answered
Q: Chris Killen played first class cricket for NSW and South Australia.
Growing up in the western regions of NSW Chris Killen caught the eye of the NSW Cricket Captain Dirk Wellham at the age of 17 and was promptly invited to join Wellham at his club in Sydney, Western suburbs.
Chris made his first grade debut for Western Suburbs against Petersham in September 1986 taking 2 for 31 in Petersham first innings and 2 for 29 in the 2nd innings. Chris is Western Suburbs first grade player number 517.
A strong robust fast Chris quickly earned a reputation for being one of the fastest bowlers in Australia.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/947/warnervale-wildcats/blog/956/chris-killen-no-fear
A: Heard a lot about Chris growing up but was a while before we ran into each other. Didn’t disappoint.Quick and scary from memory of Sydney Grade Cricket in the late 80’s. Always amazed at the sheer number of good players in these team lists, photos and era. ‘Killer’ had the respect of all of them.
Warnervale Wildcats
6 months ago
answered
Q: Queensland and NSW are playing the last Sheffield Shield game of the 2023-24 season with NSW still a chance to make the final.
Over the years there's been many first class cricketers who have played for both Queensland NSW,
Here's our list of players so far. If you know of others please let us know.
Allan Border
Peter Clifford
Peter Forrest
Nathan Hauritz
Scott Henry
Usman Khawaja
Ray Phillips
Len Richardson
Greg Rowell
Gurinder Sandhu
Peter Taylor
Jeff Thomson
Shane Watson
Dirk Wellham
A: Sorry Banger beat me to it. Half the time and triple the output as usual.
CricConnect Fans
9 months ago
answered
Q: Queensland and NSW are playing the last Sheffield Shield game of the 2023-24 season with NSW still a chance to make the final.
Over the years there's been many first class cricketers who have played for both Queensland NSW,
Here's our list of players so far. If you know of others please let us know.
Allan Border
Peter Clifford
Peter Forrest
Nathan Hauritz
Scott Henry
Usman Khawaja
Ray Phillips
Len Richardson
Greg Rowell
Gurinder Sandhu
Peter Taylor
Jeff Thomson
Shane Watson
Dirk Wellham
A: I think Ray Lindwall (Aust &NSW) played for Qld in 1954/55 season as he had move to Brisbane for work. At least 3 seasons I think.
CricConnect Fans
9 months ago
answered
Q: Who is the one player from Brisbane Grade Cricket who played between 1980 and 2000 you’d want as the first player selected if you had the opportunity to start your own Queensland Premier first grade cricket team?
A: Gavin Fitness - trophies coming out of his kit bag everywhere he goes
CricConnect Fans
10 months ago
question
Q: Australian Cricketers Association function - great finish to the Sydney Test with these great fast bowlers and even better blokes.
From left to right - Mike Whitney, Wayne Holdsworth, Greg Rowell, Geoff Lawson, Matt Nicholson, Richard Stobo, Andrew Jones
answered
Q: I have a bowling action very similar to Lasith Malinga. But sometimes the ball goes down the leg side and I just want to know if there are any tips that might help me perfect this bowling action
A: Hi Gayindu,
There is a lot to be said for un-orthodox round arm actions (like yours and Malinga) when it comes to taking wickets and keeping the batters slightly off-guard but repeating skills in the heat of the competition is not one that the unorthodox action can do as well as their orthodox brothers. Round arm actions mean point of release is crucial and the only remedy for that is repetition. Not just through the week but on the morning of the game. I suggest a longer spell before the game so all that muscle memory and point of release adjustment is just where it needs to be come game time. Helps to be fit. Good luck!
Gayindu Fernando
11 months ago
answered
Q: I’m 20 and a left arm medium fast bowler and have trouble dragging the bowl down leg side to right handers, especially when I try to bowl in swingers.
A coach has suggested that it because my run up is too straight and I should run in on more of an angle. Is this correct or is there other things I should be trying?
A: For what it is worth John Buchanan always considered the strong core relative to body weight was a big factor in the skills of Adam Dale and I suspect there is something in that. If swing is about small adjustments and repetition until you get the "feel" of the out-swinger / inswinger then it makes sense that everything else has to be on the platform of a rock solid base. If the core starts to tire you get small variations and counter rotation that impact the subtle wrist position. Strong core means the "base" is the same from 11am until 6pm during your spells. So whatever you are dong for core 'double it' I reckon. No science to back it up but gut feel is Buck was on to something in his assessment of Adam Dale and goes for the rest of us.
answered
Q: I’m 20 and a left arm medium fast bowler and have trouble dragging the bowl down leg side to right handers, especially when I try to bowl in swingers.
A coach has suggested that it because my run up is too straight and I should run in on more of an angle. Is this correct or is there other things I should be trying?
A: Tough one Ben
Swing is subtle and a lot of talented young (and old) swing bowlers struggle with consistency. The main thing is you swing the ball, that’s the skill not to lose. It means that at the critical point of release your wrist is where it has to be. The control will come with time and overs. I would be reluctant to change angle of run up as it might mess with all the other good stuff that allows you to swing the ball and get that wrist release where it has to be. A small change in angle at best. Mitch Starc runs in pretty straight and has served him well. Good luck
answered
Q: Stuart Broad had a couple of his magic spells during the first test but did he get his tactics wrong with the new ball in the second innings in hindsight? Was he trying too hard to york the lower order batsmen out when good lengths would have been more difficult. At this level, what sort of bowling troubles the lower order?
A: Great question. Happens a lot to bowlers where expectation and pressure make you overreach for a wickets. Truth is I reckon 8 times out of 10, wickets come from batters getting themselves out. Quality areas and consistent presume makes batters push at the ball or play over ambitious shots. Tailenders even more so. So the better tactic is plenty of quality in and around the usual area of off stump with occasional Yorker. Prevent scoring and of course they still know there is a great ball
Coming that might get them out (the 2 out of 10 ball creates the anxiety that brings the other 8) Make the tail think there are no runs and that they have to change something. This will bring the error. Example A was Broads dismissal of Boland 2nd innings to great length ball after a few (very few) short ones in amongst patient bowling. The fielders have a role here as well. They have to stay patient and not create an expectation that you need a wicket every ball. So, yes too many Yorkers is generally a tactical mistake in my view that comes about from the pressure of expectation. It brings errors from the bowler and allows the tailenders to grow in confidence.
answered
Q: My Best Grade team
I have tried to sprinkle a few players from each of the teams I played with in First Grade. I played for Easts (Canberra), Ayr (Scotland), Campbelltown, Randwick and Mosman in Sydney from 1986 to 2006
It’s a tough gig and apologies for any oversights, I’m sure there might be a few
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/969/martin-haywood/blog/1021/my-best-grade-team-martin-haywood-1986-to-2006
A: Great team from one of the games cracking blokes. What a journey! Thanks for sharing
blog post
This was quite an interesting exercise, selecting my best grade team from players I played with during my time playing in Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart.My grade cricket career started at Mosma ...
