Chris Killen - no fear

Warnervale Wildcats | May 16, 2023

Chris Killen played first class cricket for NSW and South Australia.

Growing up in the western regions of NSW Chris Killen caught the eye of the NSW Cricket Captain Dirk Wellham at the age of 17 and was promptly invited to join Wellham at his club in Sydney, Western suburbs.

Chris made his first grade debut for Western Suburbs against Petersham in September 1986 taking 2 for 31 in Petersham first innings and 2 for 29 in the 2nd innings. Chris is Western Suburbs first grade player number 517.

A strong robust fast Chris quickly earned a reputation for being one of the fastest bowlers in Australia.

It’s been quite the journey for Chris, let’s find out more.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I loved cricket from a young age and picked up a bat as soon as I could. The first game I ever played was in the seniors with my dad and our batting gloves had the green spikes on them. It was a long time ago.

I thought I was a wicket keeper until we moved from Narrabri to Dubbo at the age of 14 and at school some lads asked me if I wanted to play in there side on the weekends. They need an extra player and they already had a wicket keeper and they asked me if I bowled. I said I’d never really tried it, so I had a go and they came out ok, so bowling it was.

Dirk Welham asked me to come to Sydney to play for Western Suburbs when I was 16 so as soon as I got my P’s I headed to the big smoke at 17 to follow a dream.

In Sydney I had 3 seasons at Western Suburbs, 2 seasons at Campbelltown and played NSW Under 19s and Australian Under 19s. We played 3 Tests and 3 one days’ games against New Zealand and India.

In Adelaide I played for Prospect for 2 seasons. In Perth, one season with CBC and in Canberra I had 2 seasons with South Canberra.

I had 10 seasons with Belmont in Newcastle and on the Central Coast I’ve played with Doyalson for one season, Northern Power for 2 seasons and Warnervale for 5 seasons.

I played one first class one day game for NSW and 5 first class games for South Australia. I also represented the ACT when playing in Canberra.

I had 9 England summers playing in the U.K.

Enfield and Colne one season each in the Lancahsire League. In the Ribbledale League I had 3 seasons with Barnoldswick and 2 with Great Harwood.

In the Bradofrd League in Yorkshire I played one season each with Yorkshire Bankfoot and Cleckheaton

I’ve coached many junior team on the Central Coast and in Newcastle including numerous representative team

NSW Under 19s team - 1986

Back row - Mark Patterson (Captain), Phil Weatherall, Andrew Fitzhenry, Darren Mitchell, Richard Fry, Paul Steptoe, Neil Maxwell, Andrew Martyr

Front row - Jason Penrose, Chris Killen, Scott Prestwidge, Jamie Bray, Scott Hookey

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

I was 15 in Dubbo in 3rd grade. My 1st grade debut was put back a week when I was 16 because I’d been grounded for a week.

What were your strengths as a player?

No Fear, 100% committed to team and winning. Never left anything on the field, a fighter and some may say a little (lot) mad as a bowler.

 

Sydney Morning Hearld 15 February 1987

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

100 plus South Canberra in the ACT

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

Many 5 wicket halls did get a 5 for 5 of 10 overs with Warnervale and 7 for in the UK.

I think my best attribute was I got a lot of wickets at the other end

You played 5 first class matches for South Australia and regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in Australia, how do you look back on your cricket career?

Way too short. I know I should have played more first class games and could have played more games in Sydney but every decision I made regarding the teams I played for and where I went to play with contracts at the time I wouldn’t change.

If I didn’t make those decisions I wouldn’t have ended up meeting my future wife in the UK. We’ve been together for 32 years and have 2 awesome sons, both born in the UK.

How I look back on my cricket career is I’m very lucky. Many great memories and friends and the odd enemy. I played hard and some might say too hard but that was the era, and no regrets. I loved every minute of every game

 

Chris Killen marking out his run up with Geoff Lawson nearby

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

Wow, any of the West Indies touring party of 1989.

But Bruce Reid on the WACA with the extra bounce was something else.

I played with Dave Gilbert for a few years at Western Suburbs but until I played against him (SA v TAS) he would stroll in and then wham ball was on you so quick.

