Paul Jackson - "with your physique you should consider bowling spin"

Dean Tuckwell | January 27, 2023

Ask any Queensland cricket fan of a certain age and they will tell you that Carl Rackemann took the catch that ended the 1994/95 Sheffield Shield final. They may or may not recall that left arm spinner Paul Jackson bowled the ball that sealed Queensland's first ever Sheffield Shield and having known Jacko for 30 years think that may be the way he prefers it. Whilst comfortable out of the limelight, Jackson was always determined to contribute to his teams' successes on and off the field but it would be wrong to call him quiet as anyone who has had (or tried to have) a cricket conversation with him would attest.

Right throughout his playing days he juggled his career In banking, never letting long working hours detract from his professional preparation. In this respect he played in the right era although he was charged with bowling finger spin on unhelpful pitches against some of the best batsmen ever to play for Australia as well as many of the best who didn't. Jackson was an accurate and clever spinner who made the most of his ability. He was a popular teammate and his skill made him a challenging adversary but his love of the game and preparedness to share his knowledge made him a respected one.

It is no surprise that his recollections are meticulous, thorough and well-prepared (if a little verbose!)

What year were you born?

1961. Same as Dean Jones, Merv Hughes and Boy George

Can you remember your first game of cricket?

No. A friend of my fathers organised for me to play at a club called Wattle Park and a mate and I went down to play in the U12’s, I was 10 I think. We didn’t know anyone else. Our first 2 games we didn’t get a bat or bowl.

Game 3 the coach reversed the batting order and my mate and I found ourselves opening.

I ended up batting through the whole morning finishing 36 not out. Probably an early indication of how I batted. I played solely as a batsman for the rest of that season.

The following year first game we were short of bowlers and my mate suggested to the group and the coach that I should bowl. In life you have to have promoters.*

Anyway I found myself opening the bowling (left arm medium pace inswing). I took 7/12 which would turn out to be my best performance of my whole career in Australia.

*the similarities to Peter Bol’s story are uncanny – editor

Tells us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I was fortunate to play in an U14 representative turf competition (Hatch Shield) for Box Hill – a sub district club. At the conclusion of that competition we had a training and coach night with some of the seniors and the club president at the time Ken Fewster who had played Premier Cricket for Carlton gave me the best bit of advice in my whole career. It went something like this:

“Paul, you have a nice action and swing the ball well, however medium pacers are a dime a dozen. With your physique you should consider bowling spin, you could play first eleven within 3 years”.

Armed with that advice I was at Box Hill the following year playing juniors in the morning and seniors in the afternoon. I went to Box Hill High which was right across the road from the cricket ground and I would go straight from school to the club and bowl till it got dark. I always found it easier to find someone who wanted to have a bat in the nets than trying to find someone who wanted to bowl to you in the nets!!

My first season of seniors was in the 3rds at Box Hill and I was extremely fortunate to have an older captain who had also played Premier Cricket at Carlton. Malcolm Heatley took me under his wing and treated me like his own son nursing me through my first season of bowling spin. I remember one game after coming across the best batsman in the competition and bowling 4 overs for 37, Mal saying “watch his feet”. He took me off before too much more damage and brought me back on later in the day where I got a couple of wickets. He sat me down after the day and in an encouraging way talked through the lessons learnt. Very important for young spinners.

I spent a couple of seasons with Box Hill and played in a First Eleven Grand Final only to lose to Moorabbin who had a young Simon Davis who took 5 wickets winning the game for them. Simon would go on to Captain Victoria and play for Australia and apart from his bowling “Sniffer” was known as the 3 minutes to six night watchman. 

A regular No.11 his theory was if a batter got out 3 minutes before stumps, with the 2 minute changeover his dismissal didn’t matter and he had protected the better batters in the side.

Simon Davis

From Box Hill I went to Richmond and played my first game in the seconds. The only thing I remember of the game was bowling with Kevin Sheedy (a self-taught leg spinner who in one season went from 4ths to 1sts). My first game was Kevin Sheedy’s last as the following week he was appointed Essendon Football Club coach. He would come back to Richmond and provide motivational talks prior to finals and loved the one on one match ups even in cricket!!

