Nathan Hauritz - “Ricky Ponting always found a way to instill belief in me, even when I didn’t.”

Dean Tuckwell | July 21, 2023

Australian Test player number 390 gives a very modest account of his career.

Perhaps Nathan Hauritz was destined to be a cricketer having been delivered into the world by Carl Rackemann’s mother “Dragon” at The Wondai Base Hospital in 1981. 

He certainly impressed as a young player representing Queensland at under 17 and 19 levels and touring England and Sri Lanka with the Australian under 19 side before attending the Cricket Academy in Adelaide. 

A batting all-rounder in his early days, it was his tidy off-spin bowling that propelled him to the Queensland side in 2001 and by weight of his obvious potential and solid performances he was ultimately rewarded with an Australian one-day cap in 2002, aged 20. 

An injury to Shane Warne gave Nathan a break for his Test debut in 2004 in Mumbai where he took 5 wickets in a famous victory. Test opportunities for spin bowlers were difficult to come by in the Warne and McGill era but upon McGill’s retirement in 2008 he was regularly Australia’s first choice slow bowler for a 2 year period playing his last Test in Mumbai in 2010. 

He ended his career with the excellent return of 63 wickets at 34 and having averaged 25 with the bat. 

Whilst he may have been a little fortunate to be selected earlier in his career, Hauritz was certainly very unlucky to have been dropped when he was as he was regularly taking wickets and making useful runs in the lower order. 

It seemed that he was penalised for not being Shane Warne and for not dominating an Indian side containing Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Dravid, Pujara, Tendulkar, Gambhir & Dhoni in their own back yard. The selectors seemingly forgetting that even Warne faced his own struggles in India.

He continued to play ODIs for Australia until the end of the 2011 season ending with figures remarkably similar to his test record – 63 wickets at 34 and averaging 22 with the bat.

Nathan Hauritz on Test debut putting on the Baggy Green

What year you were born?

1981

Can you remember you first game of cricket and how you went?

I think I was about 6 years of age and I think I got out 1st ball

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

My journey is long. Started early and was a batting all-rounder until the age of 17. Then after playing representative cricket and first grade I transformed into more of a bowling all-rounder. Finished my career as an underperforming batsman in my opinion. Loved being a captain and in charge and being the man to win the game

Where you’ve played, clubs you’ve played for?

Norths in Brisbane, Randwick Petersham in Sydney, QLD, NSW and Australia

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

I honestly can’t say. I started in 4th grade at the age of 15 but not sure if that was my first game

At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?

15 or 16 against Sandgate in a 1 day game and I might have made 10 not out batting low

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

Bowling all-rounder. Underachieved with the bat

Nathan Hauritz celebrates a century for NSW v Queensland

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

147 against SA for NSW at the SCG

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

6 for 40 odd against Sydney Uni for Randwick Petersham at Coogee Oval

Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against? 

Dale Steyn - he was so whippy.

Mitch Johnson – he was always at you

Andy Bichel – so relentless

Andy Bichel

Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?  

Graeme Swan – very aggressive 

Shane Warne, no words necessary.

Brad Hogg because he was just so different.

Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?  

AB de Villiers – so fast on his feet. 

Darren Lehman - could hit the ball anywhere.

Sachin Tendulkar - well because he was the best ever

AB de Villiers

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

Justin Langer scored 100 against us at the WACA in a one day game. Incredible timing

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

Not really, all of them

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

Wade Seccombe

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

Ricky Ponting and James Hopes

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?  

Ricky Ponting. He always found a way to instill belief in me, even when I didn’t.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Clinton Perron

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Getting out to Ryan Broad

Who was your childhood hero?

David Boon

Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?

Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Gilly (Adam Gilchrist)

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Adelaide Oval and Lords

What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?

England because of the history involved

What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?

The mateship

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Probably taking my 1st 5 wicket haul for Australia

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

Series win in Dubai with a really weak side against a very strong Pakistan outfit

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

Mike Hussey, Clinton Perron and James Hopes

What are your hobbies? 

At present not much, Golf, Fishing, Camping

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Focus on the next ball and go down the way you want to go down. 

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?

More participation from current members to grass roots cricket. More opportunities for kids to learn from the best players. More funding to club coaches that would improve the level of coaching which would filter down