Adam Voigt - enjoyed the big moments
Andrew King | July 25, 2023
Adam Voigt is the President of Dromana Cricket Club in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.
He started out in the MPCA juniors and seniors with Delacombe Cricket Club before joining Dromana as captain coach.
He then moved to Darwin and played for Waratah Cricket Club in Darwin Premier Cricket.
Let’s find out more about Adam’s journey in the game.
What year you were born?
1972 in East Melbourne.
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I didn’t even play cricket until the Under 14s. I was coached by the Delacombe Park legend, Lenny Chard, and I got a wicket against Pearcedale. I was pretty keen on cricket straight away.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played all of my juniors and early seniors with Delacombe Park. We won a couple of 1sts flags at DP with a young side and against some MPCA legends too – which was just an amazing time to be at the club. I then went to Captain-Coach Dromana CC which was also a wonderful experience, before heading to Darwin to play with Waratah CC for about 9 years.
That club also holds a very special place in my heart as it was how my whole family found a friendship network at the other end of the country. To play in a Premier Grade flag there and also a Sunday comp flag in my final match for Tahs with some lifelong mates was a real thrill.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
I think I played my first senior matches as about a 14-year-old with DP legends like John Horwood, John Stubbs and my old man Brian. I remember accidentally hitting a Baxter bowler for six at the Frankston High School oval and being petrified that he’d try to kill me next ball.
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?
It was the Premier Grade cricket in Darwin for Waratah CC. We often had first-class players play up there because it was played in the southern winter months so I felt like pretty out of my depth with some of the names floating around.
But it was a real highlight to test yourself against them and also to play on high-quality turf ovals after having played all my time in the MPCA to that point.
On debut with the ‘Tahs’ Premier team I was picked to just tee off in the second-last match in the hope we could get into outright winning position to give us a hope of playing finals. I managed to make 20-something, but we missed the outright. Somehow we still snuck into the finals and a few weeks later we won the flag.
This Q&A with Adam Voigt is proudly sponsored by Capital Edge
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Early days I was definitely a bowler. Mostly I opened the bowling for Delacombe Park and batted low. By the time I was at Dromana, the batting had improved a bit and I was an all-rounder. And then, always playing with too much weight on me, the body decided that bowling days were over. I spent the last few years of cricket mostly opening the batting. Probably shows I did nothing particularly well, but found ways to not get dropped!
What were your strengths as a player?
It certainly wasn’t talent. I didn’t have a great deal of that and was always a bit intimidated by some of the amazing players I was pitted against. My strengths were more that I was competitive and I think I built a record of enjoying big moments in matches. I also just loved the tactical and leadership sides of the game – which may have been me compensating for the lack of ability!
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
I made two ‘tons’ - 141 for the Dromana 2nds at home against Carrum Downs and 111 for Waratah CC against Southern Districts.
My highest 1stXI score was 87 not out from Dromana against Moorooduc (although Trev Rendall tells me this is cancelled out by running him out for 80 in the same innings).
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I got 6-fa a few times but never any more than that. I got 6/45 in one of my first 1st XI seasons for Delacombe Park against Rye CC and remember being rapt with that as they had some really good players at the time. I also got 6 wickets bowling 28 straight overs up the hill one day at “the chip” against Red Hill, who had some greats like Andy Brown and Rodney Hogg playing for them. Hoggy suggested after the game that I might be sleeping with my captain’s (Mark Brittain) wife as he was clearly trying to kill me.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Richie Sherlock was the probably the fastest. He was a NZ 2ndXI player who we came up against in Darwin. I hit him for 4 first ball and didn’t see the next one.
Shane Wilson (Mt.Martha) was the most intimidating quickie – he was just enormous, crazy and super-fast.
And the other would be former SA/Qld player Mick Miller. He was really fast and probably the best all-round cricket I ever played with and against.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
I always struggled against Jim Boyd for some reason and Brian ‘Cuey’ McCue was another that I just couldn’t work out. Watching them from the boundary they looked playable, but they just gave you nothing on the field.
The other would Paul Bradley (Seaford at the time) – I had no idea what he was bowling me.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
The obvious one was Robbie Bedford who made tons against us for fun at Delacombe Park. Gary Cooper (Boneo) was a player I had huge respect for. I don’t think I’ve seen a local cricketer who had more control over his game than Coops.
