Gary Blake - team player
Sydney Cricket Club | November 15, 2024
Gary Blake is a former Sydney Cricket Club player who played back when the club was known as Balmain and played the game with great spirit and enthusiasm.
Gary became a lower grade captain who encouraged and led the Tigers with true Tiger courage.
Let’s find out more about Gary’s journey in the game.
What year were you born?
1959
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
No, I can’t remember my first game, but it would’ve been for the Abbotsford club in the Balmain-Drummoyne JCA U/10 in 1968. The fact that I can’t remember it suggests that nothing memorable happened.
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Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played for Abbotsford, St. Albans Five Dock, Balmain RSL, BDJCA Shield teams, Five Dock RSL, Western Suburbs JCA, Balmain DCC, Five Dock RSL, Sefton Heights, Balmain DCC, Umina DCC, Southern Spirit CC (formed by the merger of Umina DCC & Woy Woy CC.) Starting in 1968 and finishing up in 2018
Saturday afternoons were spent at Drummoyne Oval watching the great Balmain teams of the late 60s early 70s, and dreaming of playing for the Tigers one day.
I received my prized Tigers cap to play Green Shield in 1976/77, I had a solid year and made the City 2nds to play Country at the SCG No. 2 (got a few as well). The following year I entered the grade ranks but after more downs than ups I left 3 years later disillusioned with how things were going. It was suggested to me to try another club, but I’d only wanted to play for Balmain.
I thought that my cricket journey was ending there. I’d seen any number of talented juniors come and go, and it seemed like if you weren’t in with the right crowd then you had little chance. As I neared 30 it still annoyed me the way that my Balmain dream had ended the way that it did. I decided to go back and in my own small way try to right some of the wrongs that I felt had come my way.
Balmain Cricket Club 1976-77 Green Shield team
Back Row - Gary Blake, Chris Amos, Alan Beattie, Phillip Iredale, Kevin Tyrell, Stephen James
Front row - Terry Reece, Wayne Seabrook, Neil Wendt (c), Doug Hall, Bob Henderson
I found it really positive in the way that Cliff Winning had welcomed me back to Balmain like a prodigal son, and Phil Kelleard had the club running along so well. I was slotted in to captain Peter Martin’s 4th Grade team (they went on to be Premiers) while he was unavailable for the first 5 rounds. 5 wins later I took over as 5th Grade captain. My aim was to encourage the younger players to help them through the transition, assistance that I felt was lacking when I was younger.
Before we moved away from Sydney to the Central Coast my 4 years back at Drummoyne were very successful being a part in 2 Club Championships. I also took great pride in seeing so many good young players come through bad patches and with support they were able to head towards reaching their potential. About half of the 1st Grade Premiers from the late 1990s had come through my teams, and while I know that I didn’t really contribute anything towards their achievements or successes, I felt that I may have had a small hand in their development.
When we moved to the Central Coast I continued on playing and became involved in administration at a club and association level. I was very proud to become a Life Member of Umina DCC and then after the merger of Umina & Woy Woy to form Southern Spirit Cricket Club my wife Josie joined me as a Life Member of SSCC as well.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
4th Grade at Balmain at 17.
What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?
1st Grade for Umina against Mountains and scratched my way to 54
If you could share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Primarily a batsman and more than a part time wicketkeeper
What were your strengths as a player?
I was never a star player, but I prided myself on being a team player ready to attempt any role required by the skipper or the team
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
122 for Balmain against Western Suburbs
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
5/93 for Balmain away to Central Cumberland (now Parramatta). A batsman/keeper never forgets his one only and only 5 for.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Trevor Osborne, I opened against St. George on this day and early on he hit me on the front foot with a full toss that bounced once before hitting the fence. The old (1970s) Adidas shoes with the hard toe cap probably saved me from many broken bones but I had 4 very bruised toes for about the next 2 weeks
Wally Wellham, he was Deputy Principal at Drummoyne High and the Annual Students v Teachers games at Drummoyne Oval were very competitive. They also had Alan Campbell in the team so we students knew that we were in for a game. Wally was a crafty performer who seemed to have more than his share of tricks
Andrew Jones, fortunately I didn’t play against him but I did get to keep to him for the Tigers a number of times when he was on the rise.
