Julia Price - A touch of class
Dean Tuckwell | January 25, 2023
“You Aussie piece of shit.” My hearing isn’t great and it was a pretty noisy bar but I heard that loud and clear. The bar was in Hua Hin, Thailand, just one of the far flung places in the world where cricket has taken former Australian wicketkeeper Julia Price. My hand was still wringing having 30 minutes earlier having been crushed in the vice-like grip of a South African participant of the six-a-side tournament that was due to start the following day. This bear-like man was now taking offence at Julia’s refusal of his patronising offer to play pool left-handed against a mere woman. Did I mention too that he was dwarfed by his mate, a Johannesburg policeman and perhaps the biggest man I have ever met? Oh - and both are holding pool cues.
“I don’t care that you are a woman I shall beat you and bring your Aussie pieces of shit mates over here and I shall kill them too.” As I inch my way glacially toward the pool table I looked around to see what comrades I had in case my worst fears were realised. In the corner I see Chris Torrisi animatedly conversing with a barmaid miming what appears to be the operation of a whipper snipper. Between us we are 160kg and have had 2 career fights, dispiritingly Tossa was 53 of those kilos and the participant in both stoushes. On consecutive days in kindergarten when the class bullies had tried to steal his prosciutto and pomodoro panini. I may have been more emboldened had I known that his record was one and one, Stephanie Frew having just got the better of him as the little lunch bell rang.
An outspoken advocate of women’s sport and feminism, I was also relieved to discover that Julia Price also knew when to shut up. Since learning of this ordeal several of her former teammates have said that they wished to have been there, not to lend a hand, just so that they could have seen Julia bite her tongue. Somehow bloodshed was averted, and I also discovered that she is not one to hold a grudge, as it only took a couple of days for Julia to drop the idea of placing a little surprise in the South African’s batting gloves just before his team left for Bangkok airport. I have been hit in the head a few times whilst batting but this was the closest I had come to being killed in a cricket-related incident.
Price went on to star as the only woman in the competition, hitting a six off the last ball to win one match. The Bangkok Morning Post wrote of Price’s cricketing heroics on the back page under the headline “A touch of class”, coincidentally the name of an establishment that some of the opposition players frequented. Presumably the budget of The Bangkok Post’s sports department only allowed its cricket reporter to work during the hours of daylight.
A world class wicketkeeper and useful batter, Julia Price represented Australia in 94 internationals between 1996 and 2005 and whilst there have been plenty of women’s cricketers before her, Julia Price is a trailblazer in that she used her prowess and love of the game to create a life and livelihood from cricket, playing and coaching around the world working in England, Ireland, Scotland and The Netherlands. Following a successful playing career with Queensland she was asked to guide a young Tasmanian side as a player and subsequently became head coach of Women’s cricket in the island state. A true student of the game she was also the first female coach in the men’s BBL becoming Darren Lehmann’s assistant at The Brisbane Heat in 2019/20.
Julia is now forging a career in the media at a great time to be involved with women’s sport with her fun, insightful commentary. Although very happy at Channel 7, it is a bit sad that the cricket is no longer with Channel 10 as she definitely fancied herself to be a contestant on Dancing With The Stars. She is currently juggling her commentary duties with her role as coach of the USA Women’s cricket team. She was desperately disappointed with Covid forcing the postponement of the 20-20 World Cup and with the result of the recent presidential election, hoping that they might visit The Whitehouse had they won. When asked if she had any trepidation about meeting Donald Trump, Julia replied that “he’s a celebrity, not to mention a powerful man, so you just have to let him do what he wants” no doubt daydreaming of a possible retirement at Mar-A-Lago.
An inveterate traveller, Julia has ventured to more than 100 countries and although some may be as appealing as a Delta Goodrem Christmas special, she approaches them all with a quest for knowledge and a spirit of fun and adventure. Please enjoy her story.
What year you were born?