What Age did you debut in First Grade?

Debut aged 20. Jim Higgs (former Australian leg spinner) was captain of Richmond 1st XI and one of my early games was at Victoria Park against Collingwood (now Camberwell Magpies).

In the middle of a drought where the only piece of grass on most grounds was on the wicket block, we turned up to find Victoria Park with a lush green outfield. The football club had been shipping in the water to protect the ground for the football season.

I was thrown the ball by Higgsy early in the innings and confronting me was a stocky left hander Trevor (‘Larry’) Laughlin – (yes Ben’s father). Well long grass wasn’t an obstacle for Larry that day as he despatched me between mid-on and mid-wicket for an over of 4, 6, 2, dot, dot, 6. 18 off the over in a low scoring game and I was banished to fine leg.

Jim Higgs

Higgsy replaced me and his 3rd ball saw a return catch to the bowler - T Laughlin out caught and bowled. As a young bloke I ran in enthusiastically to celebrate the wicket only to be greeted at the circle with Higgsy front and centre looking at me “That’s how you bowl to first class batsmen!!!”

Fortunately I would have my revenge 2 years later getting Larry for ‘0’ bowled, trying to repeat his feat of a couple years earlier. Cricket often gives you a second opportunity.

Highest Score in Senior Cricket?

125 for Richmond Colts vs Melbourne Colts

Best bowling in Senior Cricket?

6/55 for Victoria vs South Australia, 8/26 for Tynemouth (English League Cricket).

Took 108 wickets in an English league season in 1984 from 20 games.

Best Fast Bowlers

Wasim Akram – We played Pakistan in a warm up match in Bendigo. I got a few wickets including Imran Khan (twice) and Wasim Akram (twice). I wasn’t required to bat in the first innings, but in the second Victoria was heading off defeat and I went out to bat against Wasim. 

I was greeted by a ring field around the bat, with Waqar Younis at silly mid-off telling me that “Wasim is not that happy with you.” 

Well I batted for the best part of half an hour and with an old ball received inswinger, outswinger, short balls that were a yard quicker than the pitched up deliveries and managed a paltry 2 runs, an edge down to third man. 

At the other end Damian Fleming flaying at the attack of Mushtaq Ahmed (spinner) and showing no inclination to bat at my end. 

Wasim eventually got his man caught silly leg fending off the chest. I batted long enough to appreciate the skill of the man. With his quick arm action it was difficult to pick up his subtle variations at good pace. I was told afterwards that my innings had provided a lot of entertainment to my Victorian teammates.

Merv Hughes - I played more with Merv than against him and fair to say he was a significant challenge in the practice nets. I would be greeted with “Jackson, I am going to bounce the ….. out of you”. 

Merv was a gentle giant but a fierce competitor and one of the best team men and the best ‘flat wicket’ fast bowler I played with. He could make something out of nothing and could be even more effective in the afternoon with an old ball as with the new. I remember one spell from Merv at the WACA where he had already accounted for Greg Shipperd, Tom Moody (caught fending off his nose), and Mark McPhee (retired hurt) when out walked Kim Hughes. 

After a couple of sighters Merv bowled the predictable bouncer to which Kim top edged for six at the members end. As he ran up the pitch Kim uttered the words “You’re playing with the big boys now” to which Merv took exception. 

After a slightly animated consultation with Captain Simon Davis, Merv steamed into Kim pitched up and struck Kim’s pads right in front – bat nowhere to be seen. Out!!! As he ran past the departing batsmen Simon Davis uttered the words “that will teach you to sledge my premier fast bowler”. Merv often could play the fool but underneath there was a perceptive smart fast bowler.

Carl Rackemann - Bowled awkward lengths from wide of the crease. Hardly ever saw him bowl a half volley and with big hands got considerable cut off the wicket. I don’t think Carl’s true ability was fully realised and except for injuries and other factors should probably have played more for Australia. 

