Craig Glassock - pressure exists in the mind

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | January 19, 2024

Craig Glassock joined the Manly Warringah District Cricket Club as a local junior in 1988 as a very promising wicket keeper batsman. He is Manly Warringah player number 1099.

It didn’t take long before Craig's talent and performances saw him move up the grades and he made his first grade debut at the age of 17 in 1991.

Playing for Manly Craig scored 5,428 runs at an average of 31.20 including 6 centuries and 26 half centuries

On the 2nd November 1994 Craig made his first class debut for NSW against Victoria at the MCG. He scored 14 and 26 with the bat and took 4 catches in Victoria’s first innings.

Craig played 4 first class games and 1 one day game for New South Wales 

 

What year you were born?

1973 at Mona Vale Hospital on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I started at 6 in the U/10’s for Beacon Hill vs Forest Districts in 1980. It was four overs a pair and I remember I got off the mark with a 3 to fine leg.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Saturday morning for Beacon Hill. Cawsey, Moore, and Green Shield for Manly, and then Grade for Manly. I got to play under-age Cricket for NSW and Australia, the Cricket Academy, and plenty of Colts and 2nd X1 for NSW. I loved my time playing league Cricket in Durham, U.K.

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

Age 14, 5th Grade keeping for Manly vs Wests. Broke my thumb on the second ball of the game.

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

1991. I was 17 and played at Sutherland in a one-dayer. John Dyson was playing. I had practiced his famous outfield catch a thousand times. It felt surreal to be playing against him. We completed our innings before being washed out. I went in at 7, on strike, with two overs to go. Phil ‘Skid’ Marks was on 99. Skid is a good guy and has mellowed a lot since retiring. But he was the alpha male back then and a very intimidating figure for a 17-year-old kid. I pushed the first ball to cover and then spoke my first ever words to him, decisively calling ‘yes, no, yes, wait, ah…….yep’. They threw to Skid’s end. He dived, and it missed by a whisker. I nervously, slowly, gardened my way towards a mid-pitch reconciliation, y’know……hoping he’d laugh it off and give the young debutant a pat on the back and reassuring word or two. Instead, he took an age to get to his feet. He spat out a mouth full of Bulli soil and wiped himself down. Then he glared at me and shook his head disapprovingly. For the last 11 balls Skid called like a town crier. I obeyed.

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

I was a wicket keeper batsman. I mainly batted 4 or 5 in grade and usually 6 or 7 in representative Cricket. I didn’t consistently make enough big runs in grade cricket to demand selection, but I was pretty consistent in rep Cricket. I was given some ability. But my batting downfall was being overly analytical and never really settling on a consistent method for making runs, something most good players seem to work out more easily than I did.

In my final year of first grade, a flatmate caught me shadow batting. I was rehearsing getting bowled whilst shouldering arms. To be fair, it did come back a long way. Anyway, I’m not sure there could have been a clearer indicator that it was time to retire.

I had the opposite psychology as a keeper. I was confident, always wanted the ball and happy with the level I maintained.

What were your strengths as a player?

Captaincy was what most excited me. I loved strategy, trying to be ahead of the game, and getting the best out of players and the team. I was first grade captain from age 22-27. We had some great teams, won the minor Premiership a few times, and won a one-day competition. I had some strengths as a leader. But I’m not sure I had the maturity at that stage in life to provide the calm needed to win big games. A more experienced, mature captain might have won Manly a few more competitions.

Craig Glassock on drive

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Playing for Manly- I came out of retirement a few years after I finished playing first grade and played the last few games in second grade, so I could qualify for the finals. I made 261 in the semi and got run out by a direct hit. We were going to bat for a few more hours so 300 was in sight. I actually walked off a little dirty, lamenting the direct hit and how long the grass was. It reminds me of a great line from ‘The Grade Cricketer’ on Twitter. They recently showed a picture of Steve Smith throwing a tantrum as he walked off after a big score. The tag line was ‘When is Cricket ever good’?

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

Like most keepers, under-rated as a bowler and like most keepers I learned to master a few bowling impressions of others. If Bob Willis and I were the only entrants in a Bob Willis impersonation, I like to think he would place second.

