Andrew West - don't over think it
Somerville Cricket Club | March 28, 2024
Andrew West was a premiership winning wicket keeping batter with Somerville Cricket Club.
Andrew played the majority of his junior and senior cricket in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.
Let’s find out more about Andrew’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1979
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I was 8 playing in Tyabbs under 12s, can’t remember my actual 1st game. But pretty sure I didn’t contribute much for the first couple of years, but loved the game.
I do remember the entire team cramming in the back of the coaches’ station wagon to get to away games
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Tyabb junior, play through all the grades as a kid was a great club to grow up at, so many great memories started 1stXI cricket at about 17, as I improved, I was given the opportunity to coach, starting with Mt Martha, Mt Eliza, Tyabb, Dromana and Somerville, during this time I was lucky enough to play a bit of country week which I absolutely loved.
Also played 2 seasons in the UK in Essex (an awesome experience I’d recommend to any young player)
And played some Sunday cricket with Endeavour Hills and South Oakleigh.. think that covers it!!
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
First senior game I think I was 13, plucked out of the nets because Tyabbs 5th were short, played Main Ridge at Main Ridge back oval
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 a representative game in Essex against at the time current test cricketers Mohammed Akram and Rashad Kahn. Never seen a keeper back that far when Akram was bowling, he was rapid. Luckily enough I for the most part was able to avoid him and get 72
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Wicket keeper batter. Probably like most, had more shots when I was younger, got a bit smarter as I got older.
What were your strengths as a player?
In my late teens, early 20s, I worked really hard on my keeping and hardly batted at training, and as a captain, thought I gave all my teams a good chance to win the game. Best place to captain was from behind the stumps.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
Got 207 not out in the UK on an absolute postage stamp
And 153 not out for Somerville 2nds v Pearcedale
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Never really bowled much and for good reason. I remember getting 4 wickets as a kid playing 3s or 4s at Tabb
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
As I mentioned earlier Mohammed Akram - fortunately he just bowled a great turf length and I just kept missing it
Back in the mid to late 1990s it seemed every club had genuine quicks. Burriss, Dignan, Doyle, Grange, Grenville, Robson, Wilson, Cross etc
Mark Fulton I thought was the scariest of the lot.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Tim Birch - great changes of pace, great flight
Paul Bradley- always at you, best fielder off his own bowling I’ve seen
Sanjeev Weerasinghe -absolute class, got to keep to him in some country week trial games and I still couldn’t pick him
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Tough to name just 3
Stuart Peck at Boneo - dismantled some great attacks throughout the Peninsula on a weekly basis
Nick Christides- not sure how many 100s he has but I reckon I’ve seen 4 from behind the stumps and a handful of 50s, great eye, he chose the pace of the game (mostly pretty quick)
Steve Gale at Rye- had more time than anyone, never flustered, never rushed. Pretty sure he got over 1,000 runs in a premiership year
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Jason Hamilton-Smith took us apart one day at Mt Martha, finally got him out for 160 when Heatherhill were on 170. He was hitting square drives into the trees at Mt Martha. Guys who know this ground will tell you that’s a decent hit!!
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
This one’s easy Paul Hartle. Basically got me out for fun for 20+ years. Even a couple of years ago when I started playing 2s, guess who also started playing 2s, Arnie
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
When I first started playing 1s at Tyabb I hadn’t really play any 2s and basically went from the 3s straight to the 1s. Opening the batting facing the fast bowlers I have previously mentioned, still gives me nightmares
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Brad Glenn – I thought I was a bit hard done by at the time by the country week selectors when I wasn’t selected. Watching Brad keep I soon realised I was not even in the same orbit as Brad, pure class
Special mention to Strop Morone and Jeff Calder both great gloveman
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Gareth Wyatt- great competitor who gets the best out of himself and drags the whole team with him, hates losing
Simon Dart- I’ve had a few run ins with Darty over the years. Competitive beast who loves the verbal, basically single handed carried Red Hill from Sub District to Provincial in his time here. Got to admire that
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Darren Kerr was a terrific skipper who led from the front and always backed his team to win the game. He captained the country weeks 2nd XI flag full of young kids, who are the current stars of the MPCA stars of today. Great leader
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Keith Burdett - always up to no good. Putting stuff or stealing thing from people’s bags or try to make you laugh during a serious speech. Great fun to play with. Awesome cricketer as well
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
I walked out to bat in about my 3rd game in the 1s wearing a floppy against Simon Burriss v Mornington at Gaydens Road. Mornington captain Bucky told me to go back a get a helmet. I basically told him to piss off and let me bat. 2 ball later I was in the middle trying on helmets, when I finally found one that fitted me, I was clean bowled very next ball. Mornington lads got plenty out of it.
Who was your childhood hero?
Dean Jones
Rob Bedford- really looked up to the local MPCA legends, none more so than Rob. Tyabb were playing Karingal at Tyabb when I was about 14 and Tyabbs Andrew Prout introduced me to Rob. To me it was like meeting Bradman.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Tiger Woods
Tyson Fury
Ben Stokes
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
David Lloyd or Kerry O’Keeffe
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Jones RD, Somerville and Ilfordin the UK
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
No one single moment stands out. I’ve been lucky enough to play at a lot of clubs over a long period of time and had my fair share of success along the way with premierships and grand finals etc, but I’m probably most proud of the people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Remember fondly the semi-final win vs Seaford at Somerville. Low scoring affair where we won outright in the last over by 4 runs. Aaron Kaddatz single handedly won it for us with 10 or 11 wickets.
Lucky enough to win the premiership the following week
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Russell Wilkes, Keith Burdett, Steph Cottrell
What are your hobbies?
Golf, fishing and family
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Don’t over think it!
What’s your occupation?
Process operator at Bluescope Steel
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?
Women and girls cricket has come such a long way in the past decade. On TV it was almost unwatchable but now it’s a great spectacle, the skill level is elite. That’s where I would be putting the funding.
As for the men’s game, I think it’s in a great position at all levels. If it aint broken, don’t fix it!!