An entertaining team mate, in one team meeting he made the assessment that he thought that a particular batsman was “susceptible to the one that pitched leg and hit off”. The response from the group was Mocca just give us 10 of those this innings and I think we will be OK. 

Took 50 wicket in 1994/95 when Queensland won the Shield and at age 35 bowled as quick as anyone that year.

Best Australian Spinners

Shane Warne – An explosive spin bowler in his younger days who could turn the ball further than anyone else. His control was that of a finger spinner and because of the amount of spin he imparted, could bowl quicker than most leggies and still beat the bat. 

What now is forgotten is that Shane started at the end of the West Indies era. The Victorian Coach at the time told Shane, myself and Peter McIntyre that spin bowling was “dead”. 

The West Indies have proven that. Shane was subsequently picked for Australia and had to fight through the other theory of the day that “leg spinners can’t bowl in one day games”. 

He crashed through all those glass ceilings to transform the game for the better. Interesting when we look at T20 today and each team wants a couple of wrist spinning options in their attack.

Tim May - Technically a very good finger spinner who really gave the ball a rip. Bowled considerable overs for South Australia and was often the main threat on the Adelaide Oval. 

A man with a very sharp dry wit. When bowling one day Hooksey asked him “do you want Sounda (Peter Sleep) a bit backward? To which Tim’s response was “believe you me Sounda has always been a bit backward!!”

Greg Matthews - Was at his best when you played him at the SCG and particularly as the wicket began to spin. A real wicket taker he got curve which gave him the ability to beat both sides of the bat. 

There was always a lot of theatrics with Mo’s spells and when on top almost an irresistible force albeit he could be annoying to the opposition. He loved the banter. His performances at the SCG were so strong the rest of us spinners always felt the pressure as we tried to replicate Mo’s performances. Bowled a bouncer to any new spinner, but once you had faced it you became part of the “brotherhood”.

Special mention to Stuart McGill. I played him late in my career and early in his.

Unfortunate to be around at the time of Shane Warne. In another era may have been a headline act. Spun the ball both ways and utilised his very good wrong’un to good effect.

Finally as a former finger spinner I can’t help mentioning Nathan Lyon and his achievements. ‘Nice Gary” bowls the way we were all taught to bowl finger spin. Up and over imparting both top spin and side spin on the ball – which is different to the sub-continent bowlers. He has had to overcome preconceptions that off spinners are less effective in Australia, they don’t win matches etc. He has done all that and will rightly finish as the “GOAT”. I love watching him bowl.

Who are the Best Batsman?

I’ll preface this by suggesting the best players of spin that I bowled to.

Arjuna Ranatunga - Quite a controversial character, I played him a couple of times early in my career. Had an incredible ability to hit the ball between mid-on and backward square, irrespective of where you bowled. He used the slog sweep to great effect and adopted the same approach to Shane who also turned into him. It taught me that I had to be better at the lengths (rather than line) plus flight variations to counter attacks of this nature.

Mark Waugh - I am not alone in this assessment. Arguably one of the most talented all round cricketers of the day.

I attended a spin bowling forum at the Cricket Academy and in attendance were all the State spinners including Warne, Matthews and McIntyre. The coaches included Terry Jenner, Ashley Mallet and Kerry O’Keefe. 

One of the first questions from the floor (from someone who would later play for Australia) was “How do you bowl to Mark Waugh?”

It said it all and what we were all thinking. A player with incredible hands, he played the ball later than most and his onside play made him a different proposition to bowl to even with the ball turning away from the bat. Ironically the sweep shot was not really part of his play.

As he developed his off side play he became harder to bowl to. He showed his competiveness in a different way to his brother.

I always felt that if I bowled a good over at him he would come harder at you the next over to demonstrate you couldn’t bowl to him. His wide range of shots, innovation, and approach to batting did present opportunities. It was a challenge I enjoyed albeit he could make you feel quite uncomfortable inside at the time. Mark was the best close to the wicket catcher I saw – the catches were amazing and he did make it look easy.

