Scott Jacobson - will to compete

Mosman Cricket Club | February 03, 2023

Scott Jacobson made his first grade debut for Mosman in 1981 and in a career spanning 17 years with Mosman and Western Suburbs he scored 5,975 first grade runs at an average of 32.29, scoring 6 centuries and 40 half centuries.

A very talented batsman who played NSW Under 19s, NSW Schoolboys and NSW 2ndXI, Scott shares his journey in the game.

 

What year you were born?

1963

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I was 6 and played for Epping YMCA U10. I was pretty small and they weren’t going to let me play but my dad convinced the club. I can’t really remember my first game, I don’t think I got too many runs in my first season but I did get a hat trick bowling, very slow but very straight.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I played my juniors in Northern Districts, went to Grade at Mosman in 1977, NSW Schoolboys 1980, NSW U19s 1981 and 1982 played a season in England for Teddington Cricket Club in the Middlesex League in 1983, NSW 2nd XI 1990, went to Western suburbs in 1993 and finished my career at Wests in 1998.

As a young teenager from the Marsfield – how did you end up playing for Mosman CC?

Dad took me to Barry Knight’s coaching clinic at Kent Street in the city. Barry was Mosman’s captain at the time and asked me to come down and trial. You had to be residentially qualified in those days, “apparently” we lived in Mosman somewhere.

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

I was 14 and got picked in 4th Grade at Mosman. I got 42 in my first game and could hardly hit the ball off the square. I remember the opposition getting really frustrated but because they couldn’t get me out. Looking back they were really pretty good to me considering my age.

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

I was 17 and in those days you played a redraw at the end of the season. I got picked to play against Balmain and Bankstown. I got 17 from memory against Balmain. I remember hitting an on drive for 4 and Tony Steele Balmain’s captain virtually stopping the game and saying “see that’s how you hit an on drive” it was a nice touch from a respected hard core grade veteran. I then played against Bankstown with Len Pascoe, lucky me, I didn’t get many in that game.

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

I would probably describe myself as gritty top order player who didn’t covert enough starts and burgled a few with some handy offies.

What were your strengths as a player?

I was always in for the fight and hated losing.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Mosman First Grade 119 against Penrith and 130 odd for Teddington Cricket Club

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

First Grade 6-66 against Northern Districts

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

Andrew Jones (Balmain) – I played against Jonesy from juniors and school, left handed, quick and nasty. Probably should have played higher honours with his ability.

Richard Stobo (Gordon) – We always had a good contest over our careers and respected each other. Good bowler, always at you and made you play. We probably shared the honours, I got some runs against him and Stobs got me out his share.

Evan Gordon (Randwick) – Wiry South African who opened the bowling for the strong Randwick teams in the 80’s. He could bowl rapid on his day. I remember facing him when he was in his groove at Mosman Oval thinking this would be much better if I was up the other end.

My Best

Greg Rowell (Mosman) - My best however, was my team mate Greg Rowell. Luckily I didn’t have to play against Bird, it was bad enough facing off 17 yards in the nets with a new ball. Rowley was a magnificent bowler, tall, quick enough and swung the ball away. He spear headed our attack in 1990-91 and was instrumental getting Mosman to the final against Gordon, taking 60+ wickets. I think Stobs got 60+ wickets for Gordon as well that season. In my opinion Bird should have gone on the next Ashes tour, he was perfect for English conditions.

Greg Rowell

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Tommy Shiner (Penrith/Campbelltown/Wests)

Tom had great control for a leg spinner, incredible zooter and good wrongun. I ended up playing with Tommy at Wests where he turned a game single handed against UNSW on a flat Uni deck. Uni were one down for 200 chasing down around 250, Michael Slater had smashed a hundred in a session. Tommy waddled up to the crease as he did and proceeded to take 8-20 odd to win the game, incredible spell. Genuine No 11 bat and only fielded the ball when he had too, probably stopped him from playing at the highest level.