1972
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Well my first structured cricket game was for Easts. I was 17 and had just finished school. I’d also just seen my first game of women’s cricket on ABC (Channel 2) which was the Women’s World Cup final at the MCG on 18 December. I was in Melbourne for Christmas with my family. I didn’t even know women played so I rang Qld cricket when I got back and started the back half of the season. I had some mates from school come along to cheer me on. They’d made signs and everything. “Pricey for PM” was one I remember. We were playing out the back of Wynnum with no facilities, may have literally been a cow in cow corner and a concrete pitch. I got 2 for 35 bowling. An unfortunate boost to my ego which was never going to be repeated with the ball.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played for a few clubs locally due to the nature of women’s cricket at that stage. I started at Easts for a couple of years which was a second grade club. Perfect for a complete beginner but was coaxed to Toombul to play first grade after about 3 years I think. That folded after a year and then headed to Souths for a few years, eventually splitting Souths into two first grade clubs in Redbank Plains & Wynnum-Manly to grow the game. Remained at Wynnum for most of my career until I took a year off, Wynnum folded and then had to play at University.
I’ve been fairly lucky playing at all places around the world. Lords, Eden Gardens, Eden Park, Centurion, Headingley, plenty of great county and 1st class grounds in Australia & few unusual ones in Ireland, Thailand, Netherlands & Scotland.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
2nd grade at 17
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
19 I think and no idea how I went.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
At a guess it was 153 for Wynnum-Manly at Wynnum-Manly No 1 so a good deck!!
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I am pretty bad at remembering these things but I was only bowling as we were probably playing with 8 players or I knew that it was going to be more embarrassing for the batter getting out to me than me being hit for runs against that batter.
Julia Price: “Come to think of it, the depth of Tasmanian cricket probably needed addressing”
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Cathryn Fitzpatrick – bowled around 125-130km/h at the time so was ridiculously good and actually wanted to hurt you. Played for Victoria and Australia
Charmain Mason – bowled around 115km/h so not overly quick but had plenty of aggression, swung it both in and away and also had a back of the hand slow ball. Played for Victoria and Australia. Handy
Some Pakistani guy in Scotland playing 2nd grade (their team had no first grade conveniently enough) – I had to open the batting as none of our boys wanted to on a wet pitch. Understandably. I finished up with two broken ribs and out for 6 weeks. Told later he’d played First Class in Pakistan
Who have been the best three spinners you have played against?
Lisa Sthalaker – Smart bowler, not huge turn but varied her pace and flight with great control. Played for NSW and Australia
Belinda Matheson – Should have been a pace bowler, aggressive with a perfect off-spinning technique and a great arm ball. Played for Queensland
Shelley Nitschke – Left-arm orthodox with a very cool head on her shoulders. Didn’t panic under pressure and bowled at key times with plenty of variation. Played for South Australia and Australia
Who have been the best 3 batters you’ve played against?
Karen Rolton – A left hander built for power not speed except in her scoring rates. Ahead of her time in Women’s cricket hitting balls at faster than a run-a-ball in the 90s and able to hit over cover which is still a mystery to plenty of male and female players. Averaged 55 in Tests, 48 in ODIs & 50 in T20s. Over 170 games. Crazy good. Oh and took 100 wickets. Played for South Australia and Australia
Belinda Clark – perfect technique. Still generated good power for 165cm frame. Opened the batting aggressively and never threw her wicket away. Kept trying to improve her game right up to her last game. Inspirational and an amazing leader who drove you to be better. Played for NSW, Victoria and Australia
Charlotte Edwards – bad knees and couldn’t run but she didn’t realise that. Competitive and driven. Amazing eye and timing from ball one despite not being technically perfect. Hit in tough areas to defend. Another driver in the women’s game and legend. Played for England
Karen Rolton
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Well I could say Belinda Clark’s 229 not out vs Denmark in 1997 World Cup in Bombay but it was vs Denmark. So still amazing but, Karen Rolton’s 95 not out (53 balls) in Australia’s first ever T20 game v England. Destroyed them and back when no one really knew how to play T20 strategically or her 200 in an Ashes Test at Headingley or her 103 in the World Cup Final in Centurion. Endless list
Was there any batter in particular that stirred the emotions and competitive spirit where you really wanted their wicket?
Clare Connor, Captain of the England Women’s team. Was a bit of a hard arse. Didn’t ever want to mingle with us post games. Always very pleasing to see the back of her with single figures next to her name.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Rebecca Rolls from NZ was always outstanding up to the stumps. Quite a tall keeper but strong. Interesting technique back as she was a soccer goalie for the NZ team as well so always went feet first, but up to the stumps she was lethal. Obviously Sarah Taylor from England was outstanding up to the stumps particularly down leg. Alyssa Healy keeping back (and up) can be great on her day. I think it’s just a bit easy for her sometimes! But a good athlete who can create a chance for her team
Rebecca Rolls
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Well first one is easy. Belinda Clark. Disciplined, technical, intelligent and funny. She had it all. Except her off spin. She made me look good, but otherwise she was never one to give in and if she was ever doubting where we were at, you could never tell.
