Daniel Dent AKA Tinman - Penrith Cricket Club
Penrith Cricket Club | February 06, 2025
Daniel Dent, more commonly known as 'Tinman' has played over 30 seasons for Penrith. Throughout this time Danny has scored over 7,000 runs and taken over 500 wickets. Riding the highs and lows of grade cricket, Tinman is still playing and giving back to the club with his experience and wisdom to help younger players evolve.
What year were you born?
1976
Tell us about your cricket journey. Where did you start junior cricket and the clubs you’ve played for in senior cricket
Started in U10s Colyton St Clair, couple of seasons in reps, played seniors and juniors for Colyton St Clair from U14's, and was then selected for PCC grade cricket in 1992/93, starting in 5th Grade, have played all grades except 1's for Penrith and have recorded good all-round performances in each. I've only played senior cricket for Penrith apart from the odd winter game and T20 comp thrown into the off-seasons. Currently playing 31st Grade season (missing a couple to retirement).
If you can share with our readers how you would describe yourself as a cricketer?
Average cricketer, always believed in learning, practising and improving, started out as a bowling all-rounder and retired a batting all-rounder. I've considered myself to be playing past retirement for the last 7 seasons, and every single game since then I've been fit and healthy enough to play has been a bonus.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
The battle, grade cricket at all levels contains a genuine battle between bat and ball, between teams and rivals, many including genuine respect and mateship both for and against the club. If Cricket (and sport) loses that level of contest, then it's not a sport anymore just an activity that people might do - something that doesn't captivate and enthrall young players. Mis-guided administrators attempting to take the contest out of cricket in the younger age groups are unfortunately contributing to the loss of competition quality cricketers coming out of our juniors.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket so far?
Winning the 3rd Grade Premiership in 2002/03, with a totally committed bunch of guys including Paul 'Stabber' Thomas Penrith's greatest left arm orthodox spinner. Watching Stabber lead us to that grand final and win it taught me that it mostly wasn't talent but continued application and belief that win's games and premierships, us coming from 5th, and beating arguably more talented teams in all three finals games. To an individual we all played above ourselves for most of the season, and that also assisted in lifting the club's overall standard in the following few years.
Who’s your favourite all-time cricketer?
Steve Waugh, particularly in the back end of his career, just gutsed it out and new how to take his team to successive wins.
Who's the faster bowler you have played against?
Brett Lee, as a 17 y/o on the edges of the PG's squad it was an eye opener, he broke stumps, and sent our opener (Simon Williams) off the field with a nasty bouncer. Later forming a rearguard action partnership , I managed to finish 16 n/o and put on 40 odd with number 9 to get us back into the game
Who is the best spinner you’ve played against?
Greg Matthews probably, but I also never liked facing controlled left arm spin, sometimes I could get on top of them and more often I didn't.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
To me what makes an innings good is how much it matters to the team's situation, in games I've played in, Cos Beadle played the most stoic and important innings I've seen, batted the full day for a hundred to make absolute sure we won the GF.
Who is the best wicketkeeper you’ve had the good fortune to play with?
Tim Cummins, professional attitude and work ethic from a young age, didn't miss many, went on to Captain Sydney Uni .
Who are the two players you’ve come to admire most in your club in terms of skills and competitive spirit?
Across the duration, Rob (Loggy) Bower & Sam Grant - Loggy because I could not bowl to him without immediately having to take evasive action, and Sam Grant because he just continues to work, work and work some more on his game, and has the knack of pulling out performances with both bat and ball exactly when his team needs them. Sam has been consistently doing this in every grade he's played, taking him a number of years to work his way into 1st grade which he has greatly deserved.
What are the two attributes you like to see in a captain and leader?
Understand and develop all their players, aren't afraid to drop guys early to give them a chance to put some performances down that bring them back better. Good Captains have the knack of getting all their players into form across a season, rather than relying on just a few players to win them games.
Which singer/band would you like to see perform live?
Tom Waits, haven't seen him in person, if he decides to tour again somewhere I will find a way.
Favourite location, city or country as a holiday destination?
Japan at the snow has been best so far.
Who’s been the biggest influence on your career so far?
Paul Stabber Thomas, huge influence on my cricket thinking and self belief. I've made a point to try wherever possible to pass that on in recent years, also both Ray Hudswell and Ron Halse had a big influence on my early grade cricket - always with very sound advice. Prior to grade and between 14 and16 across successive off-seasons, John Benaud, along with the Rennie's team at St Mary's Indoor, took the time to teach me how to bat properly, basically for nothing, which then enabled me to do reasonably well coming into grade cricket. Without John spending that time with me, and along with many other Penrith and Western Sydney cricketers he did spend time with, I would not have decided to try my hand at grade cricket at all, as I hadn't considered myself to be in that league through juniors.
Danny winning Cricketer of the Year at Penrith
Where do you find inspiration that gets you through challenging times?
Playing for the team - what can I do in this current situation to help move us in the right direction, a win usually starts there, with whoever has decided to apply it - also swimming and Codeine have extended my playing window in recent years.
Who are the three people in the world you’d love to meet and talk to?
I would like to sit down and have dinner with Albert Einstein, Bob Dylan & Tom Waits, I couldn't add anything to the conversation but would be keenly interested to see the direction it might go.
What do you like to do to relax outside cricket?
Music, very average guitarist and growing collection.
Do you have a favourite quote?
'I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy'...TW
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Always enjoyed battles with Penrith (once I wasn’t playing there, that is) and the Tin Man.
A minor point of order, Penrith didn’t “win” the 02/03 final, it was drawn. I should know, as I was the very disappointed opposing captain! They claimed the trophy as highest ranked team.