New ball partner at Campbelltown was Ken Mcleod, West Indian big left arm quick. Wow when he got it right he was very sharp. I played against him in the ACT a few times and never balled me a short ball.

Also I must mention my idol Jeff Thomson. I faced him in the Gabba nets just rolling his arm over and as he is running in, I’m all good, and then you go OMG were has the ball gone with his action, thank god I never faced him in his prime.

David Gilbert

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Unfortunately no spinner stands out that I played against due to the fact I played with some of the best.

Greg Mo Mathews so energetic so passionate and never gave you an even break, always at you.

Tom Shiner leggie had all the tricks and bamboozled the best. His fielding was a work in progress. I remember a game against Mosman and Tommy was at short leg. I bowled a short bowl to Scott Atkinson and for some reason Tommy had ducked his head and as Scott popped the ball up we all shouted Tommy, he looked up and the ball fell into his hands, great catch.

Peter Sleep for South Australia was just so consistent. Not the biggest turner but made you work hard for your runs, extremely competitive.

Special mention to Roger Harper. Played against him in Australia and many times in the UK, the meanest look you could get from a spinner

Greg Matthews

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

Greg Giese always seemed to have time and elegant.

Rod Bower no fear and could destroy an attack very quickly and hit the ball so hard.

Scott Hookey would punish you from ball one and in the right mood awesome to watch.

I will give a mention to Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge. I played against these gents, once was enough hahaha

 

Greg Geise

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

David Hookes against the might of the West Indies in 1988 when he scored 47 of 30 balls with no helmet against Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh and Benjamin and stood there with no fear and said give it your best shot.

Michael Bevan against Mosman. I changed the batting order around on the second day. We were chasing Mosman’s total of 369 and I batted Bevo at 5 instead of 3 which Shane Lee batted at 3. Bevo came in half way between lunch and tea and smashed 164 to win the game. It’s still one of the best knocks I’ve seen.

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

As I moved around I didn’t get too many opportunities to bowl at the same batter for many years. Getting the batter to interact with me got me going to another level which I enjoyed but David Hookes had a real presence about him when you bowled to him and he was one of the batters I didn’t give grief to as it would take him to another level. The old saying don’t poke the bear

David Hookes 

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

Greg Dyer – clinical, perfectionist

Paul Ryan – Keeper Batsman. Classy with both gloves and bat, had time

Scott Atkinson – as above professional, soft hands and quick up at the stumps Longevity, passion, tenacity and a real street fighter.

 

Scott Atkinson

 

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

Scott Atkinson played for many years in Sydney and was also the oldest player at the age of 40 to make his first grade debut in Melbourne.

I played against him many times and finally got to play with him at Warnervale. Tough as nails, passionate, energetic 100% committed to his team mates, hates losing, first to turn up at training and last to leave, and that is still now as he is playing 1st grade on the Central Coast at 54. Very professional and takes great pride in his keeping and every bowler knows he will never give his wicket up cheaply. And has told my sons too many stories.

Murray Radcliffe from Western Suburbs didn’t get the accolades he deserved. Wests had a very handy attack and big Hoss had the biggest heart I have ever seen. He just kept coming, running in to control one end for so many games over a season while David Gilbert, Tony Dwyer, Brad McNamara and myself would charge in from the other end. He was the perfect foil for spinner Greg Matthews and Peter McLay. Hoss was a gentleman and again would give you everything and then more.

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

Gee I had some good skippers. Hard to split Dirk Wellham and David Hookes. Hookesy was always thinking differently, tactically passionate and driven to win.

One game against Victoria at Adelaide Oval Andrew Zesers was bowling to Dean Jones and Jones had just come off a big hundred the previous Shield game so we needed to get him early.

David set up the field for a short ball and Zeser’s runs in and bowls a good length ball which Jones goes forward and leaves. Hookes run’s in front of wicket keeper Wayne Phillips, catches the ball and throws down the stumps. Jones run out. What just happened?

Hookes noticed Jones batting well outside his crease and came up with the plan and executed to perfection and Jones was 100% dumb founded as to what had happened. Brilliant. I also did try and execute the same during my playing days.

Dubbo Macquarie Cricket Club First XI 1984/85 - Chris Killen, back row second in from the right

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

WOW, me and banter. There was plenty.