You played 4 first class games for NSW, can you share with us how you found out you’d been selected to play for NSW, who did you play and what do you remember about your first-class debut?

Ian Healy broke a finger, so Phil Emery deservedly went to Pakistan for a Test. I was only 20 but I had just played a few weeks of a pre-season tournament in Darwin for the Academy against some Shield sides and New Zealand and played really well. I am told Rod Marsh put in a good word for me with selectors on the back of those performances. But there were lots of good keepers in Sydney, Paul Ryan, and several others, so I had no great expectation. I was keeping for Manly at Waverley Oval when a Channel Ten TV crew turned up to do a story on me. People started hugging my Mum and Dad, and then someone yelled out that I had been picked for the first Shield game. The game stopped for a sec and my team-mates all came and congratulated me.

We played an almost full-strength Victoria at the MCG and I think we tied on first innings. I got two starts (26 and 14) and kept pretty well. The whole experience was a huge thrill for me. I always dreamed of playing for NSW and I loved Sheffield Shield Cricket. As a kid and into my teens I often use to go to the Shield at the SCG after Saturday morning Cricket, and on Sundays. I reject the assertion made by some who see a correlation between this obsession and never having a girlfriend in high school. I digress. I was in the crowd at the famous Shield final in 85 at the SCG. On that day I decided that’s what I wanted to do with my life.

Craig Glassock - NSW wicket keeper

Can you remember your first dismissal in first class cricket?

Matt Elliot edged Shane Lee and I dived in front of first slip. It was a huge buzz. I can still clearly picture every detail about that dismissal. It’s quite possible I need to start moving on with my life.

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

I’m not sure they achieved the most but of guys I played against a number of times I would say:

Stuart Clark (Sutherland)- he was quick enough and so consistent.

Brad Williams (Vic) played a bit of Test Cricket. Like most of us I suspect he’s mellowed. At 19 or 20 he was very quick, angry, and scary. Like, ‘Don’t you EVER………..look me in the eye again’ scary. After experiencing that, Rainman was more likely to look him in the eye than I was.

Dan Horsley (Wests) at grade level was such a good bowler. Quick outswingers. He was a strike bowler but often had to operate as a workhorse for Wests. Every year I tried to convince him to come to Manly. ‘Horse’, the offer still stands.

Stuart Clark

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Stuart MacGill, Greg Matthews, and Ken Hall, all of whom are mentioned elsewhere in this article.

Stuart MacGill

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

I played plenty of great international players. But of guys who made runs against me when I played, I thought Dean Jones was masterful. I never saw anyone command the crease like him. I felt like I was encroaching on his personal space by standing up to the stumps. Jamie Cox from Tassie was a terrific player and he made big runs a few times when I played him. Probably Darren Lehman was the other that stands out because of his hands, and skill, and how late he played the ball. At grade level Peter Burkhart from Wests always played well against us. I thought he was a really good player.

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

I batted a lot with Michael Bevan. He got 200 against Balmain one day and it was a masterclass of decision making, timing, and placement. I played a one-dayer against South Africa and Herschel Gibbs smashed us everywhere for a ton. His ball striking and placement was next level.

Michael Bevan

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

Plenty! I was a bunny for Don Nash from ND’s and then Fairfield. He swung the ball at good pace, and we always seemed to play him on bouncy green decks. In the end I should have saved everyone some time by giving him a menu and asked him to select his preferred mode of my dismissal for me.

I played Paul Reiffel about five or six times, as above

John Whelan from ND’s- I don’t know if he got me out many times but I genuinely had no idea which way he was swinging them.

Don Nash

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?

There are a couple that stand out.

Playing for NSW against England at a packed Newcastle Sports Ground. I walked out to bat against Devon Malcolm, strong breeze at his back, just as he took the second new ball. Timing is everything! I took guard and turned around. I could vaguely make out what looked like some men in creams standing off in the distance. I’m pretty sure they were the cordon.

