Kevin Roberts - always remember the cleaner's name

Bankstown District Cricket Club | February 05, 2023

Kevin Roberts joined Bankstown District Cricket Club at the age of 21 for the 1993/94 season after spending his junior and early grade career at Gordon District Cricket Club.

It was a brave decision for Kevin to join Bankstown as he'd been at the club since he was 6 years of age and had been on the club committee in the two years before joining the Bulldogs. He also was a valuable member of Gordon DCC 1989/90 and1990/91 first grade premiership winning teams.

His impact with the Bulldogs was immediate as he smashed the clubs first grade batting record scoring 1,160 runs for the season and Bankstown won the first grade premiership. Kevin was the captain of the 1999-2000 Bankstown first grade premiership wining team.

Kevin Roberts played 23 first class games for NSW scoring 1,088 at an average of 27.89 including one century and 8 half centuries.

He played 18 one day game for the Baggy Blues scoring 424 runs at an average of 30.28 including one century.

In NSW Premier Cricket from 1989 to 2000 Kevin scored 6,112 at an average of 41.86 and hot 16 centuries and 36 half centuries. His highest score in NSW Premier Cricket was 163.

Professionally Kevin has been involved in sport most of his working life. He was the CEO of Cricket Australia for 18 months and is about to launch an exciting new venture.

Let’s find out more about Kevin’s journey and insights into the game.

Kevin Roberts batting for NSW 

 

What year you were born?

1972

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

My first game was for Gordon under 10’s at Willoughby Park. The rules were similar to indoor cricket and we had a win. Warren Hoole and I got through our 4 overs of batting unscathed and I took a few wickets. I can’t remember any other game from that season, so this one obviously meant a lot to me.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

My first 15 seasons were at Gordon, starting with net sessions and modified games each Saturday morning from age 6, through to 4 years in first grade. Chatswood Oval was a huge part of my life as a kid. The year after I finished school was spent at the cricket academy in Adelaide and touring England with the Australian youth team. I reckon we were the only AIS ‘athletes’ who lived in pubs in Adelaide.

Bankstown is one of the best clubs in Australia, and it was an honour to be part of the club from age 21 onwards. I had great times at Ayr CC in Scotland, and not just because it’s mid-way between Royal Troon and Turnberry Golf Clubs.

When we moved to Hong Kong for my work, I played for Hong Kong CC. I loved the short boundary at backward square, the Peking Duck and reuniting with guys like Darren Tucker, Neil Jones and Hilly Dannaoui from Sydney and NSW cricket.   

Gordon DCC Green Shield team 1986/87

Back Row - Mark Taber, Mark Hawruziak, Greg Charlton, Arthur Gray (Coach, Manager) Paul McLean, Mark Fields, David Shephard

Front Row - Jonathon Martin, Nick Berman, Scott Taylor, Warwick Adlam (Captain), Stuart Cosgrove, Greg Piper, Kevin Roberts.

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

Fifth grade for Gordon against St George at age 15. I hadn’t opened the batting before then, but when the captain asked everyone where they batted, a bunch of older guys said number 3, 4 or 5. I figured the best way to get a hit as a 15 year-old was offering to open the batting. When the first ball of the match was a juicy full toss, the decision paid off.   

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, playing for Gordon against North Sydney. They beat us comfortably. Steve Day and I scored fifties and kept us in the contest for a while. As a young debutant, I copped plenty of sledging that day, but none of it was abusive and plenty of it was funny. North Sydney questioned my right to move the sightscreens, suggesting that I wouldn’t have the luxury of sightscreens in school cricket. These character-building experiences from grade cricket were priceless.

What were your strengths as a player?

Playing in the ‘V’ was a strength, partly because the challenge in the nets where my best mate Dec O’Connor and I grew up was to hit balls straight along the ground into a nearby fence. I played spin pretty well and had a good record at the SCG, Adelaide and Bellerive, but struggled against high quality quicks at the Gabba and WACA. I often did ok with the bat in big games. I enjoyed the challenge of pressure situations, but the downside was I often didn’t do well without pressure. Captaincy brought out the best in me and I was better at fielding than batting. A few people have said I helped my teammates perform better, and that means more to me than any personal stats.

