Joe Dawes - don’t spend your life looking over your shoulder as you will never move forward

Dean Tuckwell | July 08, 2023

There is a lot of debate these days about the merit of selecting players more on their junior pedigree rather than on weight of performance. No one could ever accuse Joe Dawes of getting an armchair ride. He didn’t even play grade cricket until he was 21 and he forced his way into a very strong Queensland fast bowling attack by taking a mountain of grade wickets. In all he took 257 first grade wickets for Valleys at an average of 15.

I first encountered Joe when he was toiling away for Sandgate/Redcliffe on a flat wicket at Deagon – he must have been about 22 and I would describe him as a very accurate, very medium, medium pacer. Within 3 years he transformed himself into a world class fast bowler through sheer will and hard work. What hadn’t changed was his accuracy – he was a genuinely nasty proposition to face as he bowled a very straight, very heavy ball. He was always at you and if I was cynical would suggest that he quite enjoyed hitting batsmen in the ribs. Perhaps it was his former life as a Queensland policeman that instilled in him the value of letting opponents know who was in charge.

Perhaps, after not being on the selectors’ radar until he was 25 he was always going to struggle to play for Australia but his record of 285 first class wickets at 25 compare very favourably to Australia’s fast bowlers of that period, or indeed any period. I am quite confident that opposition batsmen would agree that he would not have been out of place in the international arena.

After retirement, the big man is composing a very full, varied & successful coaching CV including stints in the Cricket Australia & BCCI setups as well as in the BBL & IPL and is now proudly the coach of the mighty PNG Barramundis who have earned a spot in the upcoming T-20 World Cup.

A good man is Joe Dawes and he has earned his considerable success.

What year you were born?

1970

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

It was for Bollon State School (114km West of St George) in outback Qld.  It was a small community so the team was made up from the entire school. I think we got bowled out for 4 or something equally as sad.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I fell in love with the game in Bollon when I was 7 and have been in love ever since. I really only played school cricket until I finished grade 12 and then I went and played Brisbane warehouse cricket for Pine Rivers before trying my hand with Sandgate/Redcliffe when I was 20. 

I then moved to Valleys when I was 25. The following year I played 2nd XI and then soon after I made my debut for Qld. I also had a season at Middlesex CCC and played for the MCC whilst playing 5 or 6 years of league cricket in the UK which was amazing for the life experiences and friends you make. 

After retiring from playing I moved into coaching with Qld, South Australia, India and the Aussie Women’s Team. I have also had 5 years in the IPL and am about to enter my 9th BBL season but spend much of my time (Covid-permitting) in Port Moresby where I am PNG High Performance Manager.

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

I played 1st Grade trial game for Sandgate/Redcliffe at 21.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

I think we just leave batting out of this mate….

Joe Dawes hitting out for Queensland

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

10 for 18 VDCC against Beenleigh (16 for the match). I remember I had 9 and their number 11 skied one straight to mid-off from Brett Henschell. My great mate Darin Turner was under it and as it came down he yelled out, “Not today Hottie, Joeys getting ten.” Knocked number 11 over the next over and the job was done. Love you Hoochie!

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

Martin Love – I could have chosen any one of numerous great hundreds for Qld but a 2nd innings effort against Tasmania stands out. We scored over 200 in the final session of the match to take the points with Lovey outscoring Andrew Symonds in a pure batting masterclass.

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

Any Victorian! Loved getting them out, especially at the Gabba when they didn’t stop whinging about the wicket so we knew the 6 points were in the bag.

Joe Dawes celebrating taking a wicket

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

Tough one as I played with Ian Healy, Chris Hartley and Wade Seccombe along with and against Chuck Berry. Now that I have been polite, Wade Seccombe! He was incredible. 

I remember a few years after we both retired we were coaching at the NCC as Mitch Starc was bowling to Coulter-Nile on the top oval at Albion. No keepers were around so Chuck Seccombe threw the gloves on. Coulter-Nile nicked one that would have flown between 1st & 2nd slips and he just casually went full length one handed and pulled in a screamer. The oval went nuts and I was just standing there. The player I was next to said “are you not impressed with that?” and I replied “that’s Wade Seccombe mate, that’s what he does!!”

Wade Seccombe

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

Adam Dale - so skillful and competitive. He got into every game and competed above his weight. He was never the quickest but just used skill and guile to dominate people. The other person is Ben Laughlin. Again not the quickest or tallest but has wrangled every last drop out of himself to make an incredible career in white ball cricket.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with? And if you could add a few words to why

Stuart Law, hands down. Everyone was scared shitless of Stu but he was amazing to play under as he knew how to get the best out of people and always had your back. As batting was not my strength he would always come over as I was waiting to go in and say “right this is how they going to try get you out. Try and do this and this and you’ll be fine mate.” He was always right!!

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

The banter in the team between Jimmy Maher, Clinton Perrin and Lee Carseldine was always very funny. Especially when Leeca and CP would go back at Jimmy. Jimmy always had a pimple on the side of his neck and he would always play with it and pick it. We nicknamed it “Eric” after Parramatta legend Eric Grothe. One day at the Gabba CP and Leeka taped a grape to their neck and would walk around squeezing it on the field. Was a funny day.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

I was bowled by Michael Slater in a MCC V Australia Game in UK in 2001

Who was your childhood hero? 

Dennis Lillee who else!!!!

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

 Ian Bishop

What was your favourite ground to play at? 

The Gabba

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

There has been some great wins as a player and coach but a match last year in the T-20 World Cup Qualifiers stands out. We (PNG) batted first and were 6 for 19 in the Power Play but went on to score 120 odd before bowling Kenya for 75-ish to win by 45 runs. This win got us into our first ever World Cup.

What were the most important factors in your transformation from accurate medium pacer to genuine fast bowler? 

The gym. I made a commitment to getting fitter and stronger.

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

Wade Seccombe, Gavin Brown & Ken Healy. Wow tough one. Might need a separate list for the night out after.

Who were the unluckiest players in your time not to play for Australia? 

Lee Carseldine - if he did not have the run of injuries he had, I reckon would have been an amazing all-rounder.

Lee Carsledine

What are your hobbies?

I am not home much so I like just chilling at home with my school friends and family. I also enjoy riding with Michael Kasprowicz and Chucky Seccombe and disappearing bush with Nathan Reardon and Justin Sternes for a hunt.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Don’t spend your life looking over your shoulder as you will never move forward. Given to me by Bennett King when he was coach of the Bulls. He came to my house one day when I had been 12th man 7 or 8 games in a row. I always remember it and use it now as a coach and really appreciate the effort he took to come see me.

What are your proudest coaching achievements? 

From what I can work out I am the only coach in the world to have been worked with the number 1 team in the world in all formats in both the male and female game. That is something I cherish but I think helping PNG to their first World Cup as Head Coach is pretty cool.

Joe Dawes coach of Papua New Guinea

From a high performance and representative selection perspective, how important is a player’s performance in club cricket? 

Huge, as I believe that if you can’t dominate at a lower level it will be hard to do so in first class or Test cricket.  

About Dean Tuckwell

Former premiership first grade player with Western Suburbs in Queensland Premier Cricket Dean opened The Adventure Traveller in 2000.

In this crazy year it is important to support small business. With 30 years’ experience in the travel industry Dean has preferred arrangements with many suppliers, access to online deals not available to the public and a wealth of knowledge to ensure you get the most out of your trip so even if you only require a flight or accommodation, give him a call on 1800 181 020 or visit The Adventure Traveller