Jim Hadley (Mosman)

I played a few seasons with Jim at Mosman he bowled fast leg spin like Anil Kumble. Another leg spinner with great control, he just was relentless in line and length, batsman could not get him away. He took 5 -25 to win a Poidevin Gray Shield final against Bankstown team which include the Waugh brother, Smith, Crowfoot and several other quality 1st Graders. He had a couple of stellar seasons in first grade where he made some very good players look ordinary. Jim just didn’t have the drive to play at a higher level, certainly had the ability

Steve Whitfield (Northern Districts)/ Trevor Jay (Randwick) - I can’t split these two very different left arm orthodox spinners.

Steve was a tall left arm orthodox, dipped and spun the ball. I’m pretty sure Steve bowled pace and turned himself into a spinner backend of his career. Steve got lots of wickets in combination with Peter Taylor at Northern Districts, they were a formidable spinning duo. Northern Districts were a good side at the time.

Trevor shorter in stature, louder in voice and didn’t spin it much but rather darted it in with men around the bat. You always had plenty of close company when you played Randwick discussing what you looked like, your family heritage and cricket ability. Trevor just put the screws on and if he wasn’t getting the wickets they came from the other end. He was a real competitor.

Tom Shiner

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

Michael Bevan – Complete player with all the shots. His 180 described below

Rod Bower (Penrith/Bankstown/Balmain) – I really enjoyed playing against Rod, respectful, tough and gutsy. He hit the ball really hard and never gave you his wicket. Rod got a hundred against Wayne Daniel at Mosman Oval when Wayne was still at his peak, he played him with ease.

Trevor Chappell – TC got 200 playing for North Sydney V Mosman at Mosman Oval batted all day, just kept hit gaps and finding the boundary. He was running between the wickets as hard at the end of the day as he was at the start, it was a batting master class.

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

Michael Bevan belted us to all parts of Rawson Oval scoring 180 playing for Campbelltown. We had a great attack led by Greg Rowell, Gary Bensley, Dudley Slater, Phil Clune and Andrew Martyr and reached the final that year. Benso had tried everyone and threw the ball back to Rowley. I remember getting sent out to the square leg boundary thinking “don’t know about this” as Rowley thought he would bounce Bevo out (Bird was an ideas man). Bevo kept smashing him over my head into the poplar trees, it was an unbelievable innings.

Michael Bevan

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

Easy one, Andrew Jones (Balmain)

Jonsey used to get me out for fun, he was in my head. I still can’t sleep at night.

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? 

I always felt I played better the better the competition or pressure. I will mention the Ken McLeod spell in a NSW 2nd XI v Canberra match in Canberra. I was 27, in pretty good form at the start of the season and I got picked really out of the blue, in 1990 on a bouncy Manuka oval pitch in Canberra.

Ken McLeod was a big, tall left arm West Indian who was trying to crack the great West Indies side in the 90’s. McLeod opened the bowling and ripped through the top order I think I was batting 4 or 5. Early in my innings McLeod hit me in the head and also broke my hand with two separate deliveries during the fastest spell of hostile fast bowling I ever faced. I batted on that day and into the next to top score.

NSW 2nd XI v ACT - December 1989

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

As a pure gloveman, Bronko Djura and could bat, I recall he got 3 consecutive hundreds to start a season. I played NSW U19 with Bronko, he had beautiful soft hands as keeper and was excellent standing up to the stumps. Bronko ended up playing NRL for Souths, St George and Wests. He could have made it at cricket.

As a complete package Paul Ryan. Ryno was an excellent keeper with a strong work ethic but was also quality top order player as well. He got a magnificent 146 against Campbelltown at Rawson Oval when they had Ken McCloud and Chris Killen on a green top, they were seriously quick that day. Ryno would be really suited to today’s short form cricket.

Bronko D'Jura

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

Gary Bensley

Benso looked like an accountant but was a super competitive driven individual, the complete all-rounder and Randwick tough. He was just what Mosman needed at the time. Consistent over a long career, Benso made the ball talk at times, swung it both ways and almost unplayable on a wet wicket.

