Brad Ipson - there's always a need to adapt

Gold Coast District Cricket Club | March 07, 2023

Brad Ipson made his first grade debut playing for Easts Redlands at the age of 17 in Queensland Premier Cricket.

At the beginning of the 2003/04 season Brad joined Gold Coast Dolphins and on the 20 September 2003 he became Dolphins first grade player number 93.

A highly skilled a spinning all-rounder Brad’s talents were recognised winning the Peter Burge Medal for the Queensland Premier Cricket best and fairest player across the competition in 2012/13 and playing 9 one day games for Queensland.

Let’s find out more about Brad’s journey in the game.

What year you were born?

September 17th 1980

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I remember filling in for the Greenbank cricket club in an U12’s game. Some of my school friends played cricket and were a couple short and asked if I would fill in. 

I was 11 years old. I can’t remember how I went but remember the old man in a mad dash to the local sports store to get some playing gear. I enjoyed the game and stayed with the team for the remainder of the year.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?  

I remember attending the Beaudesert cricket clinics during school holidays and being selected for the district side where we would travel out west on a tour each year to play against teams from Warwick, Dalby, chinchilla and Roma. From there I was selected for South East Queensland and then in the Queensland Under 16’s to go to NZ. 

I went to the East’s cricket club to play Taverners and the following year Easts merged with Redlands where I played some grade cricket with the now East Redlands cricket club where I played for 8 seasons before playing for the Gold Coast Dolphins.

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?

I think by first game was in 3rd Grade for East Redlands before finishing my first season in a very strong second grade side.

At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?

I remember getting my first grade cap at the age of 17 I remember playing against a very strong Sandgate side which was definitely an eye opener. I think I got 2 for 30 odd off 10 overs so was more than happy with that at the time.

I remember getting a strong welcome to the crease by Gavin Fitness who sprayed me from the moment I entered the field to the time I got to the wicket where I was greeted by Brendan Creevey who stood eye to eye with me and shook my grill… I was thinking what is going on here but certainly something I will never forget.

Brad Ipson bowling for Gold Coast

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

I’m a left arm orthodox spin bowler who started batting 11 in grade cricket and ended up finishing in the middle order towards the end of my career.

What were your strengths as a player?

I don’t think I had the skill of a lot of players but I would say my strengths were my consistency and ability to chip in with important runs when the team most needed them.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

134 not out against Toombul while playing for the Gold Coast Dolphins

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

My best bowling figures was 7 for 29 in a one day game against East Redlands a few years after I made the move to the Gold Coast.

You won the Peter Burge medal for the Best and Fairest player in Brisbane Grade Cricket in 2012/13. What can you remember about that year in terms of performances and what did it personally mean to you?

I was really proud to win the Peter Burge medal it was a goal of mine for a long time but I was coming to the end of my cricketing Journey and it wasn’t something I thought I would achieve. I was lucky enough to play a few T20 and one day games for QLD that year and only played about 14 games. Whilst I had a strong season, I didn’t think I would’ve polled enough votes to win but was pleasantly surprised.

Brad Ipson receiving the Peter Burge Medal

Peter Burge Medal Count - 2012/13

You played 9 one day games for Queensland. Can you share with us how you found out you’d been selected to play for Queensland, who did you play and what do you remember about your first game?

I was selected in the baby bash to go to Melbourne for a tournament before the Big Bash franchise leagues kicked off and performed quite well and from there I was selected to play for QLD in T20’s and then some one day games.

I remember having by cap presented to me in Adelaide by Allan Border which was a great honour as he was a player I always looked up to as a kid. 

I remember being really nervous and was tasked with opening the bowling at the Adelaide Oval. My first ball was short and I was hit for 4 and I was thinking that’s not a great start but managed a wicket off my second ball so I settled into things after that.

A couple of weeks later I got another call from Trevor Hohns to tell me I was picked in the one day side and we played a rain effected match against NSW at North Sydney Oval. I only bowled the one over as our quicks tore through a strong NSW side. A week later we were back in Adelaide and I picked up 3 wickets against SA.

Brad Ipson bowling for Queensland

How do you look back on your time playing for Queensland?

I loved it! I knew my time would be short lived as I was 30 by the time my opportunity came but enjoyed every moment of it. Having the opportunity to play against the best cricketers in the country was a huge challenge and to share the field with a lot of my mates was the highlight.

Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle. It’s always hard to face fast bowlers bowling 140km plus who swing the ball and I certainly didn’t enjoy facing these guys that’s for sure.

