Brett Elliott - team first

Bankstown District Cricket Club | July 24, 2023

Brett Elliott is Bankstown District Cricket Club first grade player number 183 after making his first grade debut at the age of 21 and during an incredibly strong and successful era at Bankstown.

Very much a team-first player Brett was a top-order batsman and a handy off-spin bowler who won multiple premierships with the Bulldogs and went on to win a first grade premiership with the Balmain Tigers.

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

 

What year you were born?

1969

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I was 8 playing in an Under 11’s match filling in for a mate’s team. Got 2 not out batting 11…

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

• 1985/86 –Played for Fairfield in their inaugural year as a Grade Club. Graded 4th Grade as a 16yr old year 10/11 student at Fairfield Patrician Bros. Finished that season in 2nd Grade
• 1986/87 Missed season due to knee reconstruction
• 1987/88 Bankstown – Graded 3rd Grade
• 1988/89 Bankstown – 3rd Grade Premiers | 2nd Grade | PG Premiers
• 1990 & 1991 – played for Bankstown 2nd Grade and for Ponteland in Northumberland League, England during the winter
• In 1991 I managed to break the longstanding run scoring record for the league held by former West Indian great of the 1960’s, Rohan Kanhai
• 1992 – 1996 Bankstown (1st Grade Cap #183) - 1st Grade Premiers in 1993/94 | 1st Grade Premiers in 1994/95 |1st Grade Limited Overs Premiers 1995/96
• 1996/97 – Balmain DCC (now Sydney CC) – (1st Grade Cap # 473) but missed most of the season with another knee reconstruction
• 1997/2000 – Balmain 1st Grade and Club Coach in 1997/98 | 1st Grade Premiers in 1998/99

Left the Tigers in 2002/03 I think due to a back injury and then ended up playing a couple of seasons in the Sheffield Shires with South Sydney before hanging up the boots

Playing the odd lower grade game with my 16 year old son for Mosman

Will Elliott, Brett Elliott, Tom Elliott at Mosman Cricket Club

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

From memory I was 21 and it was for Bankstown vs Fairfield at Bansktown Oval. I batted 6 and scored 31. We lost. Ronny Davis and Billy York bowled us out.

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

I’d probably categorise myself as a decent 1st Grade batsman who held my own in some very good company and did okay against some quality opposition over the years. Always put the team first and played wherever picked. Predominantly a top order batsman and generally opened in 1st Grade. Could safely say the higher I played, the less I bowled although I did burgle a few 1st Grade wickets with my dusty offies…Loved playing and loved the camaraderie with the fellas. 

What were your strengths as a player?

I would like to think I played my role in the team by handling the quick stuff relatively well up front to try and set a platform for some solid totals. Good back foot drive and cut shot. Usually got the team off to a good start against some pretty high-quality fast bowling in my era but generally knew when to get out and let the big boys have their turn – especially in that early to mid-1990’s Bankstown Team I was fortunate enough to be part of for a few years. If we were 0-40, we were on our way to a big total. Could have/should have been hungrier for more personal success. Enjoyed the ride, the mateship and the company of all the blokes I played with and generally, against. On and off the field.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Highest 1st Grade score was 120 not out for the Tigers v Manly at Drummoyne. Decent knock chasing 360 but paled into insignificance as Michael Bevan had blasted 223 against us the week before for Manly.

If England counts, 139 not out for Ponteland in the Northumberland League in Newcastle Upon Tyne – home of some famous Geordies like Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits and Brian Jonhstone from ACDC. Great part of the world and one of cricket’s great life experiences.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

No idea but took a few wickets up to 3rd Grade level and then was generally a partnership breaker in my 1st Grade teams as was bowling behind some pretty handy spinners in David Freedman and Kenny Hall at Bankstown and Gavin Robertson and Kieran Knight at the Tigers.