He bludgeoned the ball when he got in the zone. Two innings come to mind. He got 160 the first time the pink ball was trialled in grade against a Uni attack that include Geoff Lawson and Jim Dixon, smashed it all over the park.

I also batted with Benso late in the day at Mosman V Penrith at Mosman Oval. Benso was approaching a hundred and was right in his zone. Mark Denny Penrith’s opening bowler kept running in bowling no- balls. The more Denny bowled the further out of the ground Benso hit him, it was getting up towards a 10 ball over. Till Greg Gavan Penrith’s Keeper said “for F#@k sake just bowl off 2 paces to get the over with”, Benso brought up his hundred with another massive 6, it was brutal but very funny at the time watching from the other end.

Gavan Twining

Gav was always about the team, not the most gifted player, a gutsy opening bat with great hook and pull. He gave you everything, fabulous slipper and my first man picked always at Wests. I noticed Gav is coaching at some elite levels. Cricket is in good hands if you have Gavan Twinning leading your programs.

Gary Bensley

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

Gary Bensley

Benso was groomed to lead through the tough Randwick sides in the 70s-80s. He was a lead by example captain and instilled strong disciplines within the team. We both had the same mentality “don’t be afraid of losing a game trying to win one”. He had this knack of talking oppositions captains into playing on wet decks or declaring in a dead game to make a game of it. We won a lot of games when oppositions didn’t really want to play.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Chris Madden and his side kick Phil “Wark” Clune hands down. Maddo could always find the funny side in every situation and make you laugh. Warky, well let’s say he was out there with his on field banter and left field cricket theories. You never quite knew what was going to come out of Wark’s mouth, not sure he did either. The team always came first with these two characters, great men to have in dressing shed and always had your back.

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

Playing Mosman v Manly at Manly Oval, it could have been a PG game. I was bowling my rolling offies to, I think I got this right, Steve Colby big unit, really good player that opened or was top order batsman for Manly. If it wasn’t you Steve it’s a good story anyway. As I could from time to time, I offered my opinion about Steve’s ability to hit the ball off the square. The next ball disappeared out of the Manly Oval bounced into the intersection at the Raglan Street end and rolled across the road into the tackle shop on the corner. Steve responded with “Is that f#%king far enough for ya” I think my response was “Yup”

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

I was playing for Wests v Bankstown at Pratten Park and left a ball before I had scored from Cracker Holdsworth, only to see my off stump ripped out of the ground and cartwheel back towards the keeper. We were bowled out for 50. Cracker was quick to let me know what he thought of my batting ability and what particular institution I should return too.

Who was your childhood hero?

I really liked the Greg Chappell growing up for his elegant stroke play but Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards is the best player I have ever seen, he could demoralise any opposition bowling. I loved his swagger and arrogance. His memorabilia has pride of place in my man cave.

Viv Richards

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

Viv Richards

Richie McCaw

Hansol Lee (she has a magnificent golf swing)

Richie McCaw

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Mosman oval – a picturesque ground with a good cricket wicket.

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

Mosman and Gordon always had a rivalry with some entertaining banter. The games were generally tight and a good contest. I had my share of success against them.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

This is not a cricket moment but I would like to use this forum to thank the cricket community for support I received when falling very ill in 1998 with Gillian Barre Syndrome just after I retired, I was 35. 

Gillian Barre Syndrome attacks your nervous system and basically shuts your body down. I and was on life support in Westmead ICU for 6 weeks and had an 8 month recovery where I had to learn to walk and talk again. It was a traumatic time in my family’s life. I know a lot of people enquired about my health at the time even though I was not aware. I still have the note from the Shield Team organised by my great mate Gav Robbo wishing me a speedy recovery. So thank you all.