Dean Jones - Very quick footwork and an ability to improvise under different conditions. I could not bowl 3 balls without Deano using his feet which he did in part to open up his back foot play.

I found myself bowling a little quicker at Deano with more top spinners to maintain loop and to push him onto the back foot. In some respects he was the batsman I learnt the most from in terms of trying to mess up a batsman’s footwork to create opportunities. 

Against the quicker bowlers he could work the ball off the stumps very effectively so the tactic against him was to bowl 4th stump line and outside and make him play through the offside and look for the nick. For me I found it better to attack his leg side play where he was hitting against the spin.

Allan Border - I played more with AB than against him and along with Steve Waugh the most mentally tough players to bowl to as they gave you the impression you really had to earn their wickets. 

I loved bowling to AB in the nets, he hit everything along the ground, and practised his sweep shot. In a game he was not afraid to go aerial but what made him challenging was he found ways to work the ball – even when you were bowling well and or conditions were in your favour. 

He could then make the boundary shot or hit your bad ball to the boundary. Used the sweep shot to great effect and adapted his game to the conditions and the state of the game.

Other special mentions:

Jamie Siddons – An explosive batsman against spin and particularly the ball that turned away from him. Quick on his feet and a very strong offside game meant he could hit inside out. His cover drive was one of the best I saw in my time. A player who had considerable ability and could have played more for Australia but was probably a little inconsistent in his younger days. An athletic fielder I loved having him at short extra cover in one day games. He would save 5-6 runs off my bowling per game and place pressure on the opposition.

Darren Lehmann – A hard hitting player who preferred the ball turning into him. Very dangerous at the Adelaide oval with the short square boundaries. He could play all the shots and had a real presence at the crease – some would say “ego”. I had to very adaptable in bowling to Darren dependent upon conditions – changing fields around etc

Ricky Ponting – Similar to Mark Waugh he had a strong leg side game and significantly improved his off side play against spinners over time. Was more of an accumulator if you bowled well at him with an ability to convert starts into hundreds. I played against him before he played for Australia.

Matthew Hayden – I played mainly with Haydos rather than against him and playing spin was a weaker part of his game when he started in First Class Cricket. However as was the Hayden way he recognised this and set about improving his game. I remember one season going to the Gabba nets each lunchtime (from my employer ANZ Bank) and bowling to him to improve his sweep shot which he further improved with trips to India. On the 2001 tour of India it all came together. His range of sweep shots and a powerful down the ground game ultimately made him a very strong player of spin.

Matthew Hayden sweeping

Who played the best innings you have seen:

Matthew Hayden – 200 in the second innings against Victoria requiring 350 runs to win in the second innings. We won the game with 7 or 8 wickets down. It was a dominant display in a fourth innings.

Jamie Siddons – 243no vs South Australia having scored a century the previous day. The second ball of the day he hit Peter Sleep over covers for six that set the tone. At a change of gloves the message from “Spanner” was tell the captain “I’m not slogging they are just bowling in my zone”. The only thing that stopped him that day was a declaration.

Andrew Courtice – The best innings in Grade Cricket. 196 against Western Suburbs. It was my first game for University. Andrew opened the batting and proceeded to carve what was effectively the Queensland State attack that included Greg Rowell, Dirk Tazelaar, and Carl Rackemann to all parts. He was out 2 hours before the end of play trying to up the tempo!!. It was a great start to the season and Andrew would win the competition’s best player that year.

Also clearly the best grade innings I have seen... What Jacko failed to mention was that Dog was 30no at lunch after weathering some fine fast bowling. He was then out in the 1st over after tea for 196 – astonishing. – editor

Was there any batsman who stirred the emotions and competitive spirit where you really wanted their wicket?

David Hookes – A person who tried to impose himself on the game and not afraid to offer advice helpful or otherwise to young players along the way. I bowled him through the gate 5 minutes before stumps one game to have South Australia 3 for not many. I enjoyed that wicket as did my teammates!!

