Simon Keen - do what you can
Bankstown District Cricket Club | October 31, 2023
Simon Keen made his first grade debut for Bankstown Cricket Club during the 2004/05 season and quickly established himself as a talented all-rounder.
In a career spanning 2004 to 2019 Simon scored 6,221 first grade runs at an average of 30.35 and hit 8 centuries and 39 half centuries.
He also played NSW Premier Cricket for Campbelltown Camden and Blacktown and for Carlton in Victoria Premier Cricket
Simon played T20 for NSW, Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and also played first class cricket for Canterbury in New Zealand.
Let’s find out more about Simon’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1987
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
7 years old - 25 retired because they bowled everything on my legs or wider
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I started playing Green Shield for Bankstown and went all the way up to first grade then I played for Carlton (Melbourne), Tracey Village (Darwin), Campbelltown (Sydney), Sydenham (Christchurch) and Blacktown in Sydney.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
Bankstown 5th grade at 13 years of age at Punchbowl Oval
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 for Bankstown against Sydney University at Sydney Uni - I didn’t do much
Simon Keen playing for Sydney Sixers
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Left handed batsman and right arm medium paced swing bowler
What were your strengths as a player?
I was definitely a leg side dominant player
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
143 for Bankstown 1st grade against Sutherland
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
5 for 13 in first grade for Bankstown against Parramatta at Bankstown Oval
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Neil Wagner, Dirk Nannes, Chaminda Vaas
The left arm swing was something I struggled with as I didn’t face it very often at all. Then once I got out to it a few times it became a mental thing.
Neil Wagner
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Muttiah Muralitharan, Jason Krejza, Nathan Hauritz
A couple of big turners away from me with drift spin and dip.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Simon Katich, Phil Jacques, Ricky Ponting
They made it look like the game was being played in slow motion
Simon Katich
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Ed Cowan took us down (Bankstown) one day and it didn’t matter who bowled or where they bowled he just did it easily. Ed was a player I really admired as a young left hander.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Not really one in particular. I used to hate getting out to Josh Lalor as much as I think he used to love getting me out. We were best mates growing up and I used to love playing against and with him. Another great left arm swinger.
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 was lucky to play for such a strong Bankstown team and I remember training in the nets facing David Freedman, Scott Thompson and Aaron Bird on some spicy Bankstown practice wickets and thinking “I’ve got to be good here”
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Scott Atkinson easily the fastest leg side stumpings and great gloves also.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Ed Cowan, Ben Rohrer
Which umpire in NSW Premier Cricket did you admire most in how they managed a game?
Darren Goodger - Absolute legend
Most umpires were great
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Moises Henriques - lucky enough to be captained by him lots through the junior days and then again at the Sydney Sixes and he always lead from the front, believed in me and showed incredible knowledge of the game and the way to manage players.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Danny Waugh was an absolute ripper - after celebrating a Belvidere Cup victory over Fairfield at the Bankstown Sports Club we were asked to leave and he told the security guards to would have to take his brothers with him (signed photos of Mark and Steve Waugh hanging on the walls)
This is just one beauty of his type of humour which I absolutely loved.
Who was your childhood hero?
Michael Bevan and Brian Lara
Michael Bevan
You were the head coach and high performance manager at Vanuatu Cricket. Can you share what it was like as an experience and how strong is the cricket and where do you see them in saym10 years?
It was an unbelievable experience. They are extremely talented cricketers. Unbelievable athletes. But there are a few things that are holding them back. The depth of talent isn’t quite there. They don’t get to have much game time against quality teams so lack a lot of experience of playing under pressure and understanding the strategies of the game.
Shane Deitz was doing an absolutely amazing job to change this as CEO but he has moved on to coaching the Netherlands Women’s team so I it’s tough to say where they will be in ten years.
No doubt in my mind they would be pushing for a World Cup if Shane Deitz was involved.
Simon Keen and Shane Deitz
You now run your own cricket coaching business on the Central Coast. Tell us a little about your coaching philosophy and how people can get in touch with you?
I believe there is more to understand about being successful than simply technique. Technique is one part which is heavily focused on. Unfortunately, I see a lot of coaches doing more harm than good in this area but even still this is only one part to being successful.
Players need to understand themselves, their game, their mind, strategies of the game, dealing with pressure and distractions just to name a few and then it’s being in the right condition physically to execute the technique you require.
Click to contact - Cricket Mastery
What are your hobbies?
Hanging out with the family
Talking and thinking about cricket and business
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are
What’s the name of the coaching business?
Head coach of Cricket Mastery
Online and in personal cricket coaching and we help cricketers from all over the world.
I still play and coach on the Central Coast of NSW but also looking to get back into Sydney to coach at a club somewhere.
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 would want strong minded players who can play well and create a strong environment and culture.
I would then create systems in place to develop juniors into the same type of strong minded players.
In my opinion a strong minded player is someone who takes responsibility for everything, can handle setbacks, enjoys the success of players and the team, they are a quality person away from the field.
Teaching the skills and strategies of the game is the easy part - creating a strong minded player is the challenge