Cricket moment I was lucky enough two play in two unique teams:-

Mosman in 1990-91, we got beaten in the final by Gordon lead by Gary Bensley. We bowled Gordon out for about 150 on a seaming deck (Rowell and Slater magnificent) after the first day was washed out. It would have been a lot less except for guy named Gilchrist who made 60. We were 2-40 odd overnight, I was still in and smashed a cut shot of Stobs and Sparky O’Neill took a one hander in the gully next morning, unlucky really as Sparky didn’t generally move much. Gordon kept the pressure on with some tight bowling and took some unbelievable catches. Phil Emery’s catch down the leg side to dismiss Scott Atkinson was memorable. We ended up about 6 runs short, it was a great game of cricket. This team always played to win and wanted to play under any conditions. Just a fabulous bunch of guys focussed on the same thing and enjoyed a dressing room celebration.

I captained Western Suburbs in 1994-95 after the previous season had finished 17th. We took out the minor premiership and were denied a home semi-final as the wicket was deemed unsuitable. “Unsuitable” we liked it, undefeated all season on our home ground. We were a great bowling side and the best fielding side I have ever seen (Peter Burkhart and Michael Swan “Brilliant”). The semi got moved to University of NSW ended up getting beaten by Bankstown on the flattest wicket ever after getting 380. Peter Burkhart 112 and Neil D’Costa 80 played wonderful innings.

These teams had the same ingredients, not the most talented but used every bit, great characters, no egos, and they just loved each other’s company on and off the field. They trained hard, played hard, everyone knew their role and were wonderful bowling and fielding teams.

Western Suburbs First Grade team 1994/95 - minor premiers

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

In 1994/95 season no one rated Wests even though we were stringing some wins together, we had finished 17th the previous season. As a team playing at Pratten Park we believed to a man if we got 150 we could beat anyone. The Pratten Park wicket was slow and low and not great for batting. We had a great attack Daniel Horsley, Matt Whitby, Dudley Slater, Tony Dwyer, Darren Bull and Angus Frazer early in the season before he got an England call up, and we could bloody field.

Playing Bankstown at Pratten Park, who I think was leading the completion at the time, we scrapped together the 150 required and Bankstown thought they would do it easy.

Like we had done all season we bowled well had them in trouble overnight. The next day Gavin Twining took a screamer at third slip to start off the day and we bowled Bankstown out.

We took some outstanding catches that day. In the second innings Bankstown thought they would blow us away and win the game outright, we just blocked it out for the win which pissed them off more.

We liked to sing how many points we were on after each win and that could be heard through the door of the adjoining dressing room. This caused Steve Small to hurl a cricket ball at the adjoining dressing room door. It was gold ! Bankstown had the last laugh though when they beat us in the semi.

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

I can’t narrow that down to three

I’d have to invite the Mosman XI 1990-91 and Western Suburbs XI 1994-95 teams, I reckon that would be a great afternoon and a long night.

What are your hobbies?

We have two children of which we are immensely proud. Our daughter Abbey is studying veterinary at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga and our son Riley is the current Western Sydney Shute Shield Captain, he is a flanker, a seriously tough human. So in the winter I can be seen watching the Shute Shield rugby at the local grounds. I am trying to get my golf game back in order after years of neglect and I don’t mind a Saturday afternoon punt.

Riley Jacobson

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

We were lucky enough to have the great Sir Garfield Sobers coaching at Mosman. I came out of a net session one day and he pulled me aside. He said I complicated things too much “Just hit the ball maaan” I got a hundred that weekend against Parramatta.

What is your occupation?

I have worked for LafargeHolcim for 37 years in a number of management roles. Currently I am the Concrete Sales Manager /Major Projects Director.

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

We live in the Hawkesbury. I coached Riley’s junior teams as well some Hawkesbury junior representative teams. That was a while ago I haven’t been involved in Cricket for some time.

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?

My opinion can run across many sports.

It’s great to have age development squads for identifying talent but that should not provide a saloon passage to the next level, you need to earn it. Players develop mentally and physically differently and many do not reach their potential to well into their 20’s. I see so much talent missed because these players were not identified and tagged during age development squads, they put the results on the board but are simply by- passed.

My second point is pick players in when they are in form. If a player is scoring runs or taking wickets pick them when their confidence is at its highest.