Keiran Knight - loves being out in the middle
Sydney Cricket Club | February 06, 2023
Keiran Knight was a very skilful left arm orthodox bowler who played a key role in the Tigers First Grade premiership winning team in 1998/99.
Making his first debut in 1992 Keiran took 286 first grade wickets at an average of 21.38 including 12 x 5 wicket hauls.
He’s has always being out in the middle and involved in the contest. He still does and since 2004 his spinning finger has evolved from using subtle variation to dismiss batsman to being a little more direct as an umpire.
Let’s find out more about Keiran’s cricketing journey
What year you were born?
1972
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Under 10s for the mighty Wentworthville Waratahs. No clue on what happened that day
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Played at Wentworthville until under15s and in that year I played one 5th grade match for Fairfield. In 1987 I went and trialled with Balmain and played there until I was 29. I also had 2 season with Chestfield CC in the Kent League in England.
What other sports do you play?
Soccer and a bit of Aussie rules. Swimmer. No athletics because I couldn’t run out of sight at midnight.
How did you get the nickname Gomer?
At a CHS carnival playing for Metro West. I had the old fashioned flat top haircut and a big jaw so Shannon Lane and a couple of others said I looked like Jim Nabors aka Gomer Pyle. It got back to Tiger land and it stuck.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
5TH grade for Fairfield in 1987. I was 14
At what age did you make your first grade debut and what do you remember of the game?
19 year old for Balmain v Hawkesbury at Drummoyne. I took 2 wickets in my first over and didn’t get another one for the day. With the bat I kicked 17 runs to third man and when we needed 6 to win off last over and I smashed one down Steve Simon’s throat off Anthony Kershler and we lost.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
104 v North Sydney at Bear Park.
152 not out for Lavington Panthers vs Tallangatta CC in Albury
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
6 For 52 off 26 against St. George at Drummoyne including a hat trick – Rummans, Pilon, Ryan.
7 for 30 against South Coast when playing for Riverina in Country Champs
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Tough question. Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Wayne Holdworth and Scott Thompson were just a few of the great quicks I played against.
Dan Horsley was a great bloke and a great competitor.
Warwick Adlam dropped me on 3 one day and I went on to make my 100
Paul Goldsmith and genuine class bowler and bloke.
Paul Stepto one of the most graceful and longest run ups in history
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
David Freedman used to get me out for fun.
Ken Hall would just challenge you all day with his skills and banter.
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Greg Mail before he came to the Tigers.
Ed Cowan when he was young. Just knew he was something special.
Corey Richards was a great player to watch bat unless you dropped him.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
I umpired a game when Ben Rohrer made 200 for Fairfield against Randwick in a one day at Coogee Oval. His first 100 came off about 90 balls and his 2nd 100 was off 32. Placement and manipulation of the field was unbelievable to witness as an umpire.
Ben Rohrer batting for NSW
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Just full of love for Andrew Fitzhenry. He kept most of my first grade career with Balmain.
Nathan Pilon had great hands
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Ken Hall. I loved the way he competed. Always made something happen.
Billy York. A very intelligent bowler that really showed young spinners how to think about their game
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Neil Maxwell. Has a desire to win and was able to get the most out of his players
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Gregg Everest. A dry sense of humour but told you how it was.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
A game against Petersham at Petersham Oval
Former England captain Nasser Hussein came out to bat and the first ball off a good length hit him on his taped up Essex helmet.
Phil Clune was the bowler and Phil said to him “I can’t believe you flown this far to bat on the toilet for half a season.”
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Most of them were usually the same shot. An off drive straight into mid off
Who was your childhood hero?
I loved watching Kim Hughes bat
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Michael Holding
Wasim Akram
Phil Tufnell for a laugh
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Loving Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist on TV. All time would be Henry Blofeld on the radio as he was always able to paint the picture for you.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Drummoyne was my home, I loved playing there. North Sydney Oval and Bankstown always great places to play.
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Can’t split St George and Bankstown. During the 90s when at full strength you needed your heart to be in the fight
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
The blokes you played with. It’s a special bond to play with core group of guys for so long and the mateship with guys from other teams.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
When I captained Riverina we won the country carnival for the first time in Riverina history. The following week we got to play Sutherland at the SCG. Leading those boys out onto the home of cricket was not only a great day but the most emotional moment of my cricketing life.
Lavington Panthers after their grand final win in 2004
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
A semi final win against Norths. Got us through to the final as highest qualifier. The final was washed out and we won the premiership.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Any of the blokes I played with as long as they bring the beer
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
We are Marshall. Cracking movie
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?
I’m a premiership winning C Grade Netball coach
How long after you finished playing did you take up umpiring?
2 Years
What attracted you to become an umpire?
A gentleman by the name of Don Dennis who was the President of the Murray Border Cricket Umpires rang me a few times trying to get me to join. One day he said he was going to umpire a school game in 36 degree heat. I felt guilty that he was 82 and doing school games on his own so I went out and gave him a hand and loved every minute off it.
Can you tell us a little about your umpiring career so far?
I started in Albury in the lower grades but was soon promoted into the top grade there.
I had 4 years there and then Darren Goodger got me to go Sydney to umpire premier cricket and I was on panel 1 and state panel pretty quick. Country supplementary panel as well.
Back on state panel last year and was appointed to 1 WBBL match at Drummoyne and 4 WNCL matches.
We moved to Port Stephens and I’m umpiring in the Newcastle Association this year and back on the country panel
I have also been to 2 national under-age championships
How has playing 10 or so years in first grade helped you as an umpire?
I probably read the play and can tell when the banter is starting to take over from the game
What has been your most memorable moment as an umpire?
I was lucky enough to umpire a BBL practice match in Albury. A crowd between 9 and 10 thousand with Stars and Thunder at pretty much full strength. To do that in your home town under lights at your home ground. Umpiring a few times at the SCG was memorable too
What do you enjoy most about umpiring?
Just love being out in the middle.
What’s the funniest thing a player has said to you in the heat of the battle as an umpire?
I called a very late no ball in a match at Blacktown. It was a massive front foot no ball. Ed Cowan who always watched the bowler’s foot when he was non striker looked at me after I called the no ball. It was probably the look on Eds face that made me laugh but he followed up with, “Are we checking the betting on this game.”
What’s your umpiring ambition?
With moving back into country cricket my goal is to start helping young country umpires achieve their highest potential.
What are your hobbies?
Golf and fishing these days
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Be who are wherever you are. Make the gap between your best day and your worst day as narrow as possible
What is your current occupation?
Foster Carer
Let’s give your employer a plug, who do you work for?
FACS (Family and Community Services0. It’s not a regular occupation but my wife and I have been doing it for over 20 years.
If you were running Cricket NSW what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in NSW remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Cricket NSW has been in a strong position off the field for a long time.
Obviously developing young players and I’d like to see them take more games to country regions. Shield games, one day games, both both men’s and women’s.
I think through what has happened with droughts bushfire and now the pandemic taking games to the country will give some communities a big boost. Possibly even some premier cricket rounds as well.
