Simon Waddington - the 6 Ps

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | March 13, 2023

Simon Waddington joined Manly Warring District Cricket Club after a playing his early grade cricket with Northern District Cricket Club. Simon is Northern District first grade player number 312 after making his debut against Campbelltown in January 1994.

In joining Simon is Waratah player number 1250.

Simon was an integral member of the 2000/01 Manly Warringah first grade limited overs premiership and has been very instrumental in the progress of Manly Warringah Women’s and Girls cricket over a number of years.

Simon played NSW 2nd XI cricket and is now plying his trade for NSW and Australia's Over 50s cricket teams.

Let’s find out more about Simon’s journey in the game.

Simon Waddington bowling at Manly Oval in 2001

What year you were born?

1970

Can you remember your first game of cricket?

First game would have been playing PSSA for Pymble Public School. No recollection at all of any details.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Played a year of U12s with St Ives then played school cricket with Sydney Grammar. Green Shield with Northern District and then started playing grade with NDs after school. Played NSW U17s and U19s and 4 NSW 2ndXI matches.

I played 10 years at ND’s including a few years in first grade, then moved to Manly and have been there since. I have retired 7 times and played a few games for Harbord Bowling Club and Warringah Cricket Club with my son in between.

I play Masters and Classics cricket occasionally with Warringah but this clashes with my current commitment as Women’s Club Coach at Manly so I don’t get to play as much as I would like. I have also greatly enjoyed playing in some recent O50s carnivals.

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

Age 18 in 4th grade. Travelled down to Tonkin Oval against Sutherland.

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

Last game of season 1993-94. 1 for 12 off 6 overs. No idea who the one was. I had to look up an old annual report just to get the bowling figures as it was the only first grade game I played that year so it was easy to work out and there was no ‘Mycricket’ back then.

Simon Waddington bowling for NSW 2nd XI 1997

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

Left arm fast medium bowler and right had middle order bat.

What were your strengths as a player?

I have always enjoyed working on variations in my bowling. I have in the past, been bored just bowling the same ball over and over again. As much as this is a strength in certain situations it has also been my downfall in longer forms of the game where my consistency sometimes suffered as a result.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

135 not out in a one day game in 4th grade at Grahams Reserve.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

I’m not great on numbers. I have a number of 6 fors but have never got a 7 or 8 for. Probably because I didn’t hit the stumps often enough.

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

I generally don’t rate any of the opposition fast bowlers. Maybe I’m too heavily biased towards my team mates. But I recall facing Scott Thompson on fairly placid Waitara Oval and after facing a few deliveries, I recall thinking I had his measure (I might have also been stupid enough to say something to the effect) and next thing I know, he comes around the wicket and somehow got one to rise from back of the length and take the shoulder of my bat for a simple catch to gully. He always gave 100%.

There were a lot of good fast bowlers going around then, Phil Alley was a handful, Dan Horsley hit the bat hard, I was lucky enough not to have to face Wayne Holdsworth and Brett Lee at their fastest, but I also recall a spell from Anthony Stuart at Manly Oval with a southerly behind him getting great carry. 

Who were the best three spinners you have played against?  ‘

This is pretty easy. Greg Matthews and Stuart MacGill hands down. Test quality spinners playing grade cricket is next level. Great flight and variation with high revolutions. I also remember being cleaned up by Paul Sutherland ripping one between by bat and pad from way outside off stump. But for subtle variation and control it was always a great challenge trying to face Chris Elder at training.

Stuart MacGill

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

As an opening bowler who often needed a couple of balls to settle in, I never had that luxury bowling to Jeremy Bray on a flat Hurstville Oval track. There just wasn’t any room for error as it would disappear on to or over the bike track. Scott Hookey was similar in that regard and hit the ball further. But Steve Waugh and Michel Slater are pretty good players too.

Jeremy Bray

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

I have played a lot of cricket and seen a lot of good innings. Craig Glassock’s 265 not out on a 2nd grade semi final was all class and Michael Slater scored a hundred against us in a one day game and although it wasn’t chanceless, dropped at slip in the thirties, for most of the innings there was just nowhere anyone could bowl to contain him.

Probably the pick however was Steve Waugh’s 165 at Bankstown Oval. It was just after a tour of the West Indies where he was targeted by the short ball. It was round one of our season and we thought we should test him out early. I backed myself to have a go and hit him in the gloves a few times and thought we were in for a chance. But he battled through it and scratched to 50 and then he flicked a switch. The next hundred was pretty good to watch (despite being on the opposing team).

In the same game, when we batted, Mark Taylor opened the batting for us scoring a hundred in a session, out of 130 which was all class. You didn’t even realise he was scoring so quickly, just worked the ball around and controlled the game with ease.

Steve Waugh

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

Not really. All good bowlers probably got me out sooner or later. Although after playing with Karl Danenbergson’s a lot at ND’s I think in the 3 times we played each other after I went to Manly, he got me out each time.

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?

I recall going out to bat in a NSW U19 match against Victoria late in the day for the last few overs. The bowler I think his name was Cottrell was the fastest bowler I had faced at the time. The first ball was a bouncer which I didn’t see but luckily was too short and passed safely over my head. The next couple were a good length outside off. I “played inside the line” of those but barely saw them and was lucky enough to escape with a nought not out.

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

Mark Atkinson played a year with ND’s while I was in 2nd grade. I remember watching him take a stumping off a Randall Green bouncer. He later moved to Tasmania where I played against him in a 2nd X1 match.