Bankstown DCC First Grade Premiers 1993-94

Back Row – Jack Scully (Senior Vice President), Eris Dignam (Treasurer), Martin Klump (Hon. Secretary), John Larter (Manager), Andrew Divall, Todd Crameri, Ken Hall, Greg Trevena, Brett Elliott, Scott Vidler, Danny Waugh, Ben Smith, Brian Freedman (President), Alan Campbell (Coach), Arthur Cooper (Scorer)

Front Row – Darren Mitchell, Dean Waugh, Sean Pope, Scott Thompson, Stephen Waugh, Steve Small (Captain), Mark Waugh, Wayne Holdsworth, David Freedman, Kevin Roberts

Insert – Terry Davies

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

I don’t remember exactly, but there were a couple of first grade scores in the 160’s for Bankstown at Bulldog Park.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

5-35 for Ayr in Scotland is one stat that I won’t forget! Let’s just say the conditions suited bowling seam-up at 110kmh, which was my faster ball on a good day. I would’ve been hit into the next suburb bowling the same stuff on Sydney wickets. My economy rate bowling to other Aussie pro’s in Scotland was good, because I kept reminding them of the shame they’d feel if they got out to me.  

You played 23 first class and 18 one days for NSW can you share with us how you found out you’d been selected in the NSW team, who you were playing and what do you remember about your first class debut?

My first-class debut was against Victoria at the MCG and I found out about my selection at state training. I was 22 and the temperature in the first session of the match was 11 degrees. It made me wonder how anyone could like Melbourne, but we’ve now lived here 16 years and love the place.

We were two for not many when I walked out to face Merv Hughes. When looking around the field to see where the gaps were, I finished by facing fine leg and tapping my bat on the ground a couple of times. From the top of his mark, Merv called out “Hey boys, tell this bloke I’m bowling from this end, not the other end”. I then relaxed, ducked under a bouncer and scratched around for 19. We ultimately lost the match convincingly, but I managed a tidy fifty in a low-scoring second innings.

Kevin Roberts

1,088 first class runs at 27.89 with 1 century and 8 half centuries during a very strong era in NSW Cricket how do you look back on your first class career?

I’m really appreciative of the experience. Being 12th man a number of times in a full-strength NSW team with many test players and some legends of the game was a special privilege that taught me a lot. My one-day record was solid, and I enjoyed the high energy of one-day cricket. I didn’t reflect as proudly on my first-class career as I could have until my close friend Phil Gregson delved into my numbers, showing me that I got better each year and averaged 35 in my last two seasons of shield cricket. That’s enough to hold my head high as I look back on the experience.

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

I can’t go past Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh when we played the West Indies. After playing a straight drive off Curtly, he said “Bad idea” and didn’t bowl another ball in my half of the pitch. I saw Courtney Walsh last year and suggested that knocking me over was the difference between him having a good career of 1,806 first class wickets and a great career of 1,807 first class wickets.

Brett Lee was the only fast bowler who seemed lightning fast even when you were in the best of form. For a kind-hearted bloke, Binga was a fearsome fast bowler when he was on-song.

Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh 

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Greg Matthews was dynamic through the crease, fiercely competitive and had the courage to hold his pace back to maximise drift and spin. Mo’s Advanced Hair looked natural on his good days and he would often call for the hair brush when you were 12th man.

Stuart MacGill got more rev’s on the ball than anyone.

My great mate David Freedman had the biggest wrong’un in the game. Freddy was unassuming, unorthodox and difficult to play when you came up against him for the first time, just as the West Indies discovered when he took a sensational 8/49 against them.

 

David Freedman

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

Dean Jones’ supreme confidence, aggressive stroke play and running between wickets changed the tone of games when he batted. Watching him score hundreds and double hundreds against us was painful and entertaining at the same time.

As New South Welshmen, our signature shot on green Gabba decks was often the play and miss, but Matt Hayden would then come out and slaughter us. The most talented sportspeople seem to have more time to do their thing on the field than us mere mortals.

That was true of Damien Martyn. Marto was at another level when we played youth cricket together and I bet a mate that he would score more test runs than Allan Border. 

