Penrith Cricket Club - Glenn Bradley #141
Penrith Cricket Club | October 24, 2024
What year were you born?
1980
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
Can’t quite remember my first game of cricket, although it was with Colyton-St Clair Colts in the U9s - I think I was 6 at the time. All I can remember from that early on was being excited to play the game my older brothers both played.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played my junior cricket for Colyton-St Clair Colts and then St Clair Hawks when they were established in the early 90s. Despite trialling each year, I only made my first rep team in U13s in what was a very strong team. I started at Penrith CC in Greenies and 5s and managed to work my way up to my 1st grade debut in 1998/99. In 2005, I was lucky enough to have a season for Broxbourne CC in Hertfordshire, UK, which was bloody fantastic. I came back to Sydney and moved clubs to Blacktown CC and played a season of 1s there before joining the NSW Police and had to give up playing at 26 because of roster issues and working weekends.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
I actually debuted in 4th Grade at Penrith in 1995/96 when I was about 15, just covering for some injuries late in the season. My first full season was in 5th grade in 1996/97 with the likes of Ronnie Halse and Rod ‘Scorch’ Evans. We had a wonderful season, beating UNSW in the final at Howell Oval. We won Greenies that year as well, against Parramatta with Mick Wood, Alex Murphy, Adam Denmeade in their side, so that was pretty special. Fair to say, it was a memorable start to my grade cricket career.
What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?
I managed to burgle a few 1st grade games before having to give it up for work. My debut was against Balmain at Drummoyne, who had Maxy, Hayne, Everest, Sargeant, Schenke, Colbran, Burton. We had Bayliss, Turner, Maraziotis, Geyer, Goldsmith, Thomas and Karppinen. I remember thinking I didn’t really belong on the field with these blokes! I managed a wicket in the few overs TB gave me, Sergeant caught at slip by Maz! We lost a close one trying to defend 114 (they were all out 123)
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I was a battler of a fast bowler, but I struggled with fitness and injuries along the way. I think I was a pretty good teammate and still love catching up with fellas I played with and against when given the chance.
What were your strengths as a player?
I stood the seam up pretty well and managed to hit a pretty decent pace when fully fit.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
My highest score in senior cricket was over at Broxbourne CC in the UK, when I hit 103n.o. I think my highest score in Sydney was in 4s or 5s at Penrith and was around 80 or so when I was coming back from stress fractures and playing only as a batter.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Again, for Brox, I took 7/37. In Sydney, I think the best I bowled was in a one-day game against Blacktown for Penrith in 1st grade. I ended up with 4/16 off 10 overs. I took more wickets on other occasions, but that was the best I had bowled.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Doug Bollinger - I remember watching Paul Maz batting at Rosedale when we were playing against Fairfield. He played and missed at one, and it felt like it took 5 seconds to hit the keeper’s gloves. Scary quick and just reckless!
Don Nash - again, very, very quick and at you the whole time. Was lucky enough to play with him at Blacktown in my last season and was thankful I was wearing the same colours as him!
Matt Baker - in my vintage, he was far and away the quickest of my age group and playing rep cricket against him was an experience for a young fella trying to find his way.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Greg ‘Mo’ Matthews - aside from his obvious skill and competitiveness, Mo was the ultimate test of your concentration with his chat and actions on the field.
Michael Wood - again, like Bakes, Woody was my vintage and I played many games against him in junior reps/Greenies/PGs. Left arm leggies with a quality wrongun, was very hard for a lower order batter to combat. Great all-round cricketer.
Who were the best 3 batters you’ve played against?
Greg Mail - a million 1st grade runs speaks for itself, but you just couldn’t get him out if he was set. Incredible.
Graeme Rummans - always just looked so comfortable at the crease whenever I played against him - like he was only going to get himself out.
Grant Lambert - incredible cricketer.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
In Hobart for the U17s carnival, we played the semi-final against the Vics. We were rolled for 85 on a wicket that was pretty tough to bat on. Andrew Kent came out and scored 255* out of a total of 400. Complete domination.
Was there any bowler or batter in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Kym Beazleigh from around my time was always a prized wicket when we played Campbelltown or Bankstown. Classy batter - I don’t think I ever got him out, to be honest.
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?
Definitely my 1st grade debut against Balmain at Drummoyne. Playing with and against all those blokes I mentioned earlier was next level for an 18-year-old kid. To be fair, both those teams would probably give most shield teams a run these days!
