Greg Bush - true competitor
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | January 19, 2024
Richard Fry on Greg Bush
I played with Bushy for roughly 8 years and opened the batting with him for 4 years. He was extremely hard to get out when he got a start and knew his game like no one else. He irritated the opposition like nobody else which is the main reason why he was great to play with. Brilliant captain, 2 years in that capacity and only a handful of losses and we won a premiership. His career runs in 1st grade speaks for itself, true competitor.
Greg Bush made his first grade at the age of 17 and over the next 24 years amassed 10,171 runs playing for Mosman, North Sydney, Manly Warringah and Petersham Marrickville.
Bushy scored 15 centuries and 45 half centuries and averaged 29.14.
As an opening batsman he took on the fast bowlers with courage and skills and played across two eras – before and after the introduction of helmets.
A hugely popular figure across Sydney Grade Cricket, let’s find out more about Bushy’s time playing Sydney Grade Cricket
What year you were born?
1955
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
8 years old. Filled in for local under 11 team. Scored 3 not out.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played junior club and representative cricket in Manly Warringah, Green Shield at Mosman for 3 years, school cricket at Sydney Grammar (grade in school holidays).
After leaving school I played grade cricket for Mosman from 1972 to 1982, North Sydney 1982 to 1985, Manly Warringah to 1985 to1993 then Petersham 1993 to 1996.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
3rd grade at age 15 (2 January 1971) – scored 105 not out against Petersham
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
Debut 2- 9 December 1972 aged 17 against Sutherland. Scored 9 on a wet wicket- ball hit shoulder of bat onto my chin and caught at silly mid-off.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Batsman (mostly as opener) and part time wicketkeeper.
Greg Bush - 19 years of age, pre helmet days
What was your highest score in first grade cricket?
162 not out for Mosman against Waverley at Mosman Oval (batted against Tony Greig and Cracker Hourn)
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
1 for 8 (only first grade wicket) for Mosman v Bankstown at Bankstown Oval. Unlucky batsman was Ken Thorpe (father of Ian)
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Jeff Thomson (by knockout) - New Year’s Eve 1973 at Bankstown Oval. Devastating pace. Mosman were 6 for 9 and I had retired hurt.
Glenn McGrath- in 1992 faced him for a 60 minute session before stumps. Steepling bounce and hit the splice of bat hard.
Geoff Lawson- played “Henry though 1980’s when at his peak. Bowled with pace and bounce and aggression. (After Ambrose broke Henry’s jaw in Perth in November 1988 his comeback match was New Year’s Eve against Manly. He bowled with his jaw still wired gasping for air through his clenched teeth but still was able to bowl fast and competitively).
(Played Andy Roberts and Imran Khan but both on flat wickets and not at full throttle.)
Greg Bush batting for Manly v Balmain at Manly Oval
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
David Hourn- left arm wrist spinner who bowled with good flight and sharply turning “Chinaman”.
Murray Bennett- wonderful control of flight, line and length.
Greg Matthews- combative off spinner who gave the ball a rip.
David Hourn on Greg Bush
I played against Greg Bush a number of times and was in the State Squad with him for a while. Not only was he the fittest player in the squad he was a fiercely determined player with a lot of ticker but when required could dominate an attack. As a rule I loved bowling to left handers but on one occasion he carted myself and Tony Greig all over Mosman Oval for a magnificent innings of 168. There was a lot of niggle that day, particularly from Greigy, but he gave as good as he got and finished well on top.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Bob Simpson- masterful player. Great technique, commanding stroke play and superb runner between wickets.
Michael Bevan – lightning footwork, great array of shots with amazing placement. Scored 69 in as many minutes for Manly against Petersham and was dismissed just before lunch in 2 day game caught and bowled (he could have scored 300 that day if not dismissed).
Doug Walters- prolific run scorer with quick feet, eagle eye and powerful shots. Punished spin bowlers.
Special mention
Gordon Greenidge- As premiers Manly played ACT the country champions in October 1989. Greenidge opened for ACT and scored 60 odd in typical dynamic style. (Tough for bowlers when teammates were happier to watch him bat rather than get him out. Slips cordon were applauding each boundary in unison).
(Played against Boycott, Slater, Waugh twins, Taylor all of whom I greatly admired but most only one or 2 times and none played any significant innings).
Bob Simpson
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Michael Bevan – in 1993 he scored a match winning 99 for Manly against Northern Districts on rain affected wicket at Waitara. Batted with ease early when conditions difficult then after 50 hit 4’s at will placing ball between 8 boundary riders.
(Honourable mention to Marty Haywood for double century for Randwick against Petersham climaxing with 6 sixes off Wayne Mulherin to reach 200)
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Mike Whitney who dismissed me twice for ducks at Manly Oval
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?
Hands down 5th first grade game against Thommo on sporting wicket. Pace was unmatched (Brett Lee was closest) - keeper and slips were so far back you could take a run to gully (except your partners were not keen to run!). 8 ball overs meant there was nowhere to hide. Thommo cartwheeled the stumps of 2 batsmen while I was out there.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Steve Rixon- he’s not called “Stumper” for nothing.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Kerry Mackay- quietly spoken but extremely competitive. State level batsman who in later years became a very successful medium pace bowler up till age 40, reliable lower order batsman and excellent slip fielder. Instilled winning culture in team through his deeds.
