Brett Lack - a whole lot of fun
Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Club | July 28, 2023
Brett Lack has played all his cricket with a simple motto, “to have fun and entertain” and he's done so wherever he's played.
He’s played first grade in Sydney and is the proud owner of First Grade Cap# 38 for Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Club. Brett has also spent time playing in the UK and USA and last season he made a comeback, “it’s important to give something back to the game.”
Let’s find out more about Brett’s journey
What year you were born?
1967
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I played for Fairfield RSL Under 12 when I was 10. Probably got caught slogging.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Where you’ve played, clubs you’ve played for?
Juniors - Fairfield RSL and Cabramatta Vale Diggers.
Seniors - Five Dock Waratahs. Cabramatta United. Petersham Marrickville Grade. Fairfield DCC Grade. Parramatta DCC Grade. Fairfield Liverpool CC Grade. Georges River over 40’s & 50’s.
I played a season in Bolton, Lancashire in the UK, in the LA Open T20 in the U>S in 2007 and for the World XI at the GDAY USA T20 in Miami in 2008 in
I have had more starts than Phar Lap.
What other sports do you play?
Golf very poorly and if drinking or circuiting is a sport, Gold Medallist.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
4th Grade Petersham Marrickville when I was 19. I had the pleasure of being in the company of Peter Taylor, Dave Chardon, Greg Hartshorne, Paul McGee, Brett Patman, Chris and Steve Sullivan (Worm and Fuss) just to name a view.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket?
It was 1989 (22) at Manly Oval and I batted 9 and scored 0 but the good thing about playing with Fairfield back then was you always got 2 bats.
2nd innings I smashed 49 not out batting at 9 and put Steve Whitfield (who had just been selected in the Shield side) into the tennis courts a few times.
If you can share with our fans how you would describe yourself as a cricketer?
Battler. I loved taking on attacks especially when we were in trouble, really enjoyed hitting sixes and letting the bowler know about it on the way over the fence. Started as a quick, but realised pretty quick that I was going to have to get fit, so I stopped that and took up Leg Spin.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
I really don’t remember but I did get 143 not out in 5th grade last year and my highest score in 1st grade is 110 v Sydney Uni in a 1 day game.
Brett celebrates his century in 5th Grade 2019/20
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
6 for 80 against Bankstown with all their stars playing. Bowled with flight, ripping leg spin at Rosedale. Probably the only day I landed them, most of the time I dished up some rubbish.
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Brett Lee, just rapid nasty but fun.
Richard Stobo, he got sharp lift at express pace.
This bloke I have only faced in the nets so I am going to Ronnie Davis, express, seam and swing, Should have played heaps of 1st class, great mate also.
Don Nash gets a mention for scarring the crap out of me at training.
Don Nash
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
Stuart Magill, massive turn and bounce, great wrong un.
Ken Hall, just could not score off him always shut down an end.
Greg Mathews because he is the king, ripping off breaks and huge drift.
Gavin Robertson, used his height so well, spun the ball, always good banter.
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Scott Hookey, just hit everything out of the screws, went hard all the time.
Dean Waugh, great stroke player, super bloke.
Greg Hayne, tall opening bat, never gave his wicket away and hit it long.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Steve Barry Smith, our 1st grade captain at Fairfield years ago, Stan got a 100 plus at Waitara. It was faultless and he brought professionalism to our club and scored plenty of 100’s but this one stands out as I was at the non strikers just thinking, what am I doing in this blokes presence.
Who has been the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Hard to limit it to one, Sean Pope very good hands, great reader of the game. Mark Atkinson full package.
Mark Atkinson
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Grant Lambert just coz he is a freak and Bill York, without this bloke I wouldn’t have kept playing. Bill is the best person I have met through cricket.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Bill York, always gave players a fair go, had an enormous will to win and he wouldn’t ask you to do something he wouldn’t do himself.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Toss-up between Steve Luc and David Leishman
Who was your childhood hero?
Viv Richards and my Dad.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Tiger Woods, Viv Richards, John Daly.
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Richie Benaud of course.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Rosedale Oval.
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Bankstown, local derby and always had some good chat.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Friendships made, teamwork and good people involved.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Scoring 1st grade hundred and taking a 6 wicket haul in first grade
Who’s been the biggest influence in your cricket career?
Bill York without question.
What’s the funniest cricket banter you’ve heard on the cricket field?
I field in the slips so it goes on all day. Anything I say will get me locked up, let’s leave it on the field.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
4th grade premiership, great blokes all year, dominant side.
Fairfield 4th Grade Premiers 2008/09
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?
I am a lover not a fighter.
What are your hobbies?
Family, my wife and kids are everything to me.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Put the fork down you fat bastard.
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?
Grass roots cricket, we need to get more kids playing and better facilities at Premier level to make our competition more professional.