David Hookes

Who were the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit?

Allan Border and Steve Waugh. Ultimate competitors, mentally strong who willed themselves through contests.

Steve Waugh

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Dead heat between Jimmy Maher and Andrew Symonds. The Maher, Symonds impersonation show, where no one was spared, kept their Queensland teammates entertained and often in stitches.

Special mention – Merv Hughes funniest man on the field. Could take a serious moment on the field and break it down into a humorous event.

One game as Merv went out to bat against NSW captain Dean Jones offered “good luck Merv - nothing stupid.”

First ball to Merv was from Greg Matthews and he got it right in the middle but picked out the sole man in the deep Dave Gilbert. As he walked into the room he was met by the captain who said “What was that??” to which Merv replied “Deano – never got a good one early?”

What has been you most memorable moment in cricket?

The 94/95 Sheffield Shield Final.

The Vulture Street Stand was knocked down in the lead up to the final. We played In front of packed house crowds of c. 12000, but it feels like I have bumped into more people who attended that last day since.

The game was decided in the first hour of play when SA who had won the toss and batted were 4/30 by drinks.

The Queensland fast bowlers bowled tight lines but the SA batsmen also played shots they would like to take back. Queensland proceeded to make 664 with Barsby and Love making centuries and Allan Border falling 2 runs short with 98.

That led us to the final day and the only question was whether we could bowl out SA on what was a very flat wicket. 

The Hill below the scoreboard was in full song with Rupert McCall leading the way with a megaphone in hand and leading the chants. 

At one stage I was at the top of my run up and the chant went out “Paul Jackson give us a wave”. I duly responded much to the amusement of umpire Daryl Hair. Nobody escaped that day.

The Queensland Coach (John Buchanan), batsman (Paul Nobes), the Umpires and even the “Boys in Blue” all provided waves. There were many creative chants that day one being the five days of the Shield final set to the tune and style of the 12 days of Christmas.

Anyway I found myself with ball in hand and SA 9 wickets down. I bowled to Jason Gillespie who promptly hit me to Stuart Law at mid-wicket chest height who inexplicably dropped a catch he would take 99 times out of 100. 

I thought my moment had slipped but in some respects fittingly Carl Rackemann was bowling the next over and as Queensland’s favourite son (and who had endured such hardships in previous Shield Finals) who better to take the final wicket? He was bowling to Mark Harrity who with the greatest of respect was a legitimate No.11 but for some reason Carl simply could not find the stumps. They pitched wide or bounced over the top so once again I found the ball in my hand bowling to Jason Gillespie. 

I ran in bowled the ball and Jason advanced down the wicket only to get an outside edge that flew to Carl who accepted the catch. Queensland had won the Shield for the first time in 69 years.

I would see a lot of the State over the next few months as we took the Shield around. The State was in severe drought at the time and the joy that brought to country Queensland needed to be seen to be believed.

In life you can be fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Both my parents grew up in Queensland, yet I was born and bred in Victoria.

What is your current occupation?

Bank executive with Westpac Bank

The 1990/91 Victoria Sheffield Shield Champions 30 year reunion

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

I was on the Cricket Victoria Board until August last year (13 years).

One achievement was the development of the State Cricket Centre at Junction Oval. This was a project that both Tony Dodemaide (CEO) and Shaun Graf were passionate about and it was great to see it finally come to fruition with a facility that should benefit generations.

I was involved in the formation of the Melbourne Renegades as a foundation Director. This was a real challenge in the early days where the Renegades, as the second Melbourne team, struggled for relevance and incurred financial loss. In conjunction with CA and an independent Board led initially by James Brayshaw and Jason Dunstall the results were turned around and it was a high for everyone when the team won BBL08.

Hopefully they can turn around what has been poor BBL09 and BBL10 campaigns in BBL11.

The development of WBBL has been a terrific shot in the arm for women’s cricket and I have two girls who have taken an interest in the game as a result.

I currently assist with coaching at Camberwell Magpies and manage both my girls’ cricket teams.