Shane Kabel - back yourself
Valley District Cricket Club | April 16, 2023
Shane Kabel is the proud owner of Valley District Cricket Club first grade player number 678 having made his debut during the 2008/09 season.
Shane is a one club player having joined Valley as a junior and is a first grade premiership winning player.
Let’s find out more about Shane’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1985
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I don’t remember anything about my first game of cricket. I would say I was 6 or 7 years old.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I’m a Valley man through and through. I have only ever played for them.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
My first game of grade was in 4th Grade as a 16 year old.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I was 22 I think when I made my debut in 1st grade. It was against Gold Coast on Peter Easton Oval at Valley. I think I made 4 with the bat and got 1 wicket as well.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I’m an all-rounder. I would say hard hitting middle order bat and a very slow medium pace seam bowler.
Shane Kabel bowling
What were your strengths as a player?
Probably my ability to get the best out of myself.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
150 not out in second grade against Gold Coast.
Stand and deliver, Shane Kabel brings up his first ever Grade ton with one of his 12 x 6’s in 2nd Grade v Gold Coast District Cricket Club
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I think it was 5 for 22 against Uni in second grade
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Scott Walter - he was just a wizard with the ball. You always felt he was going to get you out every ball you faced.
Ryan Harris - thank god I never had to face him as I know it would not have ended well for me.
Nathan Rimmington - incredible swing bowler, no matter how you played him he always found your front pad.
Ryan Harris
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Mitch Swepson - just a class above everyone.
Cameron Boyce same as Sweppo a class above the rest when you played him.
And the 3rd is someone I played with rather than against, Jack Leach. He was here as a young guy and you could tell he was going to be a great bowler.
Mitchell Swepson
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Michael Phillipson - he was so tough to bowl at all the time. Never seemed to be out of form.
Peter Forrest was one that was a class above and when in full flight was impossible to bowl to.
Nathan Rabnott - we had a love hate relationship on the field as he got runs nearly every time we played him and did so with ease.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Without a doubt Usman Khawaja in the 2013/14 grand final. He came in 3rd ball of the innings and went on to score 130 odd and made it look so easy.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Josh Henderson from Souths and Redlands hit the bat so hard and left me with many bruises every time I played him.
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 and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
Not really no. I never jumped grades to much so when I got to 1st grade I had worked my way through the grades and felt fairly comfortable.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Murray Bragg very clean and easy to watch
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Luke Feldman - it didn’t matter who he was playing for or against he always gave 100%
Andrew Gode - he wore his heart on his sleeve and had the ability to drag teams along with him.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
I was lucky to play under a few very good captains but the best would have to be my 1st grade skipper Andrew Gode. Never gave up and had the ability to drag his team along with him no matter what.
Andrew Gode
Who has been your funniest team mate?
This would be a tie between Brandan Foote and Cam Farrell. Both are 2 of the funniest guys I have met.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Anything that was to do with Josh Dascombe. He is a funny guy and most things he did on the field made everyone laugh.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Caught at point off the back of my bat while trying to pull a spinner.
Who was your childhood hero?
Not a cricketer but it is without a doubt Ayrton Senna. Even though he died when I was young he was and still is a hero to me
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Ayrton Senna
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Ayrton Senna, Phil Taylor, Don Bradman
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Has to be Bill Lawry
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Peter Easton Oval
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
I always enjoyed the games against Uni. It didn’t matter who they had in you knew you had to be at your best to beat them.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Without a doubt winning the 1st grade premiership in 2013/14.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
2013/14 against Toombul we chased down 360 odd when Jack Wildermuth scored his maiden 1st grade hundred, the feeling after that win was amazing.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Luke Feldman, Adam Lockhart-krause and one of my best mates Brendan Foote
What are your hobbies?
Aussie rules, Darts, Tinkering with my mighty boy.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Back yourself to do what you do.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Not really now. Family life is very busy now but I do get down the club whenever I can.
