Ben Schutz - trust yourself
Sydney Cricket Club | August 29, 2024
Ben Schutz made his first-grade debut in NSW Premier Cricket in 1995 and in 18 years to 2013 he played for Fairfield Liverpool, Balmain, Parramatta, Blacktown and Eastern Suburbs.
Ben was a very proud member of the Balmain Cricket Club 1998-99 first grade premiership winning team and scored 7,827 first grade runs at an average of 27.55 and hit 6 centuries and 45 half centuries.
Let’s find out more about ben’s journey in the game.
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What year were you born?
1977
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
7-year-old playing for Guildford County, I remember clean bowling someone
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Played junior cricket in the Parramatta District then moved to Fairfield-Liverpool for Green Shield and made my First Grade Debut. I then moved to Balmain, then moved back west to play Blacktown and Parramatta, with a short stint at Eastern Suburbs.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
I debuted in 3rd grade when I was 14 as keeper due to some injuries. All I remember is being sledged a lot
What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?
1st grade in NSW Premier Cricket. I scored a great 10 ball duck when I middled a pull shot to shot to square leg
If you could share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I started out a batter wicketkeeper, and ended up more as a batter and an ok net bowler to get batters in form
What were your strengths as a player?
Being able to find a single and on the odd occasion a boundary
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
156 for Easts against Fairfield-Liverpool in 2nd grade at Rosedale
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
In 1st Grade 3-36 against Manly for Parramatta
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Brett Lee – I made a mistake in a one day game when I glanced at the square leg umpire for a wide after Brett bowled a bouncer. It only encouraged Brett to bowl 2-3 more bounces in the over
Stuart Clark – was always high on the bat and hard to get away
Scott Thompson – bowled a quick and good bouncer and yorker and always tried to unsettle you
Brett Lee
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Stuart McGill – turned the ball big and was very accurate
Anthony Clark - strong competitor who made you work hard for every run and had a good change of pace
Adrian Tucker - great control and a good wrongun
Stuart MacGill
Who were the best 3 batters you’ve played against?
Greg Mail - was lucky to play with him at Balmain. He had a great ability to play long innings and keeping the scoreboard moving
Grant Lambert - big fan of anything short and a very dominate player
Ian Moran – powerful player who scored lots of runs. Had the ability to change a game within a session
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
For me its Richard Burton. In a finals match against Easts I think we where 7-14 at drinks in the first session, and we actually considering declaring, To be fair to Burto he was struggling with the bat that season and look unlikely score any runs. Sorry Burto.
He batted to lunch then to tea and all of a sudden, he was in the 90s but we were 9 down, I don’t think I have been so nervous watching the Tigers number 11 Craig O'Shaughnessy (Dish) survive ball after ball to get Burto to his 100. A truly special memory, and we went to win the game
Greg Mail scored a 100 against Manly in a final to setup a final ball win with a very sharp single ran by Richard Colbran who dove in and celebrated all in one motion and gave the umpire no choice
Was there any bowler or batter in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Grant Lambert would work me over, I didn’t have many answers
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?
My first second grade match when I’d just turned 15. It was my first game of playing 3 sessions in a day and it felt like a test match. Also keeping to Billy York on a turner at Fairfield Oval was an experience
Front Row – Mark Owens, Brett Van Deinsen, Nathan Bracken, Jamie Heath, Dominic Thornley, Don Nash, Steve Thomlinson (Manager)
Back Row – Matthew Betsey, Adam Elbourne, Graeme Rummans, Matthew Bradley (captain), Paul Sutherland, Ben Schultz, Andrew Downton
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Mark Atkinson so sharp up to the stumps and had great hands
Who are the two players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Greg Hayne was always up for the challenge, a great team man and had a great knowledge of the game
Neil Maxwell made things happen on a cricket field,
Greg Hayne
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Neil Maxwell always looked to move the game forward. He pushed his players to be their best and had the ability to bowl an over with his eyes spinning and all fired up and then could snap back in captain mode. It was fun to watch at times and I learned a lot from Max about the game
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Andrew Sargent always knew how to break the tension in a dressing room and stir up Max,
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
In my grade debut the bowler asked if my mum needed to come out and change my nappy and when the streetlight came on shouldn’t I go home.
Who was your childhood hero?
Alan Border and Sir Vivian Richards
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Jessie Owens, Anna Meres and Chris Waddle
Jessie Owens
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Drummoyne and Manly Oval
What team did you especially look forward to playing against?
Penrith, I think we played them a few times in must win games late in a season, all very close games. Always very competitive but played in good spirits. I believe we lost one on the last ball in one game when a Goldsmith hit gavin Robertson for 6.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning a 1st Grade Premiership in 1998/99
Balmain's Jeff Thorpe (left) and Neil Maxwell (captain) with the 1998-99 Belvidere Cup - first grade premiers
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Beating Manly in a final at Manly Oval when we chased 270 odd in around 65 overs and winning off the last ball.
Who are the two players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Andrew Fitzhenry and Greg Everest,
What are your hobbies?
Photography and Golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Trust yourself
What is your occupation?
I’m a Landscaper currently working for NSW Health Department looking after the grounds at Ryde Hospital
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
I’m very lucky to be Head Coach at Sydney Cricket Club it’s a great honor,
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities be to ensure cricket in the state remains strong and successful on and off the field?
Continue to grow cricket and spread the message of how valuable the game of cricket is in creating joy, friendship, memories and life lessons along the way.