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

I’ll take the opportunity to name drop here as I was fortunate enough be invited to play in the great Riche Richardson’s benefit match in Durham, England back in 1990. In that match I opened the batting against two West Indian Test bowlers in Ian Bishop & Winston Benjamin and got to bat with Gordon Greenidge (one of my boyhood idols).

Ian Bishop

I got 40 and again, realised the crowd were NOT there to watch me so got out slogging the West Indian spinner who happened to be Jimmy Adams. 

Locally, from a huge list of bowlers I could name Andrew Jones, Scott Thompson, Wayne Holdsworth, Brett Lee, Phil Alley, Paul Stepto, Damien Wright, Trent Johnston, Warwick Adlam, Shane Lee, Glenn McGrath, Stuart Clark, Neil Maxwell, Simon Cook – just about every grade team had at least a first-class bowler in their ranks as all the players, NSW or AUS, generally played most of the grade games back then. Less cotton wool in those days and a much less frantic schedule for 1st class players with no T20 cricket – yes I am old!!! Not saying things were bigger and better back then, just different, and grade cricket benefitted in my opinion.    

One thing all these bowlers had in common was their combination of pace and skill and their competitive edge. They all had a great bumper but could all do something with the ball to challenge both edges of the bat. 

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Greg Matthews – played against - just all over you (and the umpires) with the chat and always backed himself to bowl slow and beat you in the air

Gavin Robertson – played with and against – Test Player. Legend. Same confusing chat and tried to run the game. Great control

David Freedman – played with and against the Gangster. Freddie spun his left arm wristies hard and had a great wrong’un. Watched many a batsman run down the wicket and miss that wrong’un over the years. Great wicket taker – match winner!

Greg Matthews

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

Kevin Roberts – just always scored runs. Consistency was incredible. Kept the ball on the ground. 1,160 runs in his 1st year with Bankstown says it all. Improved everyone around him.

Richard Chee Quee – always seemed to score a 100 against teams I was in with very good bowling attacks

Phil Marks – dominated attacks. Scored an incredible 2nd innings 100 vs Bankstown in our 1994/95 1st Grade Final to almost win it for the Bears. Was “old school” and played it super tough but always happy to offer advice to a young player as well.

Kevin Roberts batting for NSW

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

Michael Bevan’s 223 for Manly vs Balmain at Drummoyne was incredible. We had Simon Cook leading our attack, ably supported by Gavin Robertson and other very good 1st Grade bowlers, Kieren Knight and the 2 Barker boys Richard Burton & Richard Colbran.

Bevo was playing for Australia then and was at his peak. He didn’t hit a ball in the air all day – didn’t need to as it was genuine master class of finding the gaps regardless of where bowlers balled or where fielders were placed. We eventually ran him out with over an hour to go I think when one of his partners BBQ’d him, (direct hit from Greg Hayne) He scored so quickly they bowled 5 overs at us that evening with 360 on the board!

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

Anyone who pitched it up and swung it to be honest. I preferred the quick stuff as they tended bowl shorter. Suited me better. Guys like Kyle Thompson from Easts or Phil Alley just through his height.

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? 

My first time opening the batting in First Grade. It was 1993/94 and Steve Small was out injured after being bumped by Shane Lee the week prior so I asked to be promoted to open so I could get a bat before all the first class players. It was Bankstown vs Balmain at Bankstown Oval and the Tigers had a good side with left armer Andrew Jones at the peak of his powers. First over Jonesy loped in as Jonesy did and crashed a 145km short thunderbolt into my left glove right in front of my nose and then lipped me. That was the day when I realised opening the batting was a little different from batting 6 or 7 in First Grade against quality fast bowling.

Thankfully, I managed to survive and scored 84 to help us to a win. I was “ably supported” that day by the master, Kevin Roberts. The “Don” as we called him and he went onto score yet another 100 and ice the game.   