I was accustomed to being sledged by the opposition when I took guard. But not by the crowd. When I walked out to bat in my first Shield game there was a bloke sitting on his own in the Great Southern Stand, meat pie in one hand and beer in the other. He bellowed,

‘Hey GLASS COCK…..ahahahaha. What kind of a stupid name is that? GLASS COCK….. what a loser. Welcome to the big-time you loser’. He looked like he was 150kg……sitting on his own……..at a Shield game……..midweek. He was well placed to assess someone’s status as a loser. So, I was wounded. I can’t be sure, but I suspect he went on to become one of Victoria’s leading social media trolls. 

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

Ian Healy was great. I reckon most if not all the mainstay Shield keepers from the 90’s could have been long term successful Test keepers. I thought Darren Berry was such a brilliant, natural keeper. I was in the State Squad and trained with Phil Emery for about 7 years. He was just so good up to the stumps. I heard about some keepers in State Squads not getting on. But Phil was just a legend with me. Maybe because he was so secure in his ability and his position in the team, he was always willing to help and taught me so much. He got injured once which meant I got picked for a Shield game. He left a note under my windscreen wipers after training, wishing me well, telling me to enjoy it, and reminding me of some key things to focus on. I’d like to have played a lot more Shield Cricket, but I wouldn’t have developed as much as I did without Phil’s help. So, Phil, if you read this, thanks for being so generous in those years. 

Phil Emery

In terms of wicket keeping which catch and stumping still brings a smile of satisfaction?

That’s like asking a parent who their favourite kid is. Easy. I stumped Greg ‘Boris’ Hayne (great guy and player) from Balmain in the last over of the day down the leg side off a fast, full, drifting Chinaman from Michael Bevan. There was another I took off Manly leggie Mark McInnes. He bowled it wide of off stump in the rough. A leftie got dragged forward, played just over the top of it and it kicked up high out of the rough. They were probably the two best stumpings I took in terms of technical difficulty and speed.

Who was the best fast bowler and the best spinner you enjoyed keeping to most?

Stuart MacGill was by far my favourite spinner I ever kept to. I played with him quite a few times. He gave it such a rip and you were always in the game. Plus, he was a very angry quick trapped inside a spinners body, which I found entertaining. I enjoyed a few years of grade and 2nd X1 games keeping to Gav Robertson. Robbo could get great drift and bounce on his day.

McGrath is probably the best quick, but I only played with him a few times. I loved keeping to my mate Matthew Nicholson. He could be very quick and get dangerous bounce when he was younger. One more- there was a left-hand swing bowler called Brett Swain who played a few seasons for South Australia. He swung the ball more than anyone I have ever seen. I played under-age and academy stuff with him and when he bowled to left-handers it often felt like catching practice. 

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

Competitive spirit:

Shawn Bradstreet from Manly- I’ve known Shawn since I was eight and played with him more than anyone else. Amazing competitor. Match saving innings, big wickets, direct hit run outs, slips catches. His iron will won so many matches for Manly.

Greg Matthews (Easts)-Mo was very encouraging and affirming of me in my early years. But he could mess with people’s heads, and I was no exception. For two consecutive weeks of training at the SCG he kept bowling to me in the nets and stroking my ego, telling me how good my on-drive was. ‘Smooooth, yeaaah man, and never in the air. Ohhh, give me more. Love it Sacman. Love it’. Over and over. Four training sessions in a row. He even took me aside at the end and told me my on-drive was as ‘sexy as he’d ever seen’ and that I timed them so well I’d shouldn’t risk hitting them in the air. I gobbled up the praise and advice. After all, he was a Test legend, I was a 21 year-old rookie, and I really wanted to impress him. That weekend he bowled to me on a turning Waverley Oval jigsaw puzzle. He started with a 3/6 field with five men between forward square and straight mid-on. He kept bowling for the on-drive. I just couldn’t pierce the field. But I couldn’t risk hitting in the air because ….he was a Test legend, I was a 21 year-old rookie, and I really wanted to impress him. So, I tried to give myself room and hit him inside out through cover. Bowled! I later realised he spent two weeks setting me up for that dismissal. Flattering, but I really wasn’t worth the effort. Anyway, that’s competitive. Scary competitive.