Having said that it was equally hard at training with the Gold Coast Dolphins who had a fantastic crop of bowlers at the time. I was hard to choose whether to have a hit in the first grade net with bowlers like Chris Swan, Scott Brant, Michael Durbridge and Chris Slattery or the second grade net at the time had Alastair McDermott, Billy Stanlake, Michael Nesser and Simon Milenko… Often I was a fan of throw downs as you can appreciate.

Mitchell Johnson

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Dan Doran was the best spinner I played with or against but never played against him so I would say the three best I played against were Nathan Lyon, Nathan Hauritz and Cameron Boyce. All very good bowlers who could beat you in the air or off the wicket.

Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against? 

Phil Hughes, Greg Moller and Joe Burns. I think I made most batsmen look good but the 3 guys above played some memorable innings in teams I played against that have stuck with me. They all had the ability to control the tempo of the game and make it hard to settle as a bowler.

Joe Burns

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Andrew Robinson played a number of innings for the Dolphins where he simply destroyed some very strong bowling attacks. He had so much natural ability it was great that he was in my team. I remember a double hundred he got one day, was just unbelievable.

Andrew Robinson

Was there any batsman/bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?

Nathan Reardon wasn’t much fun to bowl against I remember him doing some damage more often than not. As a bowler Scott Walter, I know he has over 500 grade wickets and I reckon I contributed my fair share as I couldn’t lay bat on him.

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?

All grade sides had good players but the next level I found all the players were good and they had the ability to score 360 degrees and keep the scoreboard ticking over. It was hard to tie them down and even harder to get them out. I remember Michael Klinger and Phil Hughes doing it easy in a one day game in Adelaide and we didn’t look like getting them out, they were so clinical.

Brad Ipson batting for Gold Coast

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

There are two I found hard to split. Damian Wallis was a fantastic cricketer who should’ve played at a higher level if it wasn’t for Chris Hartley so I would say it’s tough to split those 2.

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

Steve Paulsen and Brian May. Both fantastic cricketers who were able to maintain their skills for a long period of time and had a never say die attitude. The bowlers I loved being at the other end with were Dan Doran who had the ability to change the game in just a few overs. The other one was Andy Bichel just his energy and skill made him a true competitor.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

I played with a lot of good captains but the one that sticks with me is Brad Murphy as a youngster coming into grade at Redlands. His nouse for the game really stuck with me. He was always looking to progress the game and I remember winning some games that I thought were simply unwinnable.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Luke Gleeson. A very funny bloke and good cricketer. I think we spent some of the time laughing at him and the rest of the time laughing with him.

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

Actually only just mentioned this the other day when a couple of us caught up for a few beers and a BBQ.

I remember playing for the Dolphins against University of Queensland and for those from the Brisbane comp will know the Michael brothers. Dom batted for half the day and we finally got him out only to have his brother Andy come to the crease. I remember stopping the bowler in his run up and telling the umpires that we had just got this bloke out and surely he wasn’t allowed to bat again. It definitely added some amusement to the day and it took the umpire a few overs to compose himself.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

I remember a game against the Sunshine Coast and I charged a bowler and hitting the ball to mid-off. As he collected I put my bat behind me in an attempt to get back into my crease. As the ball sailed over my head and the keeper whipped the bails off I realised I was still half a foot short of the crease.

Who was your childhood hero?

Dean Jones and Allan Border.

Allan Border

Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?

Tiger Woods, Ronaldo and Kevin Peterson.

Ronaldo

What was your favourite ground to play at?

East Redlands cricket club or Adelaide oval.

What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?

I didn’t mind playing Wests. I seemed to get wickets and runs against them but there are plenty of teams where this wasn’t the case.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Some of the personal achievements I am very proud of but being in a team environment I would have to say winning a few 1st grade competition with the Gold Coast Dolphins. We had a strong group of blokes who stuck together and in the space of 5 years we went from being flogged every week to winning back to back competition and 5 or 6 earned the opportunity to play for QLD.

What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?

The one that sticks with me was winning a second grade final as a 17 year old at East Redlands. We lost on first innings but managed to win outright.

Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?

Chris Swan, Dan Doran and Damian Wallis.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy getting out on my Jetski, and spending time watching my kids play their chosen sports.

What’s the best advice you’ve received? 

The constant need to adapt, if you continue to do what you have always done then how can you expect a different outcome.

What is your occupation?

I’m the National Business Manager for Casella Family Brands. We sell around 15 million cases of wine around the world with our largest brand, Yellowtail. It’s a fantastic success story and one of the largest family owned wine businesses in the world.

Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?

I try to remain involved. I do the odd bit of coaching and had a run with the Moreton Magic in the first year of the BPL before the body threw in the towel.

Moreton Magic

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?

Pick the best players. Pick on performances and not potential. If a younger player has potential then eventually the performances will come.

Keep the older players in the game as long as you can.