Special mention to Ian Street who I kept to at Umina, it was a dangerous position when he bowled someone with the ball and bails become missiles whistling past your ears
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
David Hourn, I loved watching him play for NSW in the early 70s so it was a great pleasure to play against him nearly 20 years later. I was trying to keep my emotions in check captaining a young Tigers team while batting against someone that I had admired for years.
Paul Grimble, I recall him being a very good bowler who was always a challenge
Russell McCool, in our younger days he was challenging but gave you opportunities, our paths crossed again in the 1990s when we became teammates for Umina DCC but later when he played for Kincumber he set me up and bamboozled me with a flipper that another leg spinner of the time would have been proud of.
David Hourn
Who were the best 3 batters you’ve played against?
Greg Matthews, we just could never get him out.
Darren Tucker, even from an early age you could see that he was going to go places
Ross Steele, I played both with and against Ross on the Central Coast, even though he was nearing the end of his playing days you could see why he scored so many runs and why people spoke so highly of him.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Phillip Trevena, I was playing with him for Sefton in the Bankstown A Grade in the 1980s and he’d just had an unsuccessful spell at Bankstown. On this day he scored 150 murdering a decent attack bringing up his ton and 150 with sixes. Only the previous game he’d taken 8-29 opening the bowling. His grade career ended because he’d been told that he couldn’t be an allrounder and had to choose between batting or bowling. He was also a very handy wicketkeeper taking over from me one day when I broke a finger.
Was there any bowler or batter in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
As I mentioned previously all through junior reps and into seniors, we could never get Greg Matthews out
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?
Not really, I liked to try to simplify the game and play it at any level remembering that it was a guy with a ball against a guy with a bat.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Kevin ‘Goog’ Tyrell, he was often a bit scruffy and untidy, but he had great hands and reflexes
Who are the two players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
2 players that I really enjoyed playing with during my time with Umina were Gary Olsen and Gary Manuel, two very different individuals.
Gary Olsen had previously had a good career in Sydney and was scoring plenty of runs on the coast. He was organised, a fantastic and positive team mate who was focused on making the most of every opportunity.
Gary Manuel on the other hand was a bit of a maverick, an ultra-competitive all rounder who could bowl fast and aggressively, working over umpires as much as batsmen. With the bat he could change a game in just a few overs, we could be in trouble and Gary could come in at 8 and 30 minutes later we were on top. Not too easy at times to captain until you learned to just go with him.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Mark Van Epen was a very astute captain who would often do what the opposition least expected. He was never beaten and greatly respected by all of his team mates. I played with Mark at Balmain and again years later at Umina. He loved talking cricket
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Plenty to choose from, but Justin Broad from Umina would be hard to top. An example was an NRMA Cup game where Umina had to travel to Balgownie at North Dalton Park. A 10 a.m. start on a Sunday morning after a 3 hour drive was always going to be interesting. The Balgownie team were well into their warm up drills when Justin and Shane Garnett had gotten themselves ready for their stretching routine. When I say ‘ready’ the Balgownie team came running around to the sight these 2 stretching against the fence wearing nothing more than their spikes, multi coloured bucket hats and their tighty whities. The game was washed out after 6 overs, but it was a very memorable day despite the long drive home in the rain.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Umina were playing Woy Woy at Rogers Park, at the time the local derby. Umina were in the field and one of our younger players Jason chased the ball turning an easy 2 into a comfortable 3, as he was coming back Greg ‘Perc’ Macfarlane pipes up from the slips ‘Geez Jay, you run like you’re towing a caravan’, from that moment the nickname Jayco stuck for the unfortunate lad
Who was your childhood hero?
Doug Walters
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Sir Garfield Sobers, Doug Walters, Ronnie O’Sullivan
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Drummoyne Oval, but also some great memories of Umina Oval.
What particular team did you especially look forward to playing against?
