Henry Dolphin - live, love and laugh

Crib Point Cricket Club | June 04, 2023

Henry Dolphin has a much travelled cricket journey having played his junior and early senior cricket in Guyana in the West Indies.

Playing in Guyana and their Under 19 team Henry has played with and against some of the West Indian greats.

Moving to Australia Henry’s had a decorated career playing in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association. He’s a premiership winning captain and a two time winner of the MPCA Player of the year in 2000/01 and 2001/02.

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

 

What year you were born?

I was born in 1964.

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

Growing up as a kid, cricket was never organised until it got to the under 16’s level at school. I think I was 13 playing as a medium pace bowler and lower order batsman. I can’t remember batting but bowled tightly but got no wickets.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Under 19’s and Senior Essequibo County, Guyana Under 19’s, Mc Kenzie Cricket Club, Guyana Police Sports Club, Couple years in the Kent Leagues, Crib Point Cricket Club, Moorooduc Cricket Club, Frankston YCW Cricket club, Devon Meadows Cricket Club and currently Nyora Cricket Club.

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

At 16 in a senior county game.

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 a senior county game. I was the under 19 opening batsman for my county and in the previous game one of our opening batsmen had his face rearranged by the great West Indian fast bowler Colin Croft and I was drafted in as his replacement. I was excited and a little nervous and lots of people had grave concerns for my safety. I opened the batting and made 39, I was the sixth man out. I got one wicket. All the test and national players played back then.

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

Aggressive opening batsman who can bat for very long periods. Tidy leg spin bowler.

What were your strengths as a player?

My ability to bat for long periods and to perform in the big games.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

221 for Crib Point versus Mount Eliza at Mount Eliza. Grant Cudmore made 229 which was a club record the previous week and I thought that I would chase it down but fell 8 short.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

8 for 13 for Police Sports Club versus Demerara Cricket Club on a wet wicket.

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

Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop, I don’t need to say anything about them.

Linden Joseph played for Hampshire and West Indies A was the fastest that I have faced. It was the only time that I did not see the ball.

In the MPCA Terry Doyle was the best, decent pace and moved the ball. Tim Bateman, very underrated bowled. I remember him and Darryn Ablett bowling in tandem for Mt Martha, it was just relentless sustained pace all day.

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Clyde Butts, former West Indies off spinner, very tall, lots of turn and bounce

Greg Lamb, similar sort of bowler

John Forrest for his consistency.

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

Carl Hooper, Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan all very good test players and great players of spin. They all used their feet and put you under pressure all the time.

In the MPCA, Stuey Peck, Craig Symons, Nick Jewell, Dan Warwick, Anthony Blackwell, Bobby Wilson.

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

Leonard Baichan the former West Indies opening batsman scored a double century in a county game. He never played and missed once and hit everything along the ground.

In the MPCA I saw Craig Symons score a hundred against Crib Point, it was just brutal.

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

That was easy, Adrian Mack. He got me out lbw every time. At one stage I was going to change my answering machine message to ‘I can’t come to the phone right now, I am probably out to Adrian Mack again. Please leave a message and I will get back to you.”

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

In my first senior county game as a 16 year old, I really didn’t have much to compare it to. Here I am playing against the national fast bowlers, players around the bat everywhere and guys calling for blood. Back then I never used to hit in the air so I got a few away and my confidence started to grow in front of a supportive home crowd (there used to be thousands of spectators at county games back in the 80’s) you start to feel that you belonged.

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

Milton Pydanna former West Indies keeper and Warren Herrington .

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

Terry Doyle was very competitive and always let you know how well you were doing.

Crusty Symes was very similar but a bit more outspoken.

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

Basil Butcher, the former West Indian batsman who I learnt a lot about captaincy from. He always seemed a step ahead of the game and a great manager of men.

?Who has been your funniest team mate?

Glen Barclay. I remember him and Steve Morone whenever they batted together it always ended in tears.

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

A few years ago we were playing Hastings and Izy Dias called me a fossil and said I belonged in a museum and not on a cricket field. It was funny but I couldn’t let him know at the time.

Who was your childhood hero?

Roy Fredericks and Malcolm Marshall.

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

Usain Bolt, Viv Richards, Rafael Nadal

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Henry Blofeld (radio) and Johnathan Agnew

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Main Ridge, I think I am averaging 120 there.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Scoring 221 against Mt Eliza, 2 Premierships as captain/coach at Crib Point and Moorooduc and back to back League medals.

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

Beating Sorrento in a semi final. We made 153 and they were 3 for 139 and lost their last 7 wickets for 4 runs or something like that.

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

Glen Barclay definitely and most of the boys from Crib Point.

What are your hobbies?

Table tennis, listening to Caribbean music and reading sports biographies.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Live, love and laugh.

What’s your occupation?

I work with Vicpol.

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?

Start with the kids when they are very young and don’t over coach or try to change them because they are different. The world won’t have seen a Steve Smith, Chanderpaul, Malinga, Murali and a Bumrah if coaches tried to change them.