John Benaud- excellent batsman and captain who always played attacking competitive cricket.
(In 1975 he batted on a sporting wicket at Mosman Oval without a thigh pad. Sandy Racklyeft hit him about 3 times on the thigh, the last time causing him to stop play to rub. A 20 year old Allan Border from slips yelled out “Get off old man”, then Benaud gritted his teeth and scored a match winning 60)
(Steve Waugh -the other for obvious reasons)
Kerry Mackay
Did you ever feel you were close to higher honours and if you can tell us when you believe you were at the top of your game?
In 1978-79 season I scored 827 runs at an average of 59 which was highest in 1st grade and then scored 244 in first 3 games in 1979-80 season. I was in the State squad but that season the World Series v Establishment dispute had settled so there were 10 Test batsmen in NSW squad.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Barry Knight- excellent cricket knowledge and game awareness.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
David Townsend at Petersham- although was very serious when he batted.
[Oddest- John Pym from Mosman. He put iron filings and concrete on front of bat to “take shine off ball”- quickly banned by umpires/ cut off bat each side of splice “as you only get edges there”/ swept spinners finishing on his back with legs in the air/ put zinc cream on his ears (he was right there)… I could go on]
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Len Pascoe bowling for an hour before stumps with new ball at Mosman Oval bouncing me and Rob Jeffery. He was bowling 3 no balls an over and after yet another no ball he screamed “Fuck your no-balls”. The umpire then cautioned Lenny to which he replied “I wasn’t talking to you”.
(At end of play he chucked the ball to far boundary fence and walked up to Barry Knight and shouted “I am going to kill those blokes next week”)
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
March 1986- Manly v Waverley at Waverley. After toss I padded up but it started raining so we sat in dressing room for an hour. Went out to bat for first ball of the day. As bowler Brunton approached, rain was sweeping towards the ground. Meanwhile Waverley’s captain motioned for John Harris to move from forward to backward square leg. I clipped ball straight to Harris while he was still moving into position and play was then abandoned for the day. So scorecard in newspaper showed me out on the only ball of the day.
Who was your childhood hero?
Cricket -Garfield Sobers
Other sports- Graeme Langlands, like Sobers he could do everything.
Garry Sobers
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Eugenie Bouchard
Tiger Woods
Cristiano Ronaldo
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Richie Benaud
(Kerry O’Keeffe- for comedic value)
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Mosman Oval – now Allan Border Oval.
Was there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Mosman- after I left playing there I was determined to play well against them- I averaged about 90 against them. Played my toughest innings (31 out of 102 team total) in 1987 on wet wicket against Wayne Daniel, Greg Rowell, John Skilbeck, Gary Bensley and Gavin Robertson.
You played from 1972 to 1996, what do you enjoy most about playing cricket and what was the key to your longevity?
I enjoyed:
- the challenge of mastering batting against all bowlers;
- being in the field working on strategies with our team to dismiss the opposition; and
- the friends made and fun had with teammates during and after play.
Longevity due to fact cricket was always my passion in life, maintaining fitness (I played soccer in winter) which enhanced concentration.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning and captaining the 1st grade premiership with Manly in 1988-89
Manly Warringah First Grade Premiership wining team - 1988/89
Phil Marks on Greg Bush
Greg Bush was one of the best strategic captains I played with and also had amazing recall of opposition player’s strength, weaknesses, previous game results etc. He once went around the dressing room and stated every player’s birthdate by day, month and year! Hated getting out as an opening batsman and always put a high price in his wicket. Great team mate.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Manly v Bankstown in November 1988 – defending 250 odd Bankstown were about 1 for 120. With a great run out and good bowling and fielding we won by about 25. Had we lost Bankstown would have finished ahead of us at end of season and we would not have won premiership when final washed out.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
David Fordham- great raconteur
Brad McNamara- very funny man who will bring Grange.
David Townsend- never a dull moment.
(Unsurprisingly all have had involvement in the media).
Mosman first grade team 1977/78.
Greg Bush - "Runners up. Best team I played in. Final was rain affected but we still nearly beat Randwick in 4 hours play.
What are your hobbies?
Golf and skiing. Still enjoy training to run beers off!
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Alan Campbell- “Don’t overestimate or underestimate the opposition”
Barry Knight- coaching batting technique- especially footwork to get in behind the ball keeping back foot square so body stays side on.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Not in any official capacity but do give batting coaching occasionally.
If you were running Cricket at a State Level what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
I have great admiration for modern cricketers one day and T20 skills but this results in compromising batting technique in longer forms and ability to bat in challenging conditions composing long innings. Also spinners in long form are not developing (outside Nathan Lyon).
So 2 priorities are
1. As happened in mid-1980’s, put priority on 2 day cricket in all grades so developing batsman who can play long innings and allow spinners to bowl more overs and learn to dismiss batsmen (rather than containing runs or getting wickets from batsmen hitting out); and
2. Emphasis on coaching good batting technique which forms basis for batting in long and short forms and developing spin bowlers for long form cricket.