Special mention to my now good mate Neil Maxwell, who was talented and a fierce competitor. There were some-times in the middle I felt like I was in a ‘cage match’. Thank you for not killing me.

Skill- I thought Matthew Phelps (Manly) was an amazing player. Picked at the right time and if backed to play freely, I suspect he could have gone on to do well at Test level. When he was younger, he destroyed plenty of good attacks.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with? And if you could add a few words to why?

I had Steve Waugh as captain in a couple of games. Obviously, he was tactically astute. But I found him to be a good guy and I appreciated that he took an interest in me as a person. He gave me confidence to relax and believe I was good enough.

Anyone else who helped you learn the game?

The two guys who probably taught me the most about the game were Greg Bush and Richard ‘Dick’ Fry. Bushy invested in me as I was coming through the grades and would often sit with me to help me understand the game. Dick read the game so well. I learned so much driving to and from games with him and listening to him at slip in the years before I became Captain. Two other guys I am indebted to are Allan Turrell from Parramatta and David Patterson (Cricket NSW & Manly). Allan was kind and generous to me as a young guy and influential on my development as a keeper. Patto sacrificially fed me plenty of balls and tempered my self-destructive propensity to seek perfection.

Greg Bush - Manly premiership winning captain

Who has been your funniest team-mate?

I spent a year with Andrew ‘Roy’ Symonds at the Academy. He could be very funny, most often unintentionally. One day Roy and I, together with a guy called Nathan Ashley (Balmain) went to a park in Adelaide to kick a footy. ‘Ash’ was a freakish athlete. Captained the Australian under 19’s, the best fielder I ever saw, and played First Grade Rugby for Norths. I could go on. He could throw equally well with both hands and kick equally well with both feet. When Roy saw him kicking the footy so cleanly with both feet, he was absolutely blown away.

‘Bloody hell Ash. You throw with both hands. You kick with both feet. Are you completely amphibious!’

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

I can recall plenty of sledging that was directed my way.

Ken Hall- One day early in my career playing at Bankstown Oval I had progressed to 50 odd. Then Ken started tying me in knots, over after over. He was clearly very frustrated with me. I needed to bring an end to my torture. So before the over started I made a mature decision to slog the third ball. Arm ball on middle. I missed and knew I was absolutely plumb. I tried to bluff the ump by scampering through for a leg-bye. It worked and I got up to Ken’s end. He spat. He kicked the ground. He checked to see if the umps eyes were painted on. The fuse was lit when the ump tilted his head to the side and said, ‘just sliding down Ken’. Ken then turned his wrath my way. He strolled past the ump and made his way towards me, glaring at me as I nonchalantly rested on my bat.

‘You heard him Ken, just sliding down’.

Dumb move!

Ken came closer and spittle flew at me like a meteor shower.

‘Young’un, seriously…………..if my son ever played such a disgraceful shot like that, I’d give him up for adoption’.

I’m pretty sure Ken followed through on that threat because he had the time to play first grade Cricket until he was about 50.

Merv Hughes- I played Merv a few times as he was on the way out. In my debut Shield game, I faced my first ball from him late on day one. I ducked under a bouncer, and another, and another. He followed through, and got very, very, very close to me. Then he snarled. I didn’t know whether to cry, ask for his autograph, or act like I was born for this stuff. Then he gave me an absolute gob full. I got the impression he hadn’t engaged with many of the classics in his spare time. Also, I’m pretty sure he had my Mum mixed up with someone else.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

I missed 2/3 of a season with a bad knee injury. I was worried about losing my spot in the State Squad and came back way too early, only scoring about 20 runs in 6 digs. Mentally and physically I was a shot duck as we approached the last game of the year at ND’s. But I was determined. I sacrificed everything that week and hit a million balls to get myself back in form. Boy, was I ready to make a statement and ensure I kept my state contract. It was just before lunch and a wicket fell. I came in and they threw the ball to their leggie. I took guard. ‘Watch the ball, play straight’. It was going to be my day. He came in and the ball slipped out of his hand. It ballooned about 20 feet in the air. ‘Happy days’ I thought to myself. It bounced and I prepared to slog it over cow corner. But my studs didn’t grip. I slipped and flailed at the ball one handed as I fell. I missed and it hit the base of the stumps on the second bounce. It was humiliating. I mean, obese Inzaman Ul Huq falling on his own stumps humiliating (see youtube). Even the umpires couldn’t contain their laughter as they said ‘Lunch gentlemen’. I trudged off to the sheds and as was custom my team-mates gathered to receive my summation of the session. None of them knew where to look as I calmly placed my bat in the coffin. Then, one or two snorts of laughter gave way to ten before one of them said, ‘Not the worse shot I’ve seen you play, Sac’. The dressing room erupted. Good game, Cricket.

