest score on the ground - 2nd grade semi-final in 1993

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

I might have jagged a couple of 3 wicket hauls for Gordon in 2nd grade but did get a few 4 fa’s in Shires for Strathfield

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

Scott Thompson - always charged in hard very quick on his day

Steve Nikitaras - raw pace and wanted to kill people

Glenn McGrath - the greatest

Glenn McGrath

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Billy Newell - great change of pace and hard to get too because of his height

Gavin Robertson

Greg Matthews - the best by a country mile. Greg had it all, the presence, and aggression and got great drop on the ball.

Billy Newell

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

Adam Gilchrist - just smashed the daylights out of us one day against Gordon.

Michael Slater - just timed the ball so well and got a big 100 against us at Killara one day. It was awesome when he got going and had the quickest feet I’ve ever seen either forward or back.

Steve Waugh - just had this aura and presence and the best wrists ever.

Adam Gilchrist

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

Michael Slater at Killara Oval in a losing team when he got 135-40 in quick time and was so dominant and just timed the ball so well. His ability to use the crease and create a length to be positive was seriously amazing to watch.

Michael Slater

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

I always found that Rob Luc was hard to play as he had a quick bouncer and we both went from Grade to Shires at a similar time so we always had some great battles You could never keep him out of the game

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?

Step up was my first grade debut against the Premiers who had Gilchrist, O’Neill, Roberts, Cant, Stobo etc.

The other was just walking out to face Steve Waugh. It was such a great experience but he let you know about also.

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

Craig Glassock was a seriously good gloveman and a ripping bloke

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

I admired Rod Bower. He always called a spade a spade and he was so positive to bat with and he bought the best out in you when you played with him. He was amazing on and off the field.

The other was Paul Maraziotis who just worked so hard on his game and was so disciplined. Great player and could teach a lot of kids about work ethic.

Rod Bower

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

The best skipper was Greg Douglas. In 1993 we won a 2nd grade premiership under Dougo and he was always so positive and would rather lose then play for a draw. He was a big influence on the way I captained later on in my career.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

The funniest team mate was Jon Moss who would shadow bat looking in the mirror in a night club, he just loved the game and batting

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

I remember Greg Matthews bowling to Rod ‘Log’ Bower one day and Greg protested to Log about him cleaning his glasses.

Log said “Don’t piss me off Mo,” so Greg protested again in the next over when Log cleaned them once more.

Log was furious and put the next 2 balls across the road at Howell Oval. One into the drains, it was a huge hit and all Log said was “I told you not to piss me off Mo.”

That day I was 60 odd when Log walked into bat and he got out for around 90 and I was still in the the 70’s. Log was a machine and awesome to watch. It was great to see two giants of the game going at each other, priceless.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Being stumped when leaving a ball off Scott Phillipson. I spent too long admiring my leave pose and paid the penalty

Who was your childhood hero?

Allan Border – tough, tough, tough

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

Steven Gerrard, Tiger Woods and Mike Tyson

Steve Gerrard

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Bill Lawry

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Waverley Oval - always got runs there for some reason

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

Waverley (Easts) - maybe the Westie coming out of me but loved giving it to those silver spoon Eastern Suburbs lads!

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

When I scored a double hundred at Howell Oval, my late mother hid behind a tree for 4 hours. I knew she was there the whole time and waved at her when I reached 200.

She once asked me how I knew she was there and I said “There aren’t many 50-year- old ladies driving a 2 door HQ V8 Monaro around Penrith Mum. She replied with “oh”, classic mum.

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

I have 2.

Beating Qld in the National Under 17s semi-finals. QLD had Jimmy Maher, Martin Love, Matthew Mott among others and I had the good fortune of hitting the winning runs in the last over.

The 2nd Grade Final in 1993 beating Gordon - awesome year and awesome team.

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

Billy Newell - crazy bloke from Narrabri. Robin Younan because he would bring the expensive red wine and the Grolsch Beer and anyone from the 93’ Panthers 2nd Grade premiership team but they would all be welcome

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

It’s never as hard as it seems play every ball and it will get easier!

What’s your occupation?

QLD & NT Commercial Executive for Shriro Commercial - we supply products into multi Residential and Commercial Developments

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

I’m still coaching privately on the Gold Coast and enjoy watching the kids develop

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?

I’d be trying to build depth in all formats but mostly the longer form of the game. Most kids are happy to get 20 off ten deliveries striking at 200 rather than a tough 20 off 50 in a match winning partnership of 100. They think it’s a failure because there strikes rate is under 100. I’d be educating the kids about how to bat for long periods of time through good techniques and how to play the match situation rather for the individual glory.