Mark Atkinson

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

Obviously all good players need skill and a fair amount of competitive spirit, for me in my first year in first grade, Randall Green and Neil Maxwell certainly both showed me what was necessary to compete at that level in that regard.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

Ross Turner came back to play some 2nd grade at ND’s and help Gus Farncomb in his first year as captain. Ross was a great tactician and really understood people. Similarly, I came to Manly when Craig Glassock was skipper and I had a lot of respect for him also. Randall Green was captain in my first year in first grade. He had a simple message for me as a bowler and it worked. He certainly got the best out of me as I took 50 wickets that year and I was never able to replicate that.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Jamie Sullivan and Nathan Austin were a funny pair that came to Manly from Wests that always had us entertained. Jamie Pipe played a couple of seasons from the UK and was a very funny individual. However in later years captaining some lower grade teams, it would have to be Billy Darcy. A lot of cricketers think they’re funny snapping wise cracks from second slip but Billy is probably my only team mate that is now an actual stand-up comedian.

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

So many games of cricket and I am not good on the recall of details but I am constantly amused when people completely lose the plot on the field for whatever reason. It is just a game after all.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

I have been dismissed many times over the years and quite a few could be classed as embarrassing but I do hate having my bat get stuck behind my back pad only for the ball to crash into my front pad or worse, the stumps.

Who was your childhood hero?

I had many. I recall trying to imitate all international cricketers in the backyard “Test Matches” with my brother. From Thommo and Lillee to Bob Willis and Graham Dilley but I always wanted to be a tall West Indian fast bowler who played for Australia. Sadly I wasn’t, and there weren’t any for me to emulate so I had to make do with Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Joel Garner.

Jeff Thomson

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

For me the sound of summer was always guys like Alan McGilvray, Richie Benaud, Jim Maxwell but also love the story tellers David Lloyd, Henry Blofield, Peter Roebuck, Kerry O’Keefe. Of the modern crew, my pick would be Isa Guha and Brad Hodge.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Manly Oval and Waitara Oval (now Mark Taylor Oval). Emotional attachment to those grounds for sure but also liked the natural amphitheatre of Drummoyne Oval (although the old change rooms were rubbish back in the day).

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

Always loved playing Wests. Great bunch of guys. Hard contest but enjoyed a beer after.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Playing on the SCG and MCG was a buzz but the biggest match I played was probably the Prime Minister’s XI match against the Aboriginal XI at Manly Oval as a 17 year old. The ground was packed.

Probably the largest crowd I have played in front of. Bob Hawke ‘played’ in this match with a few former Test greats and a few young guys and there was a real carnival atmosphere at Manly Oval that day.

In the weeks before the match my school team was in Canberra contesting the Gillette Cup and as the match was in Sydney and I was an U19 rep then I was asked to play. Our team had Clive Lloyd, Ian Davis, Doug Walters, Max Walker, Trevor Chappell among others.

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

Winning the 1st grade One Day competition in 2000-01 was a highlight but haven’t been able to win a major grade competition. Never played any finals with ND’s apart from one PGs semi but have played a lot of finals for Manly and still trying.

One of the greatest matches I have played was actually a losing grand final in 2nd grade. I was probably past my prime but we had a very strong team and I was playing my old club NDs. It was a 3 day game and after one bad hour on day 2 we found ourselves in the position at the start of day 3 about 180 behind and needing to take the remaining 6-7 wickets and score whatever total in the time remaining to win outright after losing the first innings.

We took the wickets but needed to score 260 odd, in the remaining 32 overs. This is pre-T20 and massive trampoline bats and being a 3 day match there were no fielding or bowling restrictions. We cheered every run and with all fielders out, the ball still made it to or over the boundary. We had to take risks and they usually paid off. We ended up being bowled out with 9 runs to win off the last over. Any amazing match.

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club First Grade Limited Over Premiers 2000-01

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

There are so many great characters I have played cricket with and I could easily name 300 that I would enjoy a beer with at a Saturday BBQ so won’t single anyone out.

You’re now playing over 50s cricket, what the best part of playing veterans cricket and what advice would you offer anyone over 50 who is thinking about playing again?

 Definitely give it ago. It is a great time in your life when perhaps kids are a little more independent and you might have a bit of time to enjoy a bit of cricket with likeminded individuals. A bit of body preparation will not go astray of course if there has been some neglect since the last time you played so definitely ease in.

Back Row – Tim Fraser, Simon Waddington, Brett Wheeldon, Richard Chee Quee, Warwick Adlam, Michael Beattie, Jason Gallian, Jack Wilson (Manager)

Front Row – Jason Young, Kevin Roberts, Gavan Twining, Ted Cotton (Coach), Darrell Mann (Captain), Ben Saunders, Mark Pratt

What are your hobbies?

Cricket coaching and tennis and I am sure golf will come back to me soon.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

The 6 P’s. Perfect Practice Prevents Piss Poor Performance

What is your occupation?

Self-employed Structural Engineer.

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

I am currently the Women’s Club Coach at Manly. We have grown our playing group over the last 5 years to now have a team in each of the 4 Womens’ Premier Cricket competitions.

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

I can only speak from a metropolitan perspective. I think everyone recognises a strong Premier Cricket competition is fundamental to a healthy state system and this is underpinned by a strong grass roots system. Manly-Warringah is privileged by its fairly well-defined boundary but other junior associations don’t have direct pathways in place to a single Premier cricket club which makes it hard for other Premier clubs to form strong bonds with a junior association.

It is sad that much history could be lost if junior boundaries are re-drawn, but at some stage, tough decisions will need to be made. 

Footnote

2023-24 - Simon captained Manly Warringah District Cricket Club Fifth Grade Premiership winning team

Simon has been selected for the Australian Over 50s cricket team to tour England in June-July 2024.