Michael Flahive - create your own destiny

Andrew King | August 01, 2023

Michael Flahive played most of his cricket in the South East Cricket Association competition with Highett West Cricket Club where he is a life member.

For 5 seasons he’s been playing in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association competition with Carrum Downs Cricket club.

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

 

What year you were born?

1979

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

8 years old. Made a duck and bowled a dirty full toss from the bowling crease (next to the stumps) that knocked all 3 pegs out of the ground.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Life Member of Highett West CC in the SECA. Played 95% of my cricket there. Spent a season with some lifelong friends at East Sandringham. Bought a house in Carrum Downs and lobbed up to training one night for a game. Have spent the past 5 seasons there.

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

Played in H Grade as a 9 year old. It was the club’s 2nd XI at the time. Short on numbers so I played and even got a bowl. A few years later I was opening the bowling in our 4ths in K grade.

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?

Played 1st XI as a 15 year old. Bowled 15 wicketless overs straight when the coach said, “One more and I’ll give you a spell”. Ended up with 5/59 off 28. Highest “grade” was at Frankston. I don’t know if Premier records are up to date, but I took 8 wickets against Camberwell filling in for the 4ths which I remember them telling us at selection the next Thursday was a record at the time. Took another 3fa and 5fa in different grades. Not sure I got to the 2s? Was going to come back the following season, but did my knee playing footy which took 2 years to recover from.

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

Mediocre bowler that thinks he can bat.

What were your strengths as a player?

The verbal stuff. Enjoy being disliked.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

92 at Highett West. I’ll never forgive my teammates. I knew I was on a fair score and the scoreboard showed 3 overs to go so I asked what I was on. There were scores of 68 & 78 yelled out, so I promptly went after the first ball and skied it. Came off the ground, took my gear off and came out to snickers of laughter. One of the boys told me to look at the scorebook where I saw 92 next to my name. Played the next 3 games without turning up outside of game time.

This Q&A with Michael Flahive is proudly sponsored by Capital Edge

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

Highett West 13/60. 7/32 & 6/28. I was 19 years old, captain of the club and also made 43 not out after going in at 7/52. We needed 32 off 3 overs for an outright. Opener hit 6,6,4,6,6,1 off the first over. Got the outright with 10 balls to spare.

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

All from the old competition. Jordan Stratford, Anthony Reid, Keith Schleiger (foreman on The Block). Stratford the best of them, but Reid the scariest. I remember a fast out-swinging full toss that skimmed my cap. Next ball was an in-swinging bullet that knocked over middle stump.

Who were the best three spinners you have played against?  

When I left East Sandy the change from our Premiership team to their next game was all over the news. Flahive out, Warne in. First game of local cricket he played after his international career. Pretty sure the media was there for me, but settled for Warnie.

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

Rob Quiney. Played a lot of cricket for Victoria and a couple of Tests for Australia. Also one of the best blokes you’ll ever meet.

One of Bobby Quiney’s best mates was a class above. Damien Casey. Loved a froff instead of dominating higher levels.

Ash Russell should’ve played a lot more top end cricket than he did.

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

Devin Byrne-Murray – former teammate. 139 in a one-day game. Brutal innings. Matty Lloyd from Essendon’s first game after footy retirement.

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

Robert Ridgway & Kristian McInerney from the old competition.

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

Always felt excited when I played up a level. Never overwhelmed. Second game of 1st XI cricket is a story unfit for publication. Most people I tell can’t believe it.

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

Anton Duddy. Averages 3 stumpings per game to Shane Warne (from 2 games). Not even Healy or Gilly can boast those numbers.

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

Kim Pitt had an aura about him in the old competition. Was a mentor to Shane Warne and played in 13 ‘A grade’ flags in the old comp. Was still making ‘A grade’ tons in his 50s.

Devin Byrne-Murray had so much natural ability. Unorthodox bat, but brutal. Had more tricks with the ball than anyone I’ve seen. Should’ve played a lot higher standard.

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

Kim Pitt & Jum Quarmby. Both have a ruthlessness about them, but as a teammate you respect and admire. Seems odd talking about Quarmby in that manner given I’ve got him covered by a few years, but he’s a quality leader.

Who has been your funniest teammate?

Josh Rowe. He was an ice hockey goalkeeper for Australia. Was the toughest and funniest bloke I’ve known. Not sure the humour was intentional, but geez we got a good laugh from him. Had his teeth knocked out from a dirty full toss while he was at short leg. Refused to go to hospital.

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

I played against Mathew Lloyd in his first game of cricket after AFL retirement.

I bowled the first ball he faced. At the top off my mark I picked up some grass and flicked it in the air like he would do before having a shot for goal. Got a cheap laugh out of him. An over later I was at silly mid-off when he got tangled by a yorker and hit the deck. I told him to quit the diving “you won’t get a free kick out here”. He went at me with his bat to my throat and that fire in the eyes that made me question why I opened my mouth. A few years later he was quoted in The Age as that was the funniest sledge he copped. Didn’t seem like it at the time!

To balance it out, we had a fundraiser the next day. Not only did he offer to sign a jumper for us, we sent someone up to the local sports store top grab an Essendon jumper. He paid for the jumper and the first drink of everyone that played that day.

Who was your childhood hero?

Dean Jones and Merv Hughes. Two iconic Victorians.

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

Michael Jordan, Roger Federer and Wasim Akram

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Kerry O’Keeffe

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Peterson Reserve.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Last year was special. We built towards it in the years I’ve been at the club and the 2nds winning the club’s first ever premiership was special. On a personal note, I was told 2 years ago after knee surgery that I wouldn’t play cricket again, but got to be a part of that success.

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

Last round of the season, 4th on the ladder needing to win we got rolled for 91. We had them 5/16 overnight and got another 5/16 to bowl them out for 32. The following week we played again in a semi-final and took 4/1 to win by 2 runs. Absolute scenes.

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

Couldn’t narrow it down to 3. Played a bit of rep cricket with a bunch of genuinely good blokes that I never really get that time to sit and have a beer with. Most other teammates that I’d want a beer with are all lifelong friends I normally get to see.

What are your hobbies?

I feel like all I do is work, home-school and drink. Cricket and footy have always been the outlets. These days I live through my kids. Enjoy spending more and more time watching them come through in their various sports.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

You can be a victim or you can create your own destiny.

What’s your occupation?

Mortgage Broker. RateOne Financial Services. Regularly in the top 10 brokerages in the country.

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?

Tap into the schools. Simulate matches. Kids are trying to skip Blasters, but need that grounding.