Second is a player who had her career cut short due to being hit by a bus and having her leg almost completely severed. Jo Hunter (nee Garey) played for NSW, vice-captained my first U23 Australian team and was a very talented genuine all-rounder from Orange. A great person and competitor. Fought back after the accident to play for Australia for one series as primarily a bat but had to give the game away. Is now coaching her children’s teams and still involved in the game.
Belinda Clark
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
My only ever captain for Australia was Belinda Clark. She taught me so much about how to lead a team whether that be on the field, or at the pub. She managed to maintain a professional relationship with everyone as captain whilst also being a teammate which can be very tough to balance. She regularly asked advice from players and staff and she led by example with bat and in the field tactically. She could also be quite moody on the field occasionally and thus “Cranky Clark” nickname. I remember feeling the inside of my glove getting quite squishy in the 40th over v NZ in an ODI. I’d taken off my glove from an outfield throw, in the previous over, to have a ping at the bowler’s end but the ball had kicked and hit me on the thumb. I took my glove off to see blood everywhere. I was so nervous to mention it to her as it was a tight game. I eventually did and she reluctantly called for the physio (who put a band-aid on it). 5 days later I was in for surgery for a compound dislocation which was severely infected.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Lisa Keightley (Australia) or Saibh Young (Ireland, when I played there)
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
We were playing an Ashes Test in England and Barbara Daniels was batting and had been quite difficult to get out in the previous innings. We’d been eating those lollies that have all the messages written on them like I love you or hug me. One of them had Bye Bye written on it so when Barbara came out to bat we’d left it on where she would take centre. We found it extremely amusing when she finally realised what it said and she picked it up and threw it to cover. She didn’t last long and the saying “Bye Bye Barbara” has endured the years!!
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Not sure if it was embarrassing or just controversial but I got given out bowled when playing against South Australia for Queensland after running a 3. Go figure.
Who were your childhood heroes?
Greg Chappell, Chris Evert-Lloyd
Chris Evert Lloyd
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Sam Kerr, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Melanie Jones
Besties: Mel Jones and Julia Price
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Allan Border Field or Adelaide Oval
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Initially it was New Zealand. We played them regularly in the Rosebowl series due to them being a short flight away so it was an annual rivalry. As the game started to open up, England (as a traditional men’s cricket foe) also became a competitive and a great team to play against.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
I love the strategizing of the game. The cat & mouse and the beer
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Queensland’s first win over NSW and coaching Tasmania’s first win over NSW. In fact any win over NSW.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
It wasn’t a moment. It was an entire tour, the Ashes Tour 1998 when we were away for 2 months. Best two months of my life and I felt how a cricketer representing their country should feel. 3 Tests, 5 ODIs v England, 3 ODIs v Ireland. 461 beers
Catherine Fitzpatrick takes a wicket and about to join Julia Price and Belinda Clark to celebrate
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Melanie Jones, Angela Farrell, Lyndall Daley
What are your hobbies?
Art Galleries, Gin or Wine Drinking, Job Hunting (all can be done at the same time)
You have a great love of travel and music, have you managed to attend any concerts overseas?
I haven’t been to as many concerts overseas as I would have liked but Van Morrison at Stirling Castle (with Peter Drinnen, when we worked together), Cat Empire and Paul Kelly in Edinburgh (not together), The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and Billy Joel in Ireland (not all playing together clearly), Diana Ross in Vegas and Powderfinger in London (With Chris Torrissi). But my favourite was The Who at Wembley on the Saturday night and Stevie Wonder in Dublin on the Tuesday night. Loving life!!!
Stevie Wonder in Dublin
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
You probably don’t need that drink
Editor’s note: regrettably, when Julia asked could not remember who gave her this advice
What is your current occupation?
Head Coach, USA women’s Team, Cricket Commentator for Channel 7
If you were running Cricket QLD what would be your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Investment into club cricket statewide and more 2nd XI games
