David Kelley - be the best you can be
Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Club | July 01, 2023
David made his first grade debut on 29 December 1985 at just 15 years and 315 days as a very talented left hand batsman.
From 1985 to 2008 David scored 8,916 runs at an average of 29.32 with his highest score 173 not out. He scored 11 centuries and 44 half centuries and won 2 premierships with Fairfield Liverpool.
Let’s find out more about David’s cricketing journey
What year you were born?
1970
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
No not really but my Mum tells me I was 8 years old and the stumps were both taller and fatter than me.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played my junior cricket for Wentworthville RSL before moving to grade where I played for Parramatta and then Fairfield Liverpool.
What other sports do you play?
I play a bit of golf every now and again and should really play more but those that have played with me would know that thing called a putter and I don’t get on that well.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I made my grade debut for Paramatta at 14 years old in 5th Grade, I scored a hundred and took 5 wickets.
At what age did you make your first grade debut?
I was 15yrs and 10 months against North Sydney at North Sydney Oval. I top scored with 21 and needless to say we didn’t score many, I think around 70 odd. It was a quick game.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
173 not out v Sutherland at what is now Glenn McGrath Oval back then was known as Caringbah Oval
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I am glad you asked. My best bowling figures where 5-46 against Western Suburbs at Pratten Park.
It was a day for the quicks (tongue in cheek of course) as Peter Burkhart also snared 5 wickets for Wests that day I recall. The game ended in a tie, Wests had 3 wickets in hand with one over to go and they needed 1 run to win. Our captain Sean Pope threw me the ball and said don’t let me down. I’m sure he wasn’t being serious but he still says otherwise to this day.
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Geez that is a tough question as I have played against a lot of good fast bowlers. So this is more about the ones that left a lasting impression on me.
First and the main one was Richard Stobo and for the reason that he made my nose disappear. I batted without a helmet back in those days and I missed a bouncer from him which hit me flush on the nose and I went straight to Royal North Shore and they said they couldn’t do anything because of the swelling so I went back to the ground and we were around 7 for not many so I padded back up and went back out and first ball he bounced me again and this time I had a helmet on and he pinned me again. I do recall he then gave me some advice which I didn’t take kindly to.
This guy is going to feature a few times because I really do believe he was the most talented bowlers I played with and against and believe me as I said above there were a lot of talented blokes. Don Nash. When he left Fairfield to go to Blacktown we had some good banter and he said he was going to pin me and true to his word he did. That’s all Nashy wanted to do because he then said to his skipper that’s enough now I’ve done what I wanted to do.
Lastly Malcolm Marshall. We played him at Fairfield Oval and for all of you that knew Fairfield Oval it was a slow track so he was just seaming and cutting the ball everywhere. It was a great challenge.
Don Nash bowling for NSW
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
I liked facing most spinners but the one I found the most difficult was Greg Matthews as he just had so much control and would never give you a bad ball.
Stuart MacGill although I really enjoyed facing leg spinners or wrist spinners it was always a great challenge playing him and Tom Shiner was another fantastic spinner where I enjoyed the challenge.
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Again, another tough question because for the same reason there has been so many great players I have played against and with. I have been asked over the years this sort of question and there were always 2 blokes that I singled out that just seemed to me to have so much more time than everyone else. One being Mark Waugh and the other being Steve Smith who I played with mostly at Fairfield.
The next guy who seemed to score runs at ease was Michael Bevan. I’m pretty sure one day I came up against him and he had scored something like six centuries in a row and yes he made it 7 against us.
Michael Bevan
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
I have seen plenty of what I would call great innings during my time both for us and against us from some real class players but the 2 that stand out for me was one for us, Steve Smith against Eastern Suburbs it was pure class. The other was against us which I’ve seen this one mentioned a few times in these columns was Scott Hookeys double century against us at Rosedale Oval in a one day game. I’m pretty sure he got out with still quite a few overs left. In true Hook fashion there was plenty of chat in his innings as well. Special mention has to go to Grant Lambert and Benny Rorher, their partnership in the 2005/2006 Grand Final was unbelievable as well.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
There has been a lot of great keepers I’ve played with and against but for me Mark Atkinson was brilliant, he’s glove work was second to none in my opinion.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Don Nash playing with and against him and I believe with the ball in hand was one of the most he’s the most skilful and talented players and for the most competitive the guy that springs to my mind straight away is Scott Thompson. I don’t think there was a more competitive bloke then Thommo, I loved playing against him.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
I can’t recall ever playing with a captain that I thought wasn’t any good but there were 2 blokes who I believed were more than just captains. They were great man managers as well and they were Billy York and Sean Pope.
Sean Pope
Who has been your funniest team mate?
This would have to be Doug Bollinger. Sometimes he’s funniest moments were when he wasn’t even trying to be funny but he is a very funny guy, it makes me laugh thinking about him.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Yes there are quite a few and when we catch up for beer we go over them and laugh for hours. As you could imagine some of them, well most of them, would not be fit for publishing and others to do with my run ins with umpires shouldn’t be given airtime, although I do laugh at a lot of them now.
The one I’m going to mention involved an umpire, believe it or not, who was a very good cricketer himself. I’m pretty sure it was in the 2005/2006 Grand Final and the game was all but over when I came into bat. Manly made a bowling change, I won’t say who they brought on to save them any embarrassment. As umpires normally do, they would tell you what the bowler will be doing, like “right arm over or right arm around”. At this point the umpire said to me “Batsman change of bowler right arm shit” it was very funny and still makes me laugh.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
It was actually in my first grade debut. I was coming back for the second run and went to slide my bat to make my ground. I was running just off the square and it dug straight into the grass and the bat went straight into my stomach and I fell over and was run out. The North boys were laughing saying how can you trip over wearing youths’ pads.
Who was your childhood hero?
David Hookes and Allan Border were the players who I pretended to be playing in the back yard.
David Hookes
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Roger Federer
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Bankstown Oval was my favourite ground
Was there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
When the Test and Shield players would play grade cricket I couldn’t wait to play against Bankstown as they always had a number of those players and I always hoped they’d be playing. It was great to play and test yourself against the best. It was the same for most teams, I always wanted the best players to be available and playing.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Definitely the friendships that I have made, playing with a great bunch of blokes and having a great time on and off the field.
The Fairfield boys celebrating David's 50th birthday
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
The 2 Premiership wins at Fairfield Liverpool, they were brilliant times and something that I really treasure.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The Grand Final win against Manly in 2005/2006 season it was a dominant performance.
Premiers - Fairfield Liverpool
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
I love having all the boys over to my place and we don’t do it often enough however these are 3 boys that have the same interest and do come over, John Boulous, Dean Magee and Billy York
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
The Michael Jordan documentary was brilliant.
What are your hobbies?
Travelling, socialising and horse racing
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
It is not so much advice but more a quote and I think it is a great motto for life. I believe life is all about attitude, whether it is in your sporting career or working life.
“IT’S NOT HARD TO BE GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO BUT IT’S EASY TO BE BAD”.
I believe if you have the attitude to be the best you can be at whatever you are doing, you’re on the road to success. There are so many people just happy doing the bare minimum to get them through and are wasting so much talent.
What is your current occupation?
I own a Printing company called Fineline Print & Copy Service NSW. So if anyone is looking for a printer please get in contact with us.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
No since owning my own business that took up a lot of my time and focus.
