Richard Stobo - my best captain

Richard Stobo | January 16, 2024

I was fortunate to play under some terrific captains at representative and grade level, including Steve Waugh, Greg Dyer, Geoff Lawson, Phil Emery, Michael Cant, Darren Tucker, Marty Haywood, and others. Great as they were, however, there was none was better than Steve Day, at Gordon District Cricket Club.

Steve was a magnificent captain, and a great bloke. By the time he joined us in 1985, he had already successfully captained the NSW U19s and Northern Districts 2nd Grade (where, as a 21-year-old, he led a side with much older players to a Premiership).

Steve read the game superbly, was calm under pressure, tactically excellent, decisive, and – above all – understood and related to EVERY one of his players, both on and off the field.

Everyone during that time – Gordon players, opponents, and umpires – liked and respected Steve enormously, and I can’t remember anyone ever questioning or challenging him. Even Mark O’Neill.

Personally, I always felt he trusted and understood me, both as a bowler and individual. Because fast bowling can be pretty taxing, physically and mentally, I could wear my heart on my sleeve at times and probably wasn’t always the easiest bloke to skipper. However, Steve seemed to know when (and how) I needed to be pushed, reined in, or rested. For the most part, however, he trusted me to get on and do my job – which in turn gave me confidence – setting and adjusting the field according to the particular situation of the match, and not necessarily a textbook.

It was great to play cricket under a captain like that.

Steve had a deep, flexible understanding of the game, combined with an even deeper understanding of people.

A captain must manage lots of moving parts in a cricket team, as well as deal with the innumerable variables that arise during a match. Unlike most sports, the captain of a cricket team has to make hundreds of decisions during a day’s play, and virtually everyone is consequential.

In 1987-88, Steve took over a Gordon side with some experience and ability, including most obviously Mark O’Neill and Phil Emery (but both often away on State duty), as well as players such as Michael Cant, Ross Toohey, Mark Aldridge, Steve Liggins, Jamie Bray, and Mark Danckert, but which had never really threatened the big boys of the competition. 

However, the next season saw the emergence of an extraordinary group of precociously gifted 17- and 18-year-olds, including local juniors John Davison, Kevin Roberts, and Warwick Adlam, and two pretty fair players from Lismore, Adam Gilchrist and Paul Maclean, both of whom had played Green Shield with Gordon.

Most were playing their first year of 1st Grade. A lot of talent, sure, but at that time there were MANY very strong, more experienced, and talented teams around, all brimming with good players – just think of Balmain (our fiercest rivals, and a terrific side by any measure), Mosman, Sutherland, Northern Districts, Campbelltown, Bankstown, St George, Randwick, Penrith, etc.

We also had a real mix of personalities, from the younger to the older, and the normal to the not-so-normal. And Gordon wasn’t used to competing at the pointy end of 1st Grade. Without the right man in charge, it could easily have resulted in tension, frustration, and unfulfilled potential … but Steve was, without a doubt, the right man. He made sure we took every match seriously (but not necessarily each other) and it made for a great dressing room.

Saturdays were fun. Importantly, he genuinely relished a contest, and that is infectious – the tougher the game, the better we seemed to play.

Steve backed each of us to do our job but his firm hand on the tiller gave the side enormous self-belief. And he was also prepared to make hard calls, in selections and on the field.

The result was a team in which players trusted each other, enjoyed each other’s success, and made a habit of winning big matches – including some nail-biting finals that seemed all but lost.

It was a very happy, successful – and rare – side, and great to be part of.

It couldn’t have happened, however, without an outstanding and highly respected captain steering the ship.