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Shane Stanton was outstanding. His hands were just so clean and could hold his own in any side as batter as well. Very good cricketer.
Who are the two players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Two spinners I had the pleasure of playing with - Dale Turner and Liam Zammit. They would give anything for a wicket and were both just ultimate competitors, but their skills with the ball, in the field and at the crease made them extremely valuable teammates.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
I’m going to nominate a father/son duo, in true Penrith style (read, Cleary’s). Ron Halse (5th grade) and Matt Halse (Greenies and PGs) were both very good skippers who just understood the game so well. Having Ronnie as my first captain in grade cricket was very fortunate for me as I learnt a lot from him about how to play grade cricket. Matt was also very good and was my captain coming through the age groups and was probably the reason we were so successful through that period.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
My season at Blacktown was a funny season with the mix of fellas in that side - Maraziotis, Sean and Greg Clarence, Corey Lowe, Mark Fotheringham, Nashy, Benny Schutz and others. We had some pretty funny times that season - including being stuck in the lift at Village Green for an hour or so at the tea break!
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
We had a bad day in the field at Sutherland on day 1 of a 2nd grade two-day game. They belted 400+ in about 80-odd overs, leaving us a few overs to face in the afternoon. Our opener Paul Grosse strapped em on, walked out to bat, and nicked off 4th ball of our innings to Tony Clark for 0. The giggles and smiles were hard to suppress as he walked back past us into the change room. I coach Women’s cricket at Penrith CC with Grossey now and we (I) still manage to break that one out regularly and have a laugh. Not sure PG finds it as funny though!
Who was your childhood hero?
Steve Waugh - my very first email address back in the day was swaughisgod@....
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Ivan Cleary, Alex Ferguson, Craig McRae - just to pick their brains about coaching.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Always Howell Oval as number 1, but I enjoyed playing at Joe Mac in Blacktown as well.
What particular team did you especially look forward to playing against?
Our battles against Parramatta throughout the years were epic. We always seemed to face off in finals every year. They were blessed with quality cricketers in our age group - Michael Wood, Alex Murphy, Adam Denmeade, Steve Karam, Ben Lambert, Todd Kirk, Kym Daley and others and we had Simon Williams, Liam Zammit, Matt Halse, Luke Morrisey, Jarrod Burke and more. Penrith always seemed to manage to knock them off, as well, which was always satisfying.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning competitions is always the ultimate in team success. Our 5th Grade final win at Howell Oval was most memorable though. We were drifting a bit in the field trying to defend 180-odd and were looking like losing. The next thing we all hear is Trev Bayliss walking around the fence screaming out support for us and imploring us to lift. For us, as a group of 15/16 year olds, that was just incredible to have someone of TB’s status to support us like that. We did lift and wrapped up the game soon after.
Another one, on a completely different tack – watching my daughter open the bowling at Howell Oval in Women’s cricket is very special, a ground which holds so many memories for me.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
I think that 5s Final would have to be up there, but any win in a final was amazing. 
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Hard to narrow down to 3, so I’ll just say all the boys from both sides of the great Penrith/Parra teams we tussled with. Great to reminisce about some great battles.
What are your hobbies?
I don’t get a lot of time away from work and cricket coaching, but I do love to watch and be involved in my son’s basketball. I started watching it when he started playing, and I really enjoy it.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
‘Focus on the process, the result will take care of itself.’ (Ron Halse, 1995) I still use this mentality in my own coaching.
What is your occupation?
After working for 16.5 years in the police, most of it as a Detective, I left in May 2023 and am working as a private investigator now for Precision Integrity Services. I love my job and the company I work for.
https://privateinvestigatorsydney.com.au/
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Yes, I’m back involved at Penrith CC in the Women’s program as coach of the Brewer Shield (U18s) team for the last few seasons. We have a fantastic coaching and playing group, and I bloody love coaching with our group. It’s great to be at the Panthers again after a long break away.
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 would take some creative scheduling, but I would like to see a lot more opportunities for state-contracted and perhaps even nationally contracted players to be able to play grade cricket (men’s and women’s). I think both the men’s and women’s competitions are crying out for more on-field leadership, so to have those upper-level players playing more regularly would only help that.
I think I would reduce the amount of young players included in ‘Pathways’ and rely a lot more on grade performances in relation to selection of those teams for national carnivals. I think too many young players these days are classed as being in ‘elite programs’ when they are still very much learning the game. Let them forge their way in grade cricket without the pressure of pathway responsibilities and learn how to play the game.