In Darwin, I go back to Mick Miller – he was such a commanding presence on a cricket ground, with bat or ball.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Rhett Bowden (former Melbourne CC 1st XI player and brother to AFL players Joel and Paddy) won us that Premier Grade flag for Waratah CC with a 115 not out in the Grand Final against Miller and the undefeated Southern Districts CC. It’s not even close – that was the best batting I’ve seen from a teammate.
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Darren Oakley (Skye) was a really good bowler. Skye always struggled so you sometimes showed up thinking it wouldn’t be a hard day … until Oaks started bowling. He was really sharp on his day and had a huge heart. You could tell he really loved his club.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
Playing for Delacombe Park in the late 80s and early 90s and battles against clubs like Frankston YCW, Seaford, Boneo and Long Island. Having to open the bowling against some of their batting lists on a tiny, rock-hard Delacombe Park ground was just frightening from start to end. So I can’t recall a particular time when it all felt too hard … it happened most Saturdays!
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
It would have to be Danny Heylbut at Dromana. Butta had lightning hands and could keep up to the pegs to almost anyone. He was an enormous asset as a captain.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
I think Nick Christides is a standout here. People know Chico is a great player, but I loved his will to win more than anything. Chico could return from dominating at Country Week and act like the match that Saturday was the most important of his life (except for the one that he and Darren Kerr arrived barely able to speak!).
The other would be Les Pimm. Pimmy taught me a lot about cricket and the focus you need to win. He could be scary and a bit weird at times, but it was great to play with a bloke of his skill and mental strength.
Nick Christides
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Mark Brady was the best skipper by quite a long way. He knew his players and how to get the best out of them. He built an incredibly tight team culture, made hard calls and ensured that every player knew his role. We really played for ‘Baf’. And for all the intangible stuff, he also had a really sound knowledge of the game – he was tactically really smart.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
It’s a close run thing between Trev Rendall, who still makes me giggle my head off at Dromana CC to this day, and Geoff Lang at Delacombe Park. Everything Langy did was funny … like the day he insisted that Mt Martha CC had moved trees as he’d hit a six over them previously and he can’t hit the ball that far.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Mark Brittain told an opposition batsman that he’d get some Codral when Cam Hill hit him with a bouncer in the shoulder. We all looked at Britts like he’d gone mad and then he sang “So he can … shoulder on Codral, shoulder on shoulder on”. I shouldn’t have started laughing because I couldn’t stop for about 30 minutes.
Who was your childhood hero?
I was a huge Allan Border fan when it came to cricket and, as a young Tiger fanatic, I loved watching Michael Roach kick bags of goals for Richmond too.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Muhammad Ali, Dustin Martin and Cathy Freeman.
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
I like the ones that both respect and know the sport rather than the clowns we have these days carrying on like children. For that reason, I like Gerard Whatley, Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain and basically anyone who isn’t Shane Warne or James Brayshaw.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Gardens Oval (home of Waratah CC) in Darwin.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning the 1992/93 flag with Delacombe Park CC. It was a huge breakthrough moment for the club. I remember seeing old-timers in tears and knowing we’d done something pretty special.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The Waratah CC Premier Flag in 2005. Southern Districts were undefeated all season and made 500 in each of their previous two matches. It was so unexpected by everyone except the players in that team.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Martin “Bucko” Buchanan (and we do that bbq often anyway), Cameron Hill (total lunatic, but one of my great mates) and Damian “Nugget” Heaslip from Waratah CC (probably the best bloke I met in the sport).
What are your hobbies?
I’m still involved in cricket as President at Dromana CC. I also love travelling with my wife Anthea and kids Ebony and Ronan (we’ve missed it since covid hit) and I hope I can see more of the world with them soon.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
“If you can’t be a good cricket, at least look like one.” – Brian Voigt. I’ve never put a thigh-pad outside my whites since.
What’s your occupation?
These days I’m the CEO and Founder of Real Schools. We work with schools all across Australia to support teachers and school leaders to build cultures and communities where they get to focus on what matters and what helps students, educators and parents thrive.
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?
I reckon there’s only one priority right now. I’d pour resources into supporting clubs to get kids aged 7-10 into cricket. Particularly since covid, it’s become a real struggle for too many clubs. I think we’ve never needed a bigger investment in grassroots cricket and I’m frankly concerned for our sport if we don’t move quickly on this.
