Peter Finney - four singles an over will win most games
Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association | April 27, 2023
Peter Finney has made a terrific and invaluable contribution to cricket especially within the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.
He’s been a player, coach and umpire of great distinction and Life Member of Heatherhill Cricket Club.
Peter played Victoria Premier Cricket for Prahran where he played 21 first grade games between 1969 to 1969 scoring 513 runs at 21.37.
Let’s find out more about Peter’s journey in the game.
What year you were born?
13th February 1941 in Caufield.
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
My first game was as a 12-year-old in Caufield 4ths in October 1953. Not sure how I went, but I probably batted at 11 and bowled a few leggies.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I spent only one season at Caufield, then 10 seasons at Carnegie in the VJCA, 5 seasons at Prahran, 1 season at Waverley in Sub District, 8 seasons at Karingal with 3 as captain coach and 2 seasons at Heatherhill as Coach and I then spent 10 years as a junior coach. I later spent one year as junior coach at Dromana until my shoulder gave in.
I then spent 36 years umpiring mainly in the MPCA but I had two years in premier cricket and eventually got to do one 1st XI Sunday game with Len King a noted test umpire. I did 2 provincial grand finals in the 80s one with Neil Williams when Karingal beat Mornington by default due to wet weather.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
Not having played in junior cricket except for under 15 school team at De La Salle, my senior debut was in the 4ths at Caufield, but my real introduction into senior cricket was at Carnegie, where I played my first grand final in 1954 but lost.
What was the highest grade you played and can you remember what you were feeling when you were selected and how did you perform on debut?
The night I was selected for my first game for Prahran 1sts. I broke my little finger on my bowling hand at practice, but I didn’t tell anyone naturally. The game was against Melbourne at the Albert ground. I bowled one over and made a duck. Not a very impressive debut but how many players have debuted at the Albert ground.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I started out as a leg spin bowler and a stodgy opening bat, but after playing over 400 games of Baseball, maybe I would change to a hard hitting batsman and occasional bowler.
What were your strengths as a player?
A good eye, strong arm and a determination to score runs which is the name of the game.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
My highest score down here was 270 not out in the 1972 Grand Final for Karingal, against Flinders at Balnarring. My top score for Prahran was 144 in the twos against Fitzroy at Brunswick in 1966.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I never kept any records for my bowling, but I remember taking 3 wickets in that same grand final against Flinders including their top scorer.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Number 1 would be John Grant of Essendon and Victoria, who although fairly short, was aggressive and changed his pace so well.
Number 2 would be Ron Gaunt, Footscray who opened the bowling for Australia. He seemed to be able to swing the ball both ways at a fair pace.
Number 3- Graeme Patterson, Richmond who took 80 odd wickets one season and was almost unplayable on the Punt Rd pitch of those days.
John Grant
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Number 1- John Wildsmith at Sunshine. He played for Victoria and bowled quite quick left arm spin which was so hard to use your feet too.
Number 2- Keith Kirby of Essendon. He bowled some absolute rubbish but his better balls were almost unplayable.
Number 3- Brian McKue Mt Eliza- the young Cuey with old Wally Wedgwood waving his arms from the boundary was the best-off spinner I played against, but he seemed to lose the loop as he tried to keep the runs down. He was a real handful on a hot malthoid pitch.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Number 1 -Jack Potter Fitzroy, Victoria and Preston- maybe one of the best batsmen not to play for Australia. Made it look so easy.
Number 2- Paul Sheahan. Although he made a duck the day I played against him, he was one of the key Australian batsmen of his time.
Number 3- Rob Bedford Karingal, MPCA etc- a freak in local cricket. Could have been a sensation in higher cricket, but we will never know, how would he go in the BBL? Sensational!! I may be a little biased of course, but I have seen him since he played in the ones at Karingal aged 14 or 15.
Paul Sheahan
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Not quite the right answer but in over 60 years of cricket, I have not seen anything like the day at Red Hill when the two Rye openers made 399 between them. Not sure of their names but as the umpire, I was in the box seat to see a day when very nearly 500 runs were scored. I think one was Corey Harris.
