Ross Leipold - lead by example
Gosnells District Cricket Club | February 10, 2023
Ross Leipold played his junior cricket for Gosnell Cricket Club and as he made his way into grade cricket he played for South Perth Cricket Club.
Ross made his first grade debut for South Perth in 1978 and is the proud owner of first grade cap number 192.
Returning to Gosnell Cricket Club when the club was admitted into the Western Australian Premier Cricket Competition in 1987 Ross has made a tremendous contribution to the club. On the field as a captain and off the field as a coach. Ross is Gosnells Cricket Club first grade player number 1.
Ross was the President of the Gosnell Cricket Club from 2003 to 2020 and was awarded Life membership of the Club in 1996.
Let’s find out more about Ross journey in the game
What year you were born?
1960
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Back in the late 1960s, the South Suburban Cricket Association only had Under 12, 14s and 16s so I started when I was 8 in the under 12s. I can’t really remember how I went.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I started junior cricket at Gosnells Junior Cricket Club and played senior cricket for the club at the age of 14 in the lower grades and made my A grade debut for the club at 16 years old. Opened the batting in my first season and then went to South Perth Cricket Club the following season when I was 17 where I started in 3rd grade. It was a daunting walk into the change rooms as I have only been to training on a handful of games and had only spoken to the skipper Barry Thornton a couple of times. Made 80 odd in this game and then got promoted to 2nd grade where I spent the bulk of the season and having a good season making plenty of runs.
Returned to Gosnells Cricket Club as assistant coach to then captain/coached Gosnells when they were admitted to the WA Premier Cricket competition.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
Made my debut in grade cricket for South Perth at 3rd grade level when I was 17.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
Made my 1st grade debut for South Perth for the last two games of my first season. My first grade debut saw me bat for around 45 minutes for a duck, it was pretty nerve racking and then my next game I made 40 odd which was a bit of relief.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Definitely a batsmen only who held my own at 1st grade level without setting the world on fire.
What were your strengths as a player?
I was captain at many levels and enjoyed that immensely. Given I batted from opening to No. 6 over my time it was the opening spot I enjoyed most. Loved playing the cut shot along with banging them over cow boundary from outside off. Used to piss the bowlers off no end but eventually mastered that one.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
I scored 242 in an A Grade game for Gosnells in the South Suburban competition against Lynwood Ferndale. Fair bit of big hitting that day as I had my brother in laws wedding and promised the wife I would only bat to tea. Unfortunately I was still in at tea and continued batting and missed the service but got to the main drinking part. Amazingly we are still married.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Bowling was something I tagged out on as I was pretty crap.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Facing Duncan Spencer in the nets was very unenjoyable, especially off 18 yards. Quickest bowler faced and played with by far.
Back then a lot of state and test players played quite a few grade games for their club.
Subiaco Floreat’s Terry Alderman – say no more
Midland Guildford’s Stan Wilson – very fast opening bowling
Jo Angel – State opening bowler who gave nothing away.
Duncan Spencer
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Steve Milosz - leg spin bowler who had all the tricks
Brett Mulder – bloody good offie
Stuart McGill – very good leg spin bowler who played for Australia.
Stuart MacGill
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Alec Stewart – a pom who played for Midland Guildford, all class.
Kim Hughes – once again, nothing needs to be said around his class.
John McGuire – saw him belt the South Perth Bowlers around the park for 197 one day, an amazing innings.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Luke Pomersbach playing at Gosnells and chasing Joondalups 395, needing 12 an over off last 10 overs and getting them with 2 overs to go. They had everyone on the boundary and Luke just kept clearing them. Head and shoulders above anything I have ever witnessed. Luke made 194 and could have batted on to make his 200 but once we passed their score he decided it was time to pull stumps. Amazing innings.
Was there any bowler or batsman in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
A guy by the name of Keith Coughlan. He bowled gentle outswingers and I would always want to whack him but tended to knick off to him.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
It was in the first season that Gosnells had been admitted to WACA Grade Cricket and we came up against Subiaco Floreat who had Terry Alderman and Kim Hughes who had just returned from a winning Ashes tour.
Terry Alderman
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
The best keeper I ever saw was a Gosnells South Suburban cricketer Adrian Drew, spectacular and when I witnessed him taking a leg side stumping off the opening bowler who was by no means slow, that sealed the deal. All class.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
I reckon me ole mate Martin Sharp who was a fierce competitor and you knew if you needed a wicket just throw him the ball. Could slog a few too. The other would be a bowler I came up against and struggled with Ken Lilly, really smart opening bowler who had a number of different deliveries and a prolific WACA wicket taker.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Wayne Andrews captain coached the club to a semi-final in his first season at the club. Pretty cool and calm and led from the front winning the Ollie Cooley Medal as the best player in the WACA competition with over a 1,000 runs for the season.
Wayne Andrews
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Mark Riley created many a good laugh in the change rooms. I remember he arranged for the whole team to play a prank on our captain coach Doug Harris when we were playing South Perth. Dougy had batted superbly for an unbeaten century which spanned the whole 3 sessions of cricket. We all laid down in the change rooms and started snoring when Dougy entered the room. He was not a happy man but I player who never gave away his wicket and was a fantastic leader.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Opening the batting for South Perth, first ball of the day, warm up ball and I went forward thinking I have just played the perfect forward defensive shot to a straight slow one and heard my castle rattle. Pretty embarrassing and still grapple with how the hell did I missed it.
Who was your childhood hero?
Watching Dennis Lillee storm in at the WACA wins hands down. We talk fierce competitor, he is the definition of the word.
Dennis Lillee
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Virat Kohli, Roger Federer, Dustin Martin
Virat Kohli
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Michael Holding, Kerry O’Keefe for a laugh
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Lucky to play on the WACA but the Premier Cricket ground is University of WA ground is the best.
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
I don’t really have a particular team but it was always good to play against Midland Guildford in their prime given the many first class players that played for them when they weren’t on state or national duties. Just presented a real challenge to pit yourself against the very best.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Making 242 in the South Suburban days would have to be the most memorable and making my second hundred in about an hour.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
It was when I dropped down to skipper the Gosnells 2nd in the latter part of my career. Playing in a semi final against Bayswater Morley who had a batting line up with 4 of their top 5 ex first grade players. We were rolled for 136 and we beat them. Winning the close ones were always good.
Gosnell Cricket Club First Grade Semi Final team v Fremantle 1994-95
Back row: Graeme Weston(scorer), Phil Petricevich, Gerrard Wyeth, Guy Hoskin, Colin Leipold, Daniel Bennett
Bottom row: Luke Marshall, Ross Leipold, Wayne Andrews, Brendan Rayner, Colin Cook
Front: Duncan Spencer, Danny Neretlis
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
David Bishop, Martin Sharp, Andrew Panetta
What are your hobbies?
Football, Cricket, races, golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
My parents who led by example and used to say, if you are not happy about something, do something about it, don’t whinge.
What’s your occupation?
Operations Manager at the Swan Districts Football Club. Previously owned U Brew It Canning Vale micro-brewery but is now called Brew University in Canning Vale, they make awesome beer so more than happy if you give them a plug.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
I was president of the Gosnells Cricket Club for 18 years but stepped down two years ago and now coach the under 17s.
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
I think at the moment the junior playing structure needs revamping. Having all 50 over and T20 cricket is restrictive in teaching young players the value of the longer form of the game. I am a big believer in T20 should be structured as a separate competition and play 2 day cricket as the main form.