First McDonalds Cup game for SA against Victoria at Adelaide Oval on a Sunday and the game was televised.

I just got Dave Whatmore out and in comes Dean Jones. First ball hit him on the thigh pad and the ball drops and I run down the wicket and he looks at me and spits at me, TV picked it up and was commented on.

Let’s just say next over I got him out caught behind and gave him one huge send off, of course it didn’t go down well.

When it came time for our innings Hooksey said “are you wearing a helmet, you better as they are after you.”

Walking out to bat and they are giving it to me. Merv Hughes was bowling and Jones has just had a word to him and I knew what was coming. Yes short ball and it clanked the helmet as I was trying to avoid and it went for 4 leg byes. The next two balls Merv and I just stared at each other. Ended up putting on a hundred with James Pyke and we nearly won the game. It was funny and we did laugh after the game.

All teams knew not to poke the bear as I was always telling the batter to play straighter, hoping they’d bite back at me which just incited me and it was game on.

Not too many would until a game in Newcastle at Number 1 Oval Belmont v Newcastle City. Opening the bowling I wasn’t feeling it. They had a new guy open and his partner knew well.

I was trying to bait the new guy just to get into the game, I guess after a few comments about asking how he was and one follow through I asked again and turned around to walk back and he decided to respond, which was all I needed. I turned back to him and smiled.

His batting partner at the non-strikers end abused him for engaging I went through the team and the new batter was a shattered man afterwards. We’ve laughed for years since and we all agreed when your own team mates heckle you, you shut up.

I opened the batting for Belmont v New Lambton on day one and Mark Cameron was bowling with some real good heat. He was also giving me plenty of verbal stick. I hadn’t had this much verbal for some time and got hit a couple of times but we both didn’t back down. We batted the day and I got a few runs and was so excited when Saturday came around because I was ready. We turn up to the ground only for the boys to say Mark gave it to me as he knew he wasn’t going to be playing day two. I laughed, well done Mark. He then went to Sydney the next year.

Who was your childhood hero?

Jeff Thomson

Jeff Thomson 

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

Wasim Akram, Lee Trevino and David Hussey

Wasim Akram

 

What was your favourite ground to play at?

I played at all the major grounds in Australia, some amazing grounds in England but Adelaide Oval on a sunny day stands tall

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Plenty but playing 1st grade with Warnervale on the Central Coast v Brisbane Water with my two son’s Josh and Jake for the 1st time. Both boys got 3 wickets each, I got 51 not out and we won, and I didn’t have to bowl.

Mr Pereira, a handy cricketer thought it was bad enough having to deal with one Killen, let alone 3 coming at him. End of the year we got over 50 wickets between us and they did most of the damage.

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

The game with my sons is up there. Also local Derby games on a sunny Saturday in the UK would draw a big crowd and some games were fierce.

When I moved to the ACT I played a few 2nd XI games, but until I played a country championship game for the ACT against Newcastle the rivalry was amazing and they had a huge grudge against each other and no shortage of talk going on.

Newcastle were the favourites. They had Greg Arms, Mark Curry Anthony Stuartand ACT Peter Solway, Graeme Bush and Greg Irvine, big names in bush cricket.

The game was intense from ball one and never eased till game ended, advantage continually changing throughout the game and it went down to the wire and last overs for the ACT to win

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

Scott Atkinson, Peter Sleep, Mike Whitney

 

Australian Under 19 cricket team 1986

Back Row - Mark Palmer, Geoff Parker, Paul Stepto, Chris Killen, John Causon, Paul Carew, Ian Stenhouse, Neil Maxwell

Front Row - Joe Scuderi, Brenton Opperman, Brian Taber (Coach), Dean Reynolds (Captain), David McNeill, Allister De Winter

What are your hobbies?

Golf, walking and some cricket still when the body lets me

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Don’t leave anything on the field, give 100% at all times and from Dennis Lillee when finishing his career playing for Tasmania v SA I had a beer with him after the game.

He said never stop listening to advice, you will work out what will and won’t work for you as I have done, and I am still learning to this very day every game.

What is your occupation?

Field Sales Manager for Lactalis Dairy Brands (OAK, Ice Break, Pauls ) to name a few

Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?

Not at this stage, couple of years off but next year there is a good chance I will play again