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

Terry Davies (Bankstown Captain from Wales in late 80’s/early 1990’s) was the ultimate professional, Sean Pope and Andrew Fitzhenry were both great glovemen and very handy batters. Fitzy was the best team motivator behind the stumps and on the training paddock!

Terry Davies

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

Obviously Steve and Mark Waugh are incredible and go without saying. I nominate them not because of how good they are as players but because during my time at Bankstown, they were already playing regularly for NSW and Australia and, in-spite of their commitments, would always make themselves available to play for Bankstown if available instead of having a week off. That meant everything to the rest of the club and helped set a standard.

Scott Thompson – declared bias here, (best mate) but an incredible allrounder. Opened the bowling with outswinging thunderbolts and batted 5, scored quick hundreds, hit some enormous sixes and could destroy any attack. Bowled through the pain barrier consistently. Captain’s dream! Should have played a lot more state cricket for the Blues but was competing with a pretty handy player called Shane Lee for the same spot much of the time. Was lucky he worked for Slazenger though as could break a bat or two after being dismissed… 

Ken Hall (Emu) – in my opinion, the best 1st grader never to play state cricket. Consistently returned figures of 2-25 off 17 overs (rarely if ever saw anyone take Emu down) and chipped in with 25-30 lower order runs most weeks and barely dropped a catch at first slip off some pretty quick bowling from Holdsworth, Thompson, Bracken etc. Steve and Mark Waugh even let Emu stay in the office when they played. Along with Kevin Roberts, brought a real hard edge to our Bankstown team that was talented but lacked consistency. Ultimate respect for Emu.  

 

Scott Thompson

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

For inspiration as a young batsman probably Steve Small. As a young bloke coming into First Grade with Banstown “Jack” was awesome to bat with. He was fearless and lead the team from the front like it was a footy match, taking on the quicks from ball one like he did for NSW. His confidence in you as his opening partner made you play above yourself. Hard man who backed his players 100%.

Tactically, I would say Dean Waugh. For all the funny stuff we got up to away from cricket, and anyone who knows Deano will know what I am referring to, Deano was a great Captain on the field and I think this went under appreciated in some circles over the years.   

Steve Small

Who was the umpire you admired most in the way they managed a game?

Tough question but back in my day we had some very good umpires. My top 2 were Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel due to the quality of their decision making was very good plus their people management during games was excellent.  

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Dean Waugh from Bankstown. Rod Chapman from the Tigers. 

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

Nothing I can repeat for a “G” Rated publication…

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Playing for the Tigers and playing against my old team Bankstown. I was dismissed first in ball in the last over before lunch by my best mate Scott Thompson. We also lost outright. Shit day!!!

Who was your childhood hero?

IVA Richards. All my mates loved Greg Chappell but I was always a Viv man. The swagger, the gum, the arrogance were just the best. He would have averaged 70 in Test cricket if he cared. However, I do blame Viv for all my LBW dismissals (and there were a few over the years) as I watched far too many videos of Viv as a young bloke (to an unhealthy obsessive type level) but didn’t quite have his ability to hit the ball from off stump through wide mid-on all day and never miss one.

Viv Richards

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

Viv Richards, John McEnroe and Brett Kenny

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

I’d have to say Mark Waugh as he just calls it for what it is (because he can) and I love that.

Too much political correctness has crept into sport and the commentary box these days. His recent comments about how the two England Test openers (Burns & Sibly) could even be playing Test cricket with those techniques and that he couldn’t bring himself to watch them play was genius and spot on! 

Mark Waugh

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Sydney is blessed with some outstanding facilities. I did enjoy Bankstown Oval for the quality wicket – (thanks Tom Parker back in the day) fast and bouncy for the quicks with great carry so also good to bat on if you got in. I also loved Mosman Oval, Manly Oval & Coogee Oval for the scenery during a long hot day in the field and the post-match circuit with some great fellas from those teams over the years.

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

Hard to split North Sydney and Penrith as both teams were full of legends and it was always a tough game played in the right spirit. 

