Powell Cooper - living the best life

Andrew King | July 23, 2023

Powell Cooper is a legendary figure at Frankston East (Ballam Park) Cricket Club.

He played just about all his cricket at Ballam formerly Frankston East Cricket Club, taken over a 1,000 wickets, if a Life member and former President of the club.

Let’s find out more about Powell’s journey in the game

What year you were born?

1965

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

Under 16’s against Long Island at Worland Park. I got a couple of overs but no wickets and didn’t bat.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Other than half a season with Casteron CC after I played a footy season with them I played all my cricket with Frankston East and then they merged with Ballam Park.

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

4th grade as a 16 year old.

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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?

I was lucky enough to play a game of cricket for the Victorian Schoolboys and was in awe playing against the Cavaliers. Desmond Haynes was playing with Dandenong and Malcolm Marshall was playing with Moorabin and they both played in that game. It was an amazing experience.

Only ever play district and sub district in the MPCA. I was lucky to get a senior game when Steve Wade was interstate on business, picked up a wicket with my first ball, Steve Halse bowled. I was blessed to get 5 wickets in that game.

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

An average bowler who had some luck. Terrible batsman that tried to stick around to help someone else get runs.

What were your strengths as a player?

Competitive and aggressive

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

54 playing seconds for Frankston East at Seaford, opening the batting because nobody else would.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

A few 7 wicket hauls in the firsts but my fondest was against YCW in the District Semi final played at Pines in the 1986-87 season. I played until Christmas at Casterton and came back for the second half of the season. My old mate Peter Lane used to pre record the cricket show and said Pinky Cooper couldn’t get my grand ma out, well I got 7 of them but his Grandma refused to come into bat.

I got 9 wickets in a seconds once, the last wicket was dropped and run out

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

Every bowler was good to me but….

Terry Doyle was sharp and mean, scared me senseless

Tim Bateman was a great mover of the ball and for a hack like me I was always playing the wrong line.

Craig Whelan was a good bowler, knew what he was doing and was sharp.

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

As above all too good for me

Graeme Smith the old toad was good with the spit ball.

Big Tex Smith from Seaford

Michael Smith from Seaford Tigers

Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

Gary Cooper from Boneo was all class if he got through the first 10 overs. He was tough to dislodge, one player you didn’t want to bowl short to.

Garath Wyatt - Main Ridge was such a slim small man but wow when he was on song he could destroy a team.

Tony Horvatt sliced us up down at Boneo one day and his cutting and driving was sublime

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

Sean Osborne made 196 against a handy Sorrento bowling line up, he put them all over the park that day. Footnote Trevor McLean made 100 in 10 overs against Seaford Tigers. It was raw power and timing. Both these lads played for Frankston East

Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?

Every single one of them except for Shane Wilson, he always wanted to bowl short at me.

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?

This is more of a batsman question. There was a first eleven game when I was 18-19 and we were playing Delacombe. Troy Stasey and I had to get about 45 for the last wicket and they had a very fast Steve Howard and Mark Rogerson so it was lots of leg byes from me and Stase hit the bulk. They took the new ball with 4 to win, it was short outside off stump any good batsman would have cut it for 4. I shut my eyes and swung hard, the ball ended up going for 4 through mid-wicket.

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

Mark Hale was a very good keeper, very quick hands, good up and standing back. Honourable mention to Matty Duff who took 28 catches off me in one season,

Mark Hale

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

Peter Greaves was a man among men, aggressive, strong, could bat and bowl, very inspiring man.

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

Rob Dean was my first senior Captain. He was a real student of the game and shrewd tactician.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Would have to be my best mate Ozzie. We had many a good laugh out on the cricket field

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

Where do I start if I am not laughing at myself for bowling wearing a garbage bag sounding like a packet of chips?

It would be when Ozzie went out against Sorrento at Frankston East. Anyone who knows Ozz would say he didn’t get upset losing his wicket but on this day he was annoyed and decided to throw his bat. He held onto it for too long and it went behind him and hit the Sorrento opening bowler on the shin and he took no further part in the game.

Who was your childhood hero? 

Bruce Doull

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

Barry Richards, Michael Jordon and Muhammad Ali

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Frank Street

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Having a sports pavilion named in my honour. Being awarded a life membership and playing, taking 1000 wickets and playing in a lower grade premiership with guys I played 1st eleven cricket with when I was a teenager

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

Probably beating the raging favourites YCW in that Semi as I’m pretty sure they were undefeated and we snuck into 4th. They had Greg Lane and Kevin Prendergast just back from Frankston, Chris Hutchinson Chris Hoyne and Chuck Housden. They rolled us for 90 odd and were cruising at 2 for 30 odd. Steve Wade then bowled an amazing over and took 3 for none in 6 balls and they’re 5 for 30 odd. Mick Hooper chucks me the ball and says tough act to follow. I proceeded to take 2 for none and the rest is history, never again did I play in a game where 5 wickets fell for no runs in 12 balls.

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

Sean Osborne, Mark Hale and Mal Wade 

What are your hobbies?

Living my best life

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

This was not advice to me, but it came from a question I asked Graham Yallop. I asked him how he continued to be a good cricketer later in life?

He said, “I think I am good enough to bat 40 overs in a game at my age, I think I am good enough to get 2 singles in every over. “ He then said “If I face 40 overs I will get 5 boundary balls, that’s how I make hundreds. Makes the game pretty simple.

What’s your occupation?

National Sales Manager of a company called Flexi Pillows

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?

Put time and money into local cricket associations with strong coaching in the pathways