Dean Jones

 

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

I’ll say Steve Waugh in a grade game, partly because of the deep respect he had for our club and for grade cricket in general when he was Australian captain. We batted most of the day together and Steve was as focused at 2/250 as he was at 2/50. In the final session, he was determined to drive the advantage home and not give the opposition a cheap wicket. Steve said the pressure of expectation was sometimes challenging for him in grade cricket and it was awesome to watch him score a flawless hundred that day.

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

Michael Kasprowicz was my nemesis. When Kaspa charged in off the long run early in his career, he looked like a lock running at you in a rugby match. His wrist position was great and he swung the ball away at pace. Kaspa is a fantastic person, and I much preferred playing with him than against him.

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

Definitely. In a shield match at the WACA, I went very close to hitting Jo Angel for a 6 off my first ball. Pity it was a forward defensive shot over first slip. The second ball was almost an action replay, except I was safely caught at slip. It’s fascinating how WA dominated us at the WACA and we typically had their measure at the SCG. 

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

Adam Gilchrist changed the game and changed the expectations of wicketkeepers. We played a lot of cricket with and against each other from a young age and I was really happy to see Gilly achieve what a lot of us thought was his destiny as a player.

Adam Gilchrist

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

Paul McLean was insanely skilful. If Macca had a burning desire to play cricket, soccer or one of the rugby codes for Australia, I think he would’ve given it a shake. He would make a ‘Good Bloke XI’ too.

Ken Hall was a supreme competitor for well over two decades of first grade cricket. It was a privilege to play with and against a person of Emu’s standing in the game.

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

Like all great leaders, Steve Waugh instilled belief in his teammates. We got rolled cheaply in a match against Fairfield and needed to knock them over in something like 30-40 overs in the second innings to win outright. Steve implored us to believe we could win, and said we should only walk onto the field if we believed we could do it. I’m not sure we had a choice! Scott Thompson took 6 or 7 wickets, and the rest is history. 

 

Steve Waugh

Who has been your funniest team mate?

It’s a tie between Phil Gregson and Stefan Hutton from Gordon days. Phil is the master impersonator and his laughter is infectious. I never tire of his stories, and he makes me laugh harder than anyone. Stef was one of the great pranksters, whether he was calling talkback radio hosts or his teammates on their home phones before the days of caller ID.

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

The best story is too long to tell in full here, but it involved Adam Gilchrist, Paul Wilson and I walking through Fawkner Park in Melbourne as 19 year-olds while on a cricket academy tour. We answered the call to play a game of park cricket for a team who were 3 players short. The team didn’t know we were cricketers, or that Gilly and Blocker would go on to play test cricket. Gilly batted right-handed, Blocker was the biggest opening bat in the history of the game, and I rolled my arm over. Our new teammates were good blokes, but the feeling may not have been mutual when they turned up for day two of the match and we had disappeared to a different state. 

Gordon DCC First Grade Premiers 1990-91

Back Row - Peter Rowley Bates, Adam Gilchrist, Mark Aldridge, Richard Stobo, Steve Liggins, Paul McLean, Mark Danckert

Front Row – John Davison, Mark O’Neill, Phil Emery, Michael Cant (Captain), Kevin Roberts, Warwick Adlam, Steve Day

 

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

I was ‘walked out’ in one of my last games for Gordon against Hawkesbury at age 20. Having glanced a ball to fine leg, I was lazy getting to the bowler’s end and the fine leg fielder threw the stumps down. It was out of character for me. I hadn’t been enjoying cricket and had never let my teammates or myself down like that before. My season finished on just over 300 runs and I decided to take a new attitude to a new club, having been at Gordon since I was 6. The next season at Bankstown started badly for me, with 0 in the trial match and 1 in the first round. Six months later, we were first grade premiers, I had a great season and was 12th man for NSW. I learned plenty about life and about myself in the period either side of that run out at Hawkesbury.

Who was your childhood hero?

At the time, it was a toss-up between any Sea Eagles rugby league player, Kim Hughes or Greg Norman. Looking back, my childhood hero was my Dad. He gave me the gift of time, but didn’t give me anything on a silver platter. Dad’s philosophy was “Never deny your children the opportunity to learn how to achieve something for themselves”. Dad is gone, but his wisdom lives on.

