Ian Wright - Australian Test Scorer No. 113
Sydney Cricket Club | September 11, 2024
Ian Wright has been scorer for Sydney Cricket Club in NSW Premier Cricket for 15 season and he is highly respected by all at our club and in the wider cricket community.
He has been selected as scorer for Test matches, WBBL/BBL, ODI’s and T20’s. Ian is Australian Test Scorer No. 113.
Recently Ian was awarded Life membership of the NSWCUSA.
Please enjoy his cricket journey.
Lead image - Ian Wright pictured with Dick French
Pepper Money are proud sponsors of Sydney Cricket Club
What year were you born?
1957
What state do you live in?
NSW
When did you first start developing a love for cricket?
My Dad took me to see an afternoon of West Indies v Australia at the SCG in 1968. I started to seriously follow cricket from 1970.
Tell us briefly about your journey in the game, where you’ve played, what clubs and how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I played Under 16s for West Epping Bears. Several of my schoolmates and myself started Meadowbank CC in the Northern District Competition. I played over 100 matches for them. I also played a couple of matches for Macquarie University Shires. I was not a very talented cricketer but enjoyed playing. I was a lower order batter and occasional off spin bowler. I was Captain of Marsden High School 2nd XI (undefeated premiers) whilst Greg Matthews was Captain of the Under 15s.
How did you become involved with the club you’re currently associated with?
Eastern Suburbs scorer, Owen Ridge told me that Sydney Cricket Club were looking for a scorer as their previous scorer, Donna, was no longer involved. After 4 years scoring for Macquarie Uni Shires, I moved to Sydney Cricket Club
What do you like most about the club?
We have great people at our Club. We play very positive cricket, rarely playing to draw. We have wonderful facilities at Drummoyne Oval.
Ina Wright in the scorer's box
What was your highest score?
I made 34 for Meadowbank one time at Bartlett Park, Ermington.
What were your best bowling figures?
I took 4 wickets in an innings for Meadowbank one time at Marsden High School Oval. I also took 4 wickets in an innings for NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association v Fairfield Liverpool Oval in a social match at Fairfield Oval.
Which club and or competition do you support?
Sydney Cricket Club as well as representative matches for NSW, Sydney Sixers and Thunder, and Australia.
Ian Wright far left
When and how did you develop a love of scoring/volunteering/ administration?
After umpiring nearly 300 matches in NSW Premier Cricket, I took a break due to work commitments and some health issues at the time. A few years later after retiring from National Australia Bank, I took up scoring for Macquarie University Shires, and then moved to Sydney Cricket Club 4 years later.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket so far?
Winning premierships at Sydney Cricket Club in the Belvidere Cup, One Day Cup and T20 competitions. Personally, a highlight for me was selection to score in three Test Matches for Australia v India, England and Pakistan.
Who’s your favourite all-time cricketer?
Max Walker was one of my favourite cricketers.
Max Walker
Who has been your favourite captain?
I thought that John Inverarity was a great Sheffield Shield captain. He was a great tactician and should have captained Australia when Mike Brearley captained England.
Who’s been the batter you’ve enjoyed watching the most?
Allan Border was a great batter and got impressive results from his team.
Who in your opinion has been the best fast bowler?
Dennis Lillee
Who in your opinion has been the best spinner?
Shane Warne.
We exchanged greetings at the SCG on night, just a few weeks before his sudden death.
Shane Warne
Who in your opinion has been the best wicket keeper?
Adam Gilchrist.
Who in your opinion has been the best umpire?
Simon Taufel was a great expert on the laws, and who always remained calm and in control whilst umpiring.
Simon Taufel
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand as a scorer?
A J Mosca scored a great innings in the 90s in the One Day Final. We were looking for likely losers, but he swung the game our way.
Who are the 2 players you most admire in the competitions you score in terms of skills and competitive spirit?
Ben Manenti was a great fighter for our club. He was an excellent off spinner, great fielder and fast scoring aggressive batsman.
Beau McClintock was an outstanding keeper. I can hardly remember him ever dropping a catch. He scored several great centuries for Sydney including in the 1st Grade Final. He would so often build partnerships with late order batters particularly if the top order had struggled
Beau McClintock
What’s the most picturesque ground you’ve had the good fortune to watch cricket?
The Valley of the Rocks, in Devonshire, England. A ground surrounded by very tall hills. In Sydney, Drummoyne Oval is my favorite.
If there was one match up in the history of world cricket, a bowler and batsman going head-to-head at their peak, who would you choose?
Lillee and Thomson bowling to the English in 1974/75. England had Tony Greig, John Edridge, Colin Cowdrey and Alan Knott, but the Aussie bowlers were too good.
What’s your preferred format of the game, Test Cricket, One day games, T20?
Test Cricket
What do Cricket Officials need to do over the next 10 or so years to ensure people get to enjoy the game as much as you do?
The need to ensure the survival of Test Cricket. It is strong in Australia, England and India but I worry about its survival in other countries. I also want to see the 50 over game survive. It is a better contest of skills than T20.
Who are the 3 cricketers from any era you’d like to invite to a BBQ?
Sir Garfield Sobers, Victor Trumper and Lord Colin Cowdrey.
Colin Cowdrey
What would be your ultimate experience as a cricket fan?
I have been to the Centenary Test in Melbourne, but never to a Boxing Day Test. That would be awesome.