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
I always found Brian McCue very difficult when he was at his top, with 3 or 4 fielders around the bat on a hot malthoid pitch.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
My first encounter with St Kilda was an eye opener. The sledging of our young batsmen was something I had never struck. The Saints had some very experienced players.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
I thought John Pierson of Mt Eliza was the best keeper of my time, but Brad Glenn had a remarkable career at Melbourne. John was also a very reliable batsman.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Number 1 would probably be John Grant of Essendon who nearly knocked my head off after I hit him for 4 over cow corner.
Number 2- Brian McCue- he knew virtually every player on the Peninsula and he hated any runs scored against his bowling. I think he even made a ton early days for Mt Eliza.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
My captain at Carnegie Merv Sutherland. We played in 3 VJCA senior division grand finals in the early sixties and won the middle one, but for nearly 10 years we were one of the power sides of the comp. I think our top side would have beaten a lot of premier 2s teams.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
I think Ian Watkins at Carnegie, his nickname was typewriter as ne never stopped talking and I think he bought a new set of cricket clothes each year, but left them in our changerooms after each training session. By the end of the year, they nearly stood up on their own, but he was a fine medium pacer . I think he came from St Kilda seconds.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
One of the funniest things I saw was when Cuey was bowling to the Sorrento opener at the old Long Island ground next to the Frankston tip. After being hit into the tip a number of times, Cuey retired to square leg until the batsmen virtually threw his hand away for 60 odd. I think it was the first time I had seen him taken to the cleaners since Steve Gosstray loved putting him into the houses at the old Mount Eliza ground.
Who was your childhood hero?
Of course, Don Bradman, I had his first instruction book when I was very young and I tried to copy his methods. He had an unusual grip which seemed to favour the leg side and helped to keep the ball down. I can always remember him saying that every ball was a potential to be scored off, not necessarily a four.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Roger Federer, John Landy, Ash Barty
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Skull (Kerry O’Keeffe). What a breath of fresh air to the art of cricket broadcasting. I thought he was a bit of a clown at first, but I think he has really come to the fore in recent times. My all time favourite is Tim Lane, who seems to be able to handle any sport.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Of course the MCG, by some stroke of luck, Prahran seconds played Melbourne in a one day fixture at the G in about 1966. I was able to score 39 in about 40 minutes which was my usual style in those days, until I realised no one scores runs looking over the fence.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
I suppose making the 270 not out in a grand final to help Karingal win the district flag in 1971-72, which took us into provincial cricket for the first time. Closely followed by the game on the G, where we shared the dressing rooms of the stars, Bradman, Miller etc
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Of course the magnificent Grand Final win against Flinders, coming from 4th to win, after beating Tyabb in a semi.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
David ‘Scabs’ Martin, Doug McNab and Brian McCue.
What are your hobbies?
Apart from watching cricket of all levels, I would say my next passion is golf, which I hope to get back to more seriously in the near future. My next aim is to beat my age. But I have to wait a few more years. Of course Baseball was a large part of my life, having played more than 400 games at 6 clubs and coached under age players for 19 seasons.
Prahran Firsts Baseball team 1971
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
To stop trying to hit every ball for 4 or 6. 4 singles an over will win most games apart from the big bash.
What’s your occupation?
I have been retired since 1996, after 4 hip operations and various other problems, including a bad back. I was in the printing industry for 20 years and worked as a rep at Peters ice cream for 18 years before becoming manager of their freezer renewal scheme.
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?
First of all, somehow stop AFL trying to take over all the best grounds, which were all key to our top competitions. Second we need some incentive to get better athletes to stay in cricket after their junior days. It seems very hard to compete with AFL football clubs requiring their players to start training in the middle of the prime cricket season. I was brought up in the time of 6 month summer sports and 6 month winter sports, but those days have long gone, especially in Victoria where channel 7 and the herald sun have such a say in things. Sorry to be so long winded but cricket has been such a passion of mine for nearly 70 years and I have had some wonderful times and met so many great people that it is a great chance to bring back some great memories.
