Kim Butler, Penrith Cricket Club First Grade cap No 16

Penrith Cricket Club | September 26, 2024

1.   What year were you born?

1972

2.   Can you remember your first game of cricket?

Besides playing indoor cricket from age 16, my first outdoor game was when I was 19. It was for Penrith Women’s Cricket Club. I batted 3 or 4 and scored 83no (I ran out of partners). I bowled and think I got a couple of wickets too.

3.   Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I started at Penrith for a few years then we were told they had to move into first grade but with all the older players not wanting to, the team eventually folded. I went to Bankstown being the next closest team and captained the first grade side in their second year back. They hadn’t won a game the previous season. I was the oldest and the rest of the team were barely 17 and we eventually won our first one and against one of the top teams at the time. I then left after two seasons and went to Kuringai. I just wanted to play without pressure of captaining. I then left outdoor cricket and played a lot of indoor cricket and hockey. I came back to the game through Parramatta-Blacktown Women’s CC, where a friend was trying to coach his daughter’s team and I ended up playing, captaining and coaching for a few years. I left again for indoor cricket and vigoro. I came back again when Penrith were accepted in first grade side for the very first time. I wanted one more shot at playing outdoor and have been there ever since, now with second grade to captain the younger girls coming through.

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

It was third grade at 19, we won a premiership in the second year I was there.

5.   What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?

It was First grade Bankstown I don’t remember much it was a long time ago and I think I was nervous playing against the calibre of players around then.

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

 Nowadays it would be just someone wanting to have fun keep involved with the game, a cricketer that has been able to hold up an end for her team, or looking to turn over the strike nudging the ball around the field so the stronger batter was more on strike. when I used to bowl a lot a bowler who knew when they wanted the ball and could take a wicket in the process. I love keeping and can whisk those bails off in the blink of an eye that even the umpires have missed it.

7.   What were your strengths as a player?

Definitely experience now, with an ability to pick a player’s weakness from seeing very little of the player. As a bowler, it was maintaining line and length consistently,

8.   What was your highest score in senior cricket?

It was my debut score of 83no for Penrith and at a park down the road from my house in St Marys on some old black matting that was almost just plonked in the middle of the open park area.

9.   What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

I bowled a lot over the years but the closest I can give you is from trophies that I have: 4/21 in 1991/92 season for Penrith, which included a hat trick; and 5/20 2010/11 season for Parramatta Blacktown. That was in 40 degree heat with my young team exhausted, so I bowled 9 straight. Supporters were going, ‘You’ve got one more, and I was like, ‘I am done!’

10. Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against? And if you could add a few words as to why

·        Sally Griffiths – she was consistently fast, consistently straight and just hard to play. She never let up with line and length and was more than happy when we were on the same team.

·        Therese ‘Terry’ McGregor –fast and wild in the beginning but then she managed to control it all and was a pleasure to play with. When she was on she was on!

·        Sarah Coyte – always has something when others have nothing, you can always rely on Sarah to produce the goods when needed, she keeps going and going!

11. Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

·        Lisa Sthalekar – at the time I don’t remember much about how many spin bowlers were playing but playing alongside Lisa and seeing how far she came in the game, I wish I had noticed more about the way she did bowl. (Remember this was over 30 years ago.)

·        Olivia Magno – it does come to mind now that I remember Olivia briefly in outdoor but more from indoor cricket. I wasn’t much of a batter so didn’t face much but she wasn’t an easy pick even keeping to her in Masters Indoor World Cups.

12. Who were the best 3 batters you’ve played against?

·        Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley – always meticulous in the way they went about their batting, couldn’t fault them and as to why they were so good for our country.

·        Michelle Goszko – Michelle was an amazing playier from the get go. Playing with Michelle at Penrith, I think she was only 14/15 at the time, but already making an impact with her cricket at the club.

Lisa Keightley

13. Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against? And if you could add a few words as to why

The most current one I can remember is Naomi Stalenberg for Penrith against Sydney at Drummoyne Oval in 2019. Nomes hit 160 off 125 balls – she just creamed them – and I think she brought up her 100 with a 6 that just so happened to be hit near us that day. I can’t remember who it was but a player of ours flew out from behind the gate onto the field (outside the boundary rope) to catch the 6 one handed!

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

Christina Matthews – one of the first great keepers I was lucky enough to play against. I guess just knowing she played for Australia and have just been in awe from that time.

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

Currently I’d say Phoebe Litchfield – a hard worker and even harder on herself when it doesn’t finish the best for her. Also super to have played with her.

Phoebe Litchfield

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

I can’t remember a lot of captains as I did captain most teams I played in, but I do love the way Kristen Dorsch, currently of Gordon second grade team, nurtures the younger players. She is always thinking and very organised and always has a smile as she loves her cricket.

19. Who has been your funniest team mate?

Between Jenny Flanagan and Kristen Dorsch from NSW 40s Masters team – always competitive with how many steps they have over each other and the ways they go about getting more in.

21. Who was your childhood hero?

I wouldn’t say I had childhood heroes but I danced when I was younger, so I admired Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Mikhail Baryshnikov. When I got interested in cricket, I did have posters of Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes in my bedroom as inspiration to be a fast bowler.

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

Aaron Finch, Wayne Gretzky and Joe Montana

23. What was your favourite ground to play at?

Before we had a first grade side at Penrith, way back in the day, I used to watch and score for Penrith Men’s first grade side at Howell Oval. Having watched a lot of great players play there I also hoped one day I would also play there, being the home of Penrith cricket.

24. What particular team did you especially look forward to playing against? And if you could add a few words to why

I guess it would have been any team that I knew that had players that were more skilled and talented than myself as I always loved the challenge of bowling and facing them.

25. What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?\

I guess some would be the game I took my hat trick in, my 5fa as for reasons mentioned earlier. Playing a day-night match in Orange in the mid-90s, my debut in the first Penrith first grade game and my selection in the Australian Masters Indoor Cricket Team.

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

Probably our Penrith 3rd grade Grand Final in the early 90s. We were playing on a small square at Sydney University, a two-day game where we fielded first. I think I got 3 wickets. It rained overnight and no covers for that field so the pitch was sticky and we were made to bat on it. There was no bounce and we batted – well, blocked pretty much the whole innings – in the end in the dark to salvage the win with a draw.

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

From Georges River O50s – Mark Butler, John Short and John Adamson. The banter from these three guys I could listen to all day. (Yes I played in men’s competitions too!)

28. What are your hobbies?

Golf, any time spent with my nieces, and dog-sitting

29. What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Make sure your next vehicle is an automatic.

30. What is your occupation?

The World of Entertainment, home of the THREE PEAT, Penrith Panthers Leagues Club.

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

I’m still playing with Penrith Women’s Cricket Club and for NSW O40s Masters team. I have my Level 2 coaching credentials so in some capacity I’m continuing to be associated with both teams/clubs.

32. If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities be to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?

It’s a hard one to answer, but quality, talented, knowledgeable people and coaches who want to be there and communication and involvement of players at all levels.