Greg Thrift - see ball, hit ball
Newcastle and Hunter Districts Veterans Cricket Club | July 18, 2023
Greg Thrift was born and bred in the Hunter Valley of NSW, Singleton in fact.
He has a great passion and love of Cricket and continues to play and contribute in many ways.
He’s played NSW Over 50s cricket and lives by the motto, see ball, hit ball.
Let’s find out more about Greg’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
About 7pm 19th January, 1965, Singleton Hospital by C section, apparently I had a big head
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I was just over 5 years of age and have no idea how I went
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
How do you do 50 years of cricket briefly? Apparently I was hitting marbles with miniature bat given to my father as a trophy for a hundred he’d scored at 18 months. I had a ball on a string off a 20 foot /6m tank stand on the farm and I remember the harder you hit it the faster it came back at you.
I guess this explains batting style. My theory has always been see ball hit ball. This philosophy has got me in trouble on occasions but there is nothing better than feeling the ball out of the screws.
I have many memories and it’s hard to fit them all in. One would have to be in a primary school knockout competition, we had a good team coached by Ian Hodge and we made it through to a game in Sydney to be played on Coir matting. It didn't go so well, we were taught a lesson by the Waugh twins
When I was 11 I played third grade for Rugby in Singleton. When I wasn't required, I’d fill in fielding for Dads firsts’ team.
Lots of memories, like playing my first John Bull Shield game as a 17 year old and winning the final of our District Veterans Competition just recently.
The Singleton Schoolboys playing in the 1976 school knockout competitions
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I was 16 and batting 9 for rugby. I went in to face a bloke by the name of Don Skinner - left arm sharp, very aggressive. Ball 1 - played and missed, ball 2 - edge for 4, Ball 3 - buzzed past my nose and then got to the other end only to face Ray Ball who was a right arm version of Don Skinner and his 3rd ball knocked back my off stump, thanks for coming young fella.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I like to have a crack at it all if needed. I’ve had success as a wicket keeper, bowler, but I particularly like to open the batting. There’s nothing better than getting under the skin of an opening bowler. I like to get my $10 worth
What were your strengths as a player?
My ability to make bowlers hate me, the crankier they got the better, I love the battle. Good catcher although I dropped a catch at the NSW State 50s Championships this year – let’s just say they don't hurt when you catch them. Had a good arm and loved ripping it in from the boundary.
I do suffer from boundary fever, when I cross it, it is game on.
The veteran Greg Thrift offering advice to his young batting partner
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
I had had a good start with 2 hundreds in the first two games of the season and pulled out my top score on the day of my brother Colin's buck’s party. The boys all turned up in a bus and watched until I was 140. I was showered and at the party 45 mins later and out for 208 (24 x 4s and 9x 6s). It was in the 80s for Glendon.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I've got a few 6 wicket hauls. My favourite bowling performance would have to be 4 for 30 off 10 playing for Central North (2 stumping by my skipper Duke Marshall, one LBW and one caught). A lot of work went into those wickets, the biggest being getting Duke to give me a bowl.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Don Skinner fast, intimidating and fierce competitor but an absolute gentleman off the field.
Cardigan Conner was sharp in the nets, didn't like being driven.
There was another guy I faced one day and thinking after the first ball, I best wake up here or I’m gunna get hurt, no helmets back then.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Stephen ‘The GUN’ Edwards – right arm off spinner could turn them square. He played for Country NSW and we grew up together.
Poly Maskey - shear guile. He got me my three first grade keeping awards
Greg and his wife Debbie after Hunter Valley Over50s won the Dawn and Stirling Hamman Cup in 2020-21
Who were the best batsman you’ve played against?
Mark Curry (Prawns) - you just hoped you were successful when he gave you a chance.
Tony Fort, pretty to watch but only from the other end batting with him, his son goes alright too.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Rick McCosker and I shared a partnership of 120 odd. He batted 3 and we were playing at Tamworth No 1 Oval. His cover drives were hitting the gutter around the field and near bouncing back to the bowler. I felt blessed to be at the other end, he was out for 63.
Has there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always caused you a few problems?
Not really, if you prepare properly everything should fall into place. Some bowlers think they have your number, its game of numbers right, it only takes one ball to get you out.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
Not really, probably only the quick I spoke of as he was sharp but erratic. They're the guys I would be more concerned about, the ones that don't know where they’re going
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Duke Marshall was good, he had the wingspan of the pitch. Mat Kelly was solid, Barry Williams in my younger days was a rock
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
As a kid it had to be Ian Hodge. I used to watch him in amazement especially his ability to work a field when batting.
Pat Kelly, great man, didn't have all the skills but sure got the best out of everybody (by all skills I mean he didn't bowl much)
The wining Hunter Valley Over 50s team after they defeated Newcastle in 2020-21
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
‘Sad man’ Pat Kelly, he took me under his wing and showed me how to play cricket.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
No one person sticks out as to being funny ha ha, but one guy got out early one day and smashed his new bat on a copper log post, I thought that was funny
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Back in my early days for Rugby our skipper Bruce Whatham came up with a call ‘dead blowie’ and we would have to get on our back ,arms and legs in the air and buzz like a blowie dying – I thought it a bit weird.
In our 50s team is in the field when a player yells out keg ball and we get a wicket that ball we all have to chip in $5 to the player who call out keg ball – it cracks me up.
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Every time I get a duck and for some reason the other team is going off their head but I don't hear them - hate that feeling
Who was your childhood hero?
Doug Walters and Sir Viv
Doug Walters
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Vivian Richards
Sir Vivian Richards
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Richie Benaud, Tony Greig and Kerry O’Keeffe
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Howe Park Singleton (still is) and it is getting an upgrade this year.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Playing with my sons. Daniel batting 10 hit 107 off 58 balls to get us in the finals and Alex opening and holding his bat for 131 not out in a T20 game - in the same year we all put in to win T20 final, it was awesome. Lately it would have to be winning the Dawn and Stirling Hammon Cup with our Hunter Valley Over 50s team against Newcastle, love those guys
The Thrifts - Greg and his two sons Daniel and Alex
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
There’s too many to just pick three and I’d have to start organising twelve months before the BBQ. I would however start with Mat Kelly (Magoo), Dick (The Gun) Edwards, Darren Thomson, Dean Pike and my two sons Daniel and Alex
You’re now playing over 50s cricket, what the best part of playing veterans cricket and what advice would you offer anyone over 50 who is thinking about playing again?
If you love your cricket get on board, great people, great fun and believe me if you haven't seen it before you will see the science of cricket
What are your hobbies?
Playing cricket, preparing cricket pitches and fishing
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
I have a basic theory developed from Doug Walters’s book I read years ago. If it looks like it’s got runs on it, don't waste time blocking it, you've done the work, put into practice.
For example one Sunday morning playing John Bull Shield against Upper Hunter my captain Gordon Whatham told me to play myself in and there's a hundred out there today if you want it. The first ball went over long on for six, I didn't get a ton, I got 97
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Promote your kids, encourage the country pathways and if they can dominate in their region then they can move up. To have this type of opportunity we need better facilities.
I try to do this in my region as curator – provide the best pitch to give each player the best opportunity to perform their skills. To promote the game we need more help from state association and local councils.
