Tim Caban - enjoy the game

Stockton and Northern Districts Cricket Club | June 27, 2023

Tim Caban (TC to most) represented Queensland in 1 First Class match and was a prominent cricketer in Newcastle for many years. Tim was a feature in Stockton & Northern Districts teams throughout the clubs hugely successful period of the late 70s and 80s

Tim was also recently named as a member of the Stockton & Northern Districts Cricket Club Team of the last 50 Years (1970-2019)

What year were you born?

1952

Can you remember your first game of cricket?

Yes, it was for Aberdare Ranger. I was 9 years old and I made 85no. Coincidentally I made 85 in my last game when I was 59 in a league game at the Woodford Wells Club in England.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I learned to play starting against my oldest cousin Paul on the tennis court at my uncles place at Wollombi when I was 6 and he was 14 and playing 1st grade in Cessnock.

Paul, I believe may have the first player from Cessnock to play at Stockton and by the time I played my first game at 9 he was bowling at full pace.

I started in Cessnock and finished in Cessnock but in between played in Brisbane, Newcastle, Newcastle City and Suburban, Weston Workers in Maitland comp, back to Newcastle and aged 50 to the UK with Woodford Wells.

What clubs did you play for?

In the 50 years that I played I had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus

•  Aberdare rangers Allandale rosebuds both juniors.
• Wollombi (at one stage 5 cousins,2 second cousins 2 uncles and my brother were the Wollombi side)
• United Service
• Royal Oak
• Aberdare later we became Cessnock Workers Club
• Pedens Hotel which later became East Cessnock
• Northern Suburbs in Brisbane
• Colts who were picked from the grade competition in Brisbane and played as a team in the Brisbane first grade competition
• Western Suburbs in Brisbane
• Stockton
• Southern Lakes
• Cardiff – Boolaroo
• University of Newcastle
• Cardiff Workers Club
• Weston Workers
• Woodford Wells (UK) I’m a Life Member

also so many touring clubs that had no home ground including North Park, Freebooters (Life Member), Chinghoppers (Life Member), Mediators (Life Member), Stoics, South Woodford Stags.

What representative cricket did you play, if any?

I player representative cricket for Cessnock in the John Bull Shield, Newcastle Schoolboys, NSW Schoolboys, Hunter Valley Colts and Seniors, The Emu Club, NSW Country, Brisbane Colts, QLD Colts, QLD, Newcastle, Northern NSW and Essex County Seniors.

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

B Grade as a 12 year old

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

I was 14 and I made 28 and took 2 wickets (10 and jack)

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

I used 30% of my given ability as a batter and 170% of my given ability as a bowler. A good catcher

What were your strengths as a player?

I was always in the battle and loved the contest

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

227 in winter cricket in Brisbane. 214 for Stoics in the UK

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

8 for 52 for Southern Lakes against Merewether at Townson Oval

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

Ian Botham - was always trying to get you out

Brett Lee - f… quick, I was 56 at the time

Carl Rackemann - he was unpredictable

Ian Botham

 

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Derek Underwood

Inshan Ali

Malcolm Franke 

Who were the best three batsman you’ve played with or against?

Viv Richards

Greg Chappell

Geoff Boycott

Greg Chappell

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

Craig Evans scored 123 against Southern Lakes at Awaba Oval. The ball was turning square and very much up and down. He smashed Dutchy Holland and Steve Woodbridge

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?

My first game for Norths in Brisbane against Easts. They had they had 2 Test players in Tony Dell and Rusi Surti plus five Shield players.

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

Allan Knott

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

Gary Gilmour - skill

John Bourke – competitive. John played 1st grade for Wests in Brisbane

Gary Gilmour

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

There are 2 I can't split. James Hogg as a leader and Mike Rogers as a tactician and game manager in declaration cricket in the U.K

 

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Rod Mace and Rob Main

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

Too many but Gary Geise asking a bloke who opened against us and missed 4 in a row if he had played before.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Being caught at short cover the first ball after Trevor Hohns had put 3 fielders there

Who was your childhood hero?

Garfield Sobers. He made a hundred at the SCG in the first test I watched live

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

• Jack Nicklaus
•  Raelene Boyle
• Phil Taylor

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Shane Warne

What was your favourite ground to play at?

I can't split three

• Lynn Oval at Stockton
• No1 Oval at Woodford Wells
• Graceville in Brisbane

 

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

Loved them all but I hated the second day against Belmont at Cahill Oval. No more to say

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Making 44 not out against West Essex for Woodford Wells on the worst wicket I have ever played on. We needed to win to gain promotion and so did they. Their opening bowler had played for Barbados just three seasons earlier and he was rapid. His first ball to me jumped off a good length and clipped my cap and went for six leg byes, the next ran along the deck. I was 56 year old at the time and my son Mitch was playing in the game and saw it.

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

Beating Newcastle City to win the Newcastle Final and defending 113

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

Rod Mace, Viv Richards and David Gower. The look on Macey’s face when they walked in would be priceless.

What are your best memories of playing for Stockton & Northern Districts?

Bowling into the nor'easter

What are your hobbies?

I have a few. Golf, reading, collecting golf ball markers from the courses I have played all around the world. I currently have 138 markers from the 195 courses I have played.

I also write children's books for my grandchildren

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Play and enjoy the game for what it is “a game”

What is your occupation?

Retired coal mine worker

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

No

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?

Get cricket back into schools. Provide nets and inter school competition. Harsher penalties for slow over rates.

 

 Name your best team that you played with

1. Sam Trimble – third most runs in Shield Cricket

2. Rick McCosker – elegant and time

3. Craig Evans – quickest footwork I ever saw

4. Greg Chappell – just great

5. Martin Kent – he had the 2nd most ability that I ever say (mark faraday was number 1)

6. If a flat wicket Greg Geise but if I needed an extra bowler Mark Curry

• Greg Geise – made batting simple and uncomplicated
• Mark Curry – never seemed in trouble

7. Gary Gilmour – freak

8. Gary Madders – wicket keeper - had it all. Suffered from nerves at state level

9. Malcolm Franke – great control and had them all

10. Geoff Dymock – swung it everywhere, good bounder

11. Jeff Thomson - terrifying