Who was your childhood hero?

Greg Chappell. I copied his stance as a kid. The similarities ended there.

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

When I was 17, I actually had an afternoon alone with Harold Larwood in his home. That was pretty cool. He showed me a few keepsakes from Bodyline, and he got quite teary as he remembered the abuse he copped from the Aussie crowd, and when he talked of Jardine’s great confidence in him. Well, I’m pretty sure that’s what he was crying about. It’s true I had him ‘on the ropes’ after peppering him with questions for hours on end. Maybe he just thought ‘this kid is never going to leave’. As for other sportspeople, I’m not particularly star struck like that. I tend to admire sports people who don’t have their identity wrapped up in their performance, and those who manage to keep sport in perspective. It’s not war.

Harold Larwood

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Kerry O’Keefe, both for his humour and his technical analysis. I really enjoy Mark Waugh’s commentary now. Straight shooter and he’s ahead of the game. Special mention to ‘Rampaging Roy Slaven’. I don’t know of any man who more succinctly and humorously identifies the foibles of the professional sporting world.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

1. Manly Oval because it’s beautiful and it’s been a special part of my life.

2. The old Adelaide Oval. It was such a great place to bat, and I did well there a few times.

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

Balmain. They were a really good team, really good guys, and we always had great contests with them.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Winning the First Grade One-Day comp against ND’s in my last year (2001). I’d lost seven grand finals across the grades prior to that. Most of them were pretty close games. At that point I was the favourite as first inductee into the ‘Choker Hall of Fame’. So to win that one as skipper was a big relief. We also won a number of club championships at Manly. They were very funny nights and pretty special because the whole club celebrates together.

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

We came from nowhere to win a Poidevin Gray (U21’s) semi-final at Campbelltown by one run with a run-out. Most of us were local boys who had grown up together. So, it was pretty special.

NSW Cricket squad - Craig Glassock, middle row, third in from the right

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

Ross Trewartha- Rosco is very dry with great timing. I loved playing with him.

Mick Pawley- I coached with Mick rather than played with him. He is Manly Cricket royalty and I love his uniqueness. He is a master orator and always makes me laugh.

David Ford- another who played first grade Rugby and Cricket. In a change room setting, Fordy could wind people up in an endearing way and be very funny.

What are your hobbies?

I’ve always love watching Manly play in the NRL each week. For anyone who hasn’t stopped reading in disgust following the last statement, I also love bushwalking in the National Park near where I live in Terrey Hills, and swimming at Mona Vale Beach. 

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Sporting advice- ‘pressure exists in the mind’.

Life advice- the second-best piece of life advice is ‘love your neighbour as yourself’. The best piece of advice comes just before that. Google it. The bloke who made those statements seems to know what he is on about.

What do you do for work?

I’m a coach/consultant for Christian ministers and churches. I’ve worked a lot in strategic planning and culture change here, and in the U.S. It’s a privilege and I feel blessed to have the job I do.

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

I was Head Coach at Manly for three years. But I haven’t been involved in the game since then (2007). My ten-year-old is now a budding leggie, which is a huge relief. I couldn’t have coped with the shame if one day in the future he sat his mother and I down and said, ‘Mum, Dad, I don’t quite know how to tell you this. So, I’m just going to come out with it. I’m a medium pacer’. 

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

I don’t know if he would want this, but I would have Neil Maxwell contributing in whatever capacity he is willing. Apart from that I am so removed that any suggestions I offer would be made in ignorance.