David Gainsford - Narromine to the Beaches
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | February 03, 2023
David Gainsford joined Manly Warringah District Cricket Club in 1985 and became player number 1038.
From 1985 to 1997 David took 262 wickets at an impressive average of 23.31 and scored 2,453 runs at 22.27 including one hundred and 7 half centuries.
David also played first grade cricket for North Sydney and is player number 551 making his first grade debut for the bears against Randwick in the 1998/99 seasons.
David is a very proud Life Member of MWDCC and continues to make a tremendous and most valuable contribution to the club as Deputy President and Director of Cricket.
A country boy at heart, let’s find out more about David’s journey in the game
What year were you born?
1968
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
Around 10 with my dad for Backwater CC Narromine (430 kilometres west of Sydney). I don’t remember how I went to be honest, I was just happy to be on the field and had to wait each week for a farmer to get caught up working.
Tell us briefly about your cricket journey?
Played in Narromine, then St Joseph’s College at Hunters Hill, Manly and North Sydney, then Warringah Shires in my final year with my mates.
In which grade, and at what age did you make your grade debut in grade cricket?
18 years old in 5th Grade, Manly as a leg spinning batsman
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
21 years old - Manly vs Parramatta. I got 4 for 40 opening the bowling
It all happened so quickly as I went from being a leg spin bowler in 3rd grade to opening the bowling in first grade a year later.
Alan Campbell, our club coach told me I didn’t have the right temperament to be a spinner. Many thanks to Alan as I wouldn’t have played 1st grade as a spinner.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Developed into an aggressive bowling all-rounder.
These days would have been more suited to 20/20 as could do a bit of everything and it was about my concentration span.
What were your strengths as a player?
Athletic due to my track and field background. I never liked to give up which was the country boy coming out in me.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
Manly - 119 not out against Gordon at Killara Oval
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Manly - 7 for 30 against Wests at Manly Oval
Who were the best 3 fast bowlers, you have played against?
Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Mike Whitney
Brett Lee was the most talked about young bowler coming through the system. Did not disappoint. His son is now coming through our system which makes me feel old.
Glenn and I came from the same country town but never got to play cricket against each other in Narromine but ended up playing against each other in Sydney. In his early days he was quick.
I was very proud to see Glenn kick on in his career, especially coming from a town of 2500 people to arguably one the greatest bowlers in history. Great bloke as well …….
Mike was playing Test cricket at the time and played as hard as anyone I had played against. He also went out of his way to chat to me after my first game about what is was to play 1st Grade cricket
Glenn McGrath on Test debut
Who were the best 3 spinners you’ve played against?
Peter Taylor, Murray Bennett, Greg Matthews
Peter had amazing control and energy
Murray was hard and crafty
Greg had so many variations and backed himself more than most.
Peter Taylor
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Gordon Greenidge – had just finished a Test series against Australia and played with ACT against Manly in the final between Country Vs City. He scored around 75 and I remember he hitting me to all parts of the ground and all my team mates were clapping his shots.
Adam Gilchrist – played him on a few occasions and always performed well.
Michael Slater – was the first aggressive batsman of my era playing Test cricket. Now his son is coming through our system which also makes me feel old.
Gordon Greenidge
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always used to cause you a few problems?
So many. Every team seemed to have a top line quick and quality spinner
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 had a knuckle down to survive?
When I first started playing first grade, it was a massive difference from what I was used to. The intensity was a step up and there was a small margin for error.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand, playing with or against?
Adam Gilchrist and Brad Haddin – both had great hands and would stand up to the quicks if needed.
Who are the 3 players you have admired the most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
So many but the 3 I played with would be Phil Marks, Trent Johnson who both had such a will to win and Stuart MacGill was always competitive and was at the peak of his Test career when I moved to Norths.
Who was the best captain you had for the good fortune to play with?
Phil Marks, led from the front, backed his players and was ruthless. Skid has become a good friend plus we coach together at Manly.
Phil Marks
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Geoff Tucker (Manly) Always telling jokes, drank like a fish, played hard. He was another Doug Walters type player – old school. Special mention to Glenn (trunk) Evans – did things I didn’t think you could do or get away with.
Can you recall from banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Manly vs Norths – female streaker ran across the field, Warwick Adlam (who was batting extremely well) got out the next ball and we won the game.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Involved in a hat trick where we all used the same bat – 1st Grade too
Who was your childhood hero?
Viv Richards.
Who are the 3 sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan, Viv Richards.
Usain Bolt
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Bill Lawry
What was your favourite cricket ground to play at?
Hard to split - Manly Oval, North Sydney Oval, Dundas Park - Narromine
Was there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Easts, for some reason as I used to bowl well against them and Northern District, for some reason use to score runs against them.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning the first club championship at Manly, and every club championship after that. A great feeling when your whole club can celebrate together. (60 blokes doing a nude lap around Manly Oval is funny)
Premierships are great but Club Championships is a great reward for everyone in the Club.
Manly First Grade 1992/93 - runners up
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
One day game North Sydney vs Campbelltown, won on the last ball. My wife rang when we were singing the club song to inform me she was going into labour with our second child (Bella), I ran out of the change room with all of my gear on and spikes to rush her to hospital.
Who are the 3 players from your playing days who are at the top of the list for a Sunday BBQ?
Geoff Tucker, Greg Boyer and Andrew Fraser (still all my close mates)
What are your hobbies?
Cricket and love hanging out with my family.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
You are only as good as the people around you
What is your occupation?
Home improvement estimator, have been for nearly 30 years.
Are you still involved with cricket and if so what capacity?
Deputy President and Director of Cricket for Manly Warringah District Cricket Club
If you were running cricket NSW, what would be your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Focus heavily on Country cricket including financial help and focus heavily on Grade cricket including financial support and allow State and Australian players to play more grade cricket like back in my era.