Kim Hughes

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

Firstly, Tom Brady of NFL fame. The ESPN series about him is ‘Man in the Arena’, inspired by the Theodore Roosevelt speech of the same name. The speech means a lot to me and I’d like to hear what it means to Tom Brady.

Secondly, Marcus Rashford, the Man Utd and England footballer who has volunteered hundreds of hours and raised millions of pounds for charity. Football is what Marcus does, but it doesn’t define him.

Thirdly, great coaching is often misunderstood and underrated, so I’d like to meet Jill Ellis, the highly successful former coach of the US women’s soccer team.

Jill Ellis

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Richie Benaud from the previous generation and Ricky Ponting from the current crop. Richie was a contemporary thinker for an elder statesman and Ricky sees things happening before the rest of us.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

The SCG because of its history and what it means to me as a New South Welshman, but Bankstown Oval is also a special place, partly because of the people who have built the club on and off the field.

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

Not really. Most teams I played against included guys who I enjoyed playing against and catching up with.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Last year’s Women’s T20 World Cup final. Many people contributed to its success, particularly the phenomenal Australian team and the trailblazing female players of past years. Historically, the men’s and women’s T20 World Cups were played at the same time, which relegated the women’s event to the shadows of the men’s event. I’m proud that it was my idea back in 2015 to separate the men’s and women’s events in 2020 and stage the women’s T20 World Cup final on International Women’s Day. It was really special to experience the event with Trudy and our daughters.

 

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

The 1994/95 first grade final. North Sydney bowled us out for 87 in the first innings. My primary school mate Matt White got me for a duck and claimed 5 other scalps. Matt and I never dreamed of a first grade final back when we were carving girls names into a tree at his house in primary school.

In the second innings, we were 5 down with a lead of just 8 runs when Scott Grant joined our captain Steve Small. Scott hadn’t played a lot of first grade that year, but he scored a match-winning hundred and Jack played a captain’s knock of 87. Scott Thompson, Wayne Holdsworth and David Freedman then took 3 wickets each to complete one of the great comeback victories. 

Bankstown DCC First Grade premiers 1999-2000

Back Row – Arthur Couper (Scorer), Kym Beazleigh, Hilal Dannaqui, Nathan Bracken, Greg Trevena, Ken Hall, Ray Hall (Coaching team)

Middle Row – Eris Dignam (Treasurer), Daniel Moy, Corey Richards, Paul Maraziotis, Matthew Betsey, Anthony Smith, Shane Duff, Ray Richards (Manager)

Front Row – Martin Klump (Hon. Secretary), Sean McKiernan, Wayne Holdsworth (Vice Captain), Kevin Roberts (captain), David Freedman, Vaughan Williams, Brian Freedman (President)

Insert – Daniel Benson

If there was one match up, a bowler and batsman going head to head at their peak, who would you choose?

Warne versus Ponting on a turning deck at the SCG. A test of skill and will between two of the best cricket brains in history.

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

For the Sydney BBQ, Corey Richards, David Freedman, Dean Magee and I would meet Shane Duff at his horse stables. Paul Maraziotis would bring his dad Arthur along to cook the BBQ. Arthur’s secret herbs and spices have got Colonel Sanders well covered. Michael ‘Steely’ Dann is a close mate who bakes the best apple pie of any fast bowler, so he’d fly from Brisbane to join us and bake up a storm.

The Melbourne BBQ would be with Laurie Harper. The boy from Deniliquin is entrenched in East Malvern, so his BBQ’s have evolved from snags to seared porterhouse steaks finished in the oven. Scott Thompson would ride in from an Iron Man event to join us and Damien Fleming would also come along after giving a university lecture on Bowlology that afternoon.

What are your hobbies?

Trudy and I have 5 daughters, and sport is big in our family, whether it be cricket, netball, basketball, footy or athletics. I coached two of our daughters’ cricket teams last season and will stay involved behind the scenes this year. Along with some local mates, I ride trails and hills in our area to keep fit. Listening to music is good for my soul, even though I don’t have a musical bone in my body and I dance on the inside. My close friends in various states and countries where we have lived are important to me. I love seeing some of them on an annual weekend away and keeping in touch with all of them by phone or Zoom. 