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

If I could pick 3 they would be:

• Helping Ponteland, UK win their first ever league championship in the club’s 110yr history back in 1990
• Winning premierships with some amazing players from 3rd Grade through to 1st Grade
• Seeing my son, Thomas make his 1st Grade debut for Mosman last season as an 18yr old – very proud Dad!

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

I’d have to say the 1994/95 First Grade Final Series for Bankstown vs Wests in the Semi and then against Nth Sydney in the Final.

SEMI-FINAL vs Wests at Village Green: Wests were minor premiers and we were 4th so we had to win to progress.

Day 1 - Wests won the toss and batted and were roughly 8-310 at the end of day 1.

Day 2 – Only requiring a draw to progress, Wests batted on until after drinks the following day until we finally bowled them out for around 360. Great century by Peter Burkhart. To win we needed 360 in under 80 overs. We got them with about 8 overs to spare and the entire Bankstown top order creamed them that day and we never looked like losing.

From memory it was approx.. Elliott 99, Roberts 84, Waugh 52, Thompson 80 – great chase and into the Final we go vs the Bears!

 

1st GRADE FINAL vs Nth Sydney at Bankstown Oval:

Day 1 - Bankstown dismissed for 89 in our 1st innings on a green top. Nth Sydney finished Day 1 at 1-100. A lead of 11 with 9 wickets in hand. We were gone!!!

Day 2, we bowled the Bears out for around 200. We were then 5-150 in our 2nd innings and ended up scoring around 350 thanks to a great partnership by Steve Small and Scott Grant – great hundred by Shrub!

Day 3 - Thanks to an incredible effort by Scott Thompson (Scott Hookey out 1st ball) and Wayne Holdsworth (bowled Phil Marks for 100 at the death) we bowled Nth Sydney out a few runs short of the target to win back-to-back premierships.

   

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

Any of the lads from the Dogs or the Tigers days would be welcome. Too hard to distinguish.

What are your hobbies?

Other than work, I’m also now the proud daddy of a beautiful 21 month old daughter, Summer.

Tennis every other Wednesday evening with the boys plus trying to stay relatively fit and cope with COVID lockdowns by hitting the beach down at Collaroy as often as possible during Summer.

What is your occupation?

I am the General Manager for CUTERA ANZ. We manufacture industry leading medical grade aesthetic lasers for Doctors (Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons and Cosmetic Physicians) and high-end beauty clinics to address all concerns people have with their skin such as scarring, pigment, veins, rosacea etc. We also manufacture non-invasive body contouring systems that reduce fat and build muscle. Exciting industry to be involved in and the pace technology evolves is incredible. There are clinics all over Sydney & Australia that use CUTERA technology.

Balmain First Grade team 1996/97 with Club legend Cliff Winning

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

I recently coached both my sons (Thomas & William) in their junior rep cricket for North Shore (U15 & U16) which was very satisfying to give back and support them along with a lot of the boys they have grown up playing with. We had some success too which is always nice for the boys.

More recently I’m just a supportive dad of my boys as they play their grade cricket at Mosman and I play the occasional game with my 16 year old if asked.

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?

Tough one to answer not being close enough to it these days but I would love to see more emphasis on performances in grade cricket reprioritised as a genuine pathway to first class cricket as I feel we pick young “perceived talent” from the nets and put them into squads for life rather than expect to test skill and resilience against high class opposition each week. No doubt the environment has changed a lot since I was playing but I feel there could be a better balance to be had to give those late bloomers who miss under-age development squad selection a fighting chance to still make cricket their career. 

Facility development and investment into grass roots to ensure we keep filling the top of the funnel as kids/families have so much choice these days. We need to make cricket fun, accessible and ensure all forms are promoted and practiced. I think a lot is being done in these areas which is great. I feel Cricket NSW has a big responsibility to ensure NSW continues to be the backbone of Australian Cricket success.