We always seemed to have good games against Northern Districts, very competitive but played in the right spirit
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
It’s a toss-up, scoring a ton at the SCG No.2 for the Combined Sydney Green Shield team was a playing highlight for me, but when Southern Spirit CC made my wife Josie a Life Member for her years of volunteer work for Umina & later Southern Spirit (after the merger) was a great moment. I was really proud. This was topped off by them naming the club’s Women’s Player of the Year trophy after her. We often joke that I played for 50 years and despite never playing the game she gets a trophy named after her. A great honour.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The 1993/94 Central Coast Grand Final win against Wyong for Umina. We had to win having lost the major semi to Wyong. The game was rain affected, and we bowled sensationally to knock Wyong over for 44, We started the chase out sedately against some really good bowling but lost 3 wickets in the last 2 overs of day 1 to go to stumps at 5/34. More overnight rain and a late start shouldn’t have been a problem, but 3 overs in we had fallen to 8/34 before Peter Hibberd and Kenny Stuart saw us reach 8/54 at lunch when the rain returned and the game ended. Umina won 1st, 2nd & 3rd Grade Grand Finals that day, so it was a big day/night/day of celebrating
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Just about any of the Umina boys that I played with, picking just 3 would be unfair
What are your hobbies?
Since retiring I’ve become the primary carer for my wife and a couple of surgeries put a stop to me playing golf. I enjoy watching Test or shield cricket, football (round ball or AFL), and enjoying the peaceful surroundings at Kew (near Laurieton)
What’s the best advice you’ve received ?
“Don’t you ever call me F***ing Geoffrey” Future England captain Mike Gatting was batting at Drummoyne one Sunday afternoon in 79/80, a number of us were sitting around an esky and I may have offered a suggestion along the lines of “have a go Boycott” in between overs during a slow period of run scoring. His head shot around and looked towards where we were sitting. On Thursday at training he waited until Borneo (Russell Duncan) and I were near each other in one of the nets and cornered us with the extended forefinger to the chest and said “You blokes can call me anything you like but don’t ever call me F***ing Geoffrey”. Point taken.
Mike Gatting
What is your occupation?
I was happily retrenched into retirement in July 2023 after nearly 37 years in the I.T. industry, starting with the Department of Motor Transport, and then the Commonwealth Bank whose IT progressed through EDS, HP, HP Enterprise Services and ultimately DXC Technology
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
No, I stopped playing 2018 and I’d had enough after 50 years as a player, coach, selector, administrator, Club President, Secretary, Delegate, etc. I don’t find T20 all that interesting (I rarely watch it) and local associations were being bullied into promoting T20 over developing cricketing skills (bullied may be a bit strong, but that’s how it seemed to me). From a distance I still follow the fortunes of the Sydney Tigers and the Southern Spirit Phoenix but the game has moved on from what I liked so much about the game. Why fight it and get bitter?
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?
Cricket should be a contest between bat and ball rather than just seeing who can hit the ball into the crowd more. I understand the commercial aspects for the associations, but short term gains and thinking must be countered. I consider franchise cricket as disposable or throwaway based on selling the experience for the spectator/viewer rather than developing the players. No one remembers who won yesterday’s game as another one is on tomorrow. Squad players are promoted, replaced and discarded which can greatly limit their career.
I’d like to see the Sheffield Shield played in the summer (i.e. December and January instead of a lot of the Big Bash) and while the Test cricket is being played, rather than being shunted off into early spring or autumn onto questionable wickets. The Test players need Shield players performing to put pressure on them for their place in the team. Potential replacement players cannot be sitting on the bench waiting to be thrown in to play.
One of my concerns with T20 cricket is that it is all set up for the batters, and the bowler’s task is just to limit scoring. There is generally nothing in the pitches for bowlers, the grounds are shrinking, and the bats are getting better. Mishits fly into the crowd and everyone goes nuts. Due to the limited duration of the innings a lost wicket or two means very little.
I’d recommend making an adjustment so that a lost wicket also involved a 5 run penalty to the batting team. It would mean something to the batting team and could lead to better cricket being played as batters would look to avoid getting out while scoring rather than a just a continued stream of baseball-like slogging with no consequences. Hopefully this would lead to bowlers being welcomed back into the contest as they try to take wickets.
You can probably see why I’ve stepped back from the game, it has moved on from my way of thinking.
