Shaun Young - never give up
South Launceston Cricket Club | April 09, 2023
Shaun Young made his Test debut for Australia in the 6th Test of the 1997 Ashes Tour against England.
Not selected for the Ashes tour Shaun was playing country cricket for Gloucestershire when he was called up to the Ashes squad when a few bowlers got injured and Paul Reiffel returned to Australia for the birth of his child.
As Australian Test cricket player 372 Shaun played the 6th Test which England won by 19 runs.
In a very successful first class career from 1991 to 2002 Shaun played 138 first class games and scored 7,212 runs at an average of 37.95. He scored 14 hundreds and 44 half centuries.
With the ball he took 274 first class wickets at 35.82 with best figures of 7 for 64. He took 5 wickets or more in an innings on 8 occasions and took one ten wicket haul in a game.
Let's find out more about Shaun's journey in the game
What year you were born?
1970
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Yes, 9 years of age and didn’t’ fair to well.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I’ve played for Yeoman (Tasmania), Wynyard (Tasmania), South Launceston (Tasmania), North Hobart (Tasmania), Gloucestershire (England), Bacup (England), Tasmania and Australia.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
Second Grade cricket at the age of 14 for South Launceston.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
16 years of age and can’t remember how I faired.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
All-rounder
What were your strengths as a player?
An economical bowler into the wind and a middle order batsman that valued my wicket.
Shaun Young hits Andy Bichel for 4
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
237 for Gloucestershire in 1997 against Derbyshire.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
7 for 64 for Tasmania against Pakistan.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Merv Hughes, Brett Lee and Carl Rackemann, all quick and aggressive and didn’t give you an inch.
Carl Rackemann
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Stuart MacGill, Peter McIntyre and Tim May, all of them gave the ball a rip and were hard to get on top of.
Tim May
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Matthew Hayden, Damian Martyn and Darren Lehmann, all aggressive stroke players and if you were off your line a fraction you would pay for it and if you didn’t get them early you knew you were in for a long day.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Darren Lehmann, had shots all-round the wicket and hit the ball to places that you wouldn’t thought was possible on the line the ball was on.
Darren Lehmann
Was there any batsman in particular that stirred the emotions and competitive spirit where you really wanted their wicket?
Dean Jones.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Jack Russell
Jack Russell
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Jack Russell and Ricky Ponting.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Robert Jefferies, aggressive captain and never gave the opposition an inch and always had the mentality to win the game.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Mark Ridgeway
Shaun Young bowling for Tasmania
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Tasmania was playing Pakistan in a tour match at Bellerive Oval and David Boon happened to playing on this occasion, and David wasn’t a fan of one of the Pakistan players and decided to meet him on the field to walk him out to bat and didn’t let up until he was out shortly after and decided to escort him off the field as well.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
I was playing in a shortened version of the game late in my playing days and took off for a quick single and did my hamstring half way down and was run out well short of my ground and had to be helped off the ground.
Who was your childhood hero?
David Boon
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Gabba
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Victoria, as they had some players who loved a bit of banter and when you got on top of them you didn’t hear a peep.
What did you enjoy most about playing cricket?
The comradery and mateship.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Playing for Australia
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Two Lancashire League Championships with Bacup.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Mark Ridgeway, Brett Coad and Dan Marsh
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Sachin Tendulkar
What are your hobbies?
Golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Never give up
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
No
If you were running a Cricket State what would be your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Ensure that the pathway to the State team is appropriate and well-structured and implement quality people in roles who will take cricket forward into the future.
