You say tomato, Bob says Bloody Mary!

Shane Lee | May 28, 2023

Don Bradman once said Bob Radford, the former CEO of NSW Cricket, was the best sporting administrator before lunch!

It is well documented that Mr Radford was a superb sporting executive and also loved a little more than a tipple of alcohol.

Bob was the CEO at NSW Cricket when I was first selected in the NSW State squad when I was 18. It was legendary that his ability to consume alcohol over lunch and remember every business detail was uncanny. He was direct, unique and hard working. He also could tear shreds off people for underperforming. He demanded excellence.

I remember being summoned to his office for the first time at Cricket NSW to be greeted with the following;

“Welcome! Do you like beer?

“Yes, Mr Radford.”

“Good - You will go a long way here. Let’s go to lunch, my shout.”

What a welcome to the greatest State, County, Province in the history of the game. I think I’m going to enjoy playing here!

During Bob’s tenure at Cricket NSW, a major point of contention that’s still relevant today was the cost of cricket balls. This little piece of cork wrapped in leather is the major cost of any cricket club or association and Mr Radford took this cost to his balance sheet very seriously.

To the point, the NSW head coach would be allocated a ‘ball budget’ and these little expensive red jewels were to be protected and guarded with their life. Or else!

Mr Radford carry the Sheffield Shield

Following NSW’s cricket success and winning the double in my first season in 1991/92, the NSW team flew to New Zealand to take on their Premiers in Canterbury. The match was to be played in Christchurch and up for grabs were the Trans-Tasman bragging rights! 

After an extensive season at home, Mr Radford took it upon himself to be the tour manager, CEO, Coach and physiotherapist. It was also well known that his skillset also included team dinners and post-match drinks!

To further add to his responsibilities, I realised the night before departing on my first international trip that my passport had expired. Christ! I’m going to miss my first trip with the greatest State, Country, Province and may never play again due to my stupidity.

I had no choice but to call Radford and explain…

“Mr Radford, I have just checked and my passport is out of date. What do I do?”

“You’re an idiot, but thank God you can bowl and bat. Just be at the airport two hours early tomorrow and I’ll see what I can do.”

Sure enough, Mr Radford pulled some strings and handed me a boarding pass. You little beauty, I’m on tour!

“You better get some wickets and runs Lee” he lamented.

Somehow NSW also won this match quite comfortably and the speech given by Bob Radford post-match only confirmed why Bradman rated him so highly. The man was a quirky genius;

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Sir Ron Brierley, distinguished guests, players and coaching staff of the Canterbury Cricket Association and valued sponsors. The NSW cricket team entered your shores only three days ago. We came with no coach, no physiotherapist, no scorer, no selectors and a bag of 25 expensive cricket balls. Thank you to Canterbury Cricket Association for a tough match today. To the NSW cricket team, well-done boys. We are now Sheffield Shield Champions, Mercantile Mutual Cup winners and Trans-Tasman champions. On this trip under my guidance, there has been no so silly early night curfews or even restrictions on alcohol consumption. No stupid warm-up routines or net sessions. We leave these shores with great memories and an appreciation of the hospitality we have been shown as Champions of the ‘Ditch’. I came here with 25 cricket balls and now have 37 in my possession. What a tour! Thank you very much!"

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