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

I asked my Dad for some words of wisdom when I started a big job around 15 years ago. After thinking about it, he said “Always remember the cleaner’s name”. It was wise advice about the importance of treating people with respect and taking an interest in their lives.

You held the top job as CEO of Cricket Australia, how do you look back at your time as CEO and what are you most proud of?

The first 18 months in the CEO role were fulfilling. The Australian men’s team regained the respect of many cricket fans. Justin Langer and Tim Paine gave so much of themselves in leading that turnaround and they deserve great credit for the character they showed in a very difficult situation. As mentioned earlier, the Australian women’s team performed outstandingly to win the T20 World Cup. Club participation grew for the first time in years, and Cricket Australia’s commercial relationships improved significantly. The team at Cricket Australia were understandably proud of exceeding our targets.

Then covid hit and my tenure ended a couple of months later. I’m proud to have been true to the game and to true to myself in the CEO role. Cricket Australia’s statement when I finished up said I am a man of principle who always put the best interests of cricket first. That’s what matters most.

There are very few who can speak with such knowledge and understanding of what’s happening within the game. Can we ask what do current administrators need to do to ensure cricket in Australia remains strong, relevant and successful on and off the field for generations to come?

Three things underpin the future success of cricket. The first and most important thing is giving boys and girls great experiences of the game at grassroots level. That includes making life as easy as possible for cricket’s army of volunteers and it also means playing the game includes physical and digital experiences for kids, because that’s the world they live in. 

The second is producing world-class teams, captains and players. Grade cricket has an important role to play. Cricket needs to develop players as well-rounded people who can deal with the highs and lows of professional sport and the transition to life beyond cricket. This requires more coaches who are educators or have been to cricket’s school of hard knocks. Chris Fagan is an example in the AFL. Cricket’s answer is to have many more coaches like Gavan Twining and Anthony Clark, and inviting great people like Rachael Haynes and Erin Burns to be involved after their playing careers.

The third is to provide great entertainment for fans at matches, on TV and online. Test cricket, one day cricket and the W/BBL can all thrive if they are showcased in a way that is relevant to their respective audiences. If a 70 year-old man only loves test cricket or a 10 year-old girl only loves the WBBL, it’s much better than each format becoming ‘vanilla’ by trying to be all things to all people. 

Focusing on the three ingredients of grassroots cricket, world-class players & coaches and entertainment for fans means cricket will be a big community with outstanding players who inspire fans. That recipe delivers commercial success for the game, but it’s important that commercial success is viewed as an ‘outcome’ of cricket connecting with its community rather than as a reason for cricket to exist.

We understand there’s an exciting new venture about to launch ‘No Timid Souls’ – we’d love to know more, what can you tell us?

As a kid, I dreamed of owning a sports store and have spent almost all my working life in the sporting goods industry. Tim Jackson is a former Olympic sprinter and an exercise scientist who I’ve known and worked with for many years. We’re creating No Timid Souls together because Tim is brilliant, he makes me better and I trust him with my life.

No Timid Souls is a premium sportswear brand that’s all about inner strength and celebrating people who have a crack. The name was inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s speech, ‘The Man in the Arena’. We’ve just launched our brand in Australia and our product will launch in Australia and the US next year.  

Can you share with us your target market and point of difference?

No Timid Souls is sportswear for people who run, train or work out and want to get better, whether they are running 10km or competing on the world stage. Our products work better and feel better than others because our product development starts with sports science and materials science before moving to creative design. Each garment is anatomically designed and it responds to the biomechanical and physiological needs of the wearer.

We also have a world-first program called ‘Raise the Bar’ that is about giving back to the sports community at all levels, from elite and emerging athletes to sports clubs. Every product sold enables an opportunity for people to provide financial support or other forms of support to elite and emerging athletes who need it most. We don’t touch the money or charge a fee, and we’ll make contributions to the athletes too. At club level, we’re initially offering 20 sponsorships across Australia. The clubs will receive 7.5% of all No Timid Souls purchases that are made by people from their communities. Sport has given Tim and me so much in our lives and we’re passionate about bringing together a big crew of people who share the No Timid Souls attitude and want to help us to help the sports community at all levels.  

Highlights of Kevin Roberts scoring 119 against South Australia in 1996/97 - courtesy of robelinda2