Leigh Lowry - failure to prepare is preparing to fail
Somerville Cricket Club | May 18, 2023
Leigh Lowry grew up playing on the Morning Peninsula and played Victoria Premier Cricket for Frankston Peninsula. He’s the proud owner of first grade cap number 56 after making his first grade debut during the 2000-01 season.
In 90 first grade games Leigh scored 1,848 runs at an average of 21.24 with 9 half centuries and a highest score of 73.
Leigh was Somerville 1stXI captain in the 2014/15 premiership winning team.
Let’s find out more about leigh’s journey in the game.
What year you were born?
1978
Can you remember you ?rst game of cricket?
I was 8 years old playing for Baden Powell, I can’t remember my ?rst game but I do remember that I made 3 ducks in a row to begin my career and the 3rd one gave the bowler a hat trick as well.
Tell us about your cricketing journey?
8 years old at Baden Powell U12s through to ?rst year 14s, then moved to Baxter and played the last year of 14s and 1st year of 16s there until our family moved to Rosebud where I joined Boneo for my last year of U16s. In that time I’d been playing seniors through the grades at Baxter and Boneo and I played the last game of my 16s year at Frankston-Peninsula in the 3rd’s which was 94/95.
I then joined the Heat the following season and played there until December 1999 when I joined Rye for the back half of that season. Due to where I was working I couldn’t get the early mornings o? to be able to continue playing Premier Cricket, needless to say that job didn’t last too long and I was back at the Heat to begin the following season. I stayed there until 2010-11, then had a year o?, returned to Boneo to coach in 2012-13/2013-14, then have been at Somerville Cricket Club ever since. In between I played in the UK twice 2001 (Thornbury, Bristol), 2007 (Ilkeston, Derbyshire) and between that I coached and played for Svanholm in Denmark in 2004.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
It could have been in the 5th’s or 6th’s at Baden Powell as a 10-11yo acting as a sub ?elder like most of us did back then but I have a feeling my ?rst full season might have been at Baxter. That was the reason for moving there as they were allowing me to play senior cricket.
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?
My highest grade was the 1st XI at Frankston Peninsula, I can remember it all happened pretty quickly when it did, I was playing in the 3rd’s a month earlier. I got a run of scores and got picked. Our skipper at the time was Cain Logan who always batted in a ?oppy, regardless of who was bowling, so I can remember walking out to bat with a ?oppy on so it didn’t look like I was terri?ed and playing my ?rst game. I batted for a couple of hours for 30 against Camberwell Magpies. It got really close to the second new ball and I remember Graeme Vimpani sledging me saying that we can’t wait to take the new ball because we’re going to knock your e?ng head o?!
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
As a junior I was an all-rounder but my back didn’t like bowling so much, so I ended up being a top order batsmen in the majority of my senior games. Either at 3 or opening.
What were your strengths as a player?
Being an opener or 3 my role was generally looking to bat time and set the innings up but that wasn’t particularly easy at that Premier level. You’re always facing quality bowling. In the MPCA it was to try and lead by example, bat time but still try and win your team games with the bat.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
For the Heat it was 127 in the 2nd’s. In the MPCA it is 128 not out against Long Island for Somerville and overall 133 not out in the UK for Thornbury.
What were your best bowling ?gures in senior cricket?
It was actually my 2nd game of 1st XI cricket for Boneo as a 16yo, I took 6/57 against Hastings under the captaincy of the great Gary Cooper, who must have been looking after my bowling loads as a youngster because the following week he didn’t even give me a trundle HAHA! I can remember Darren Kerr taking a hanger of a catch at ?ne leg o? a hook shot, full length and one handed. Blinder!
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Premier Cricket
Shane Harwood/Mick Lewis - just wanted to physically hurt you, bowled gas and knew it.
Peter Siddle - obviously just a ?erce competitor, tough to score against and when he was younger he was seriously quick, his yorker was amazing.
Dirk Nannes - another seriously quick bowler, bowled an awful length to the right handers in the games I played against him, it was between the hip and armpit length with many aimed at that area too.
MPCA
Darren Abbli - it was when I was 16, he was sharp and scary, I ended up playing a small amount with him at Frankston, great all round player and ripper bloke.
Simon Dignan - he was a tremendous bowler, only played him once locally but he had good pace, swung the ball at will and had the most e?ortless action, it was just easy for him, similar to Blerta, I played with him at the Heat where I could watch him from close range and not have to face him.
Scott Phillips - played with and against him, just a class player in all 3 facets. At you all the time, was skiddy quick and you knew it was game on when he was at the top of his mark.
Special mention to Russell Wilkes, coming o? 16 yards at training! Get o? ya front foot.
Peter Siddle
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Premier Cricket
Bryce McGain - I was lucky to play/train with him before he moved to Prahran. I always enjoyed taking on the spinners with my feet, so I can remember some good battles in the nets, I ran past one when he played for Prahran against us one day, the ball just dipped, drifted and turned leaving me well out of my ground.
Michael Beer - had great control, made the ball drop so late and could control his revs at will making guessing the amount of spin quite di?cult.
I played against Shane Warne in one game against St Kilda but never got to face him unfortunately. MPCA
Matt Prosser - you have to make the play against him, rarely bowls the boundary ball. Can make the ball drop from a decent height and still manages a good pace.
Tom Boxell - doesn’t give you much air to use your feet so I hate being stuck in the crease to him and now the eyes are going, trying to pick the toppy or wrong un. I just played for the ball coming in all the time in the end.
Leigh Janssen - Had to put him in, only played with him but a gun spinner for Boneo/Sorrento who feels like he’s been playing 1s cricket for 25 years but is only in his 20s still. Great ?ight and control, makes the ball dip and drop for fun.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Premier Cricket
Michael Klinger - unbelievable batsmen, both front and back foot but I remember him playing a backfoot cover drive o? Darren Groves at the Junction one day, it was awesome to watch.
David Hussey - Pretty obvious choice, amazing first class career and he got a great hundred against us one day
Paul Collingwood - He played for Richmond in one season just before he debut for England, pretty sure he won the Ryder medal that year as well for them.
MPCA
Chris Brittain - Sensational talent, class player and brutal when he gets his slot ball for which there are many.
Simon Dart - Has loads of time, always in control, manipulates the ?eld at will and loves a contest which I really enjoy when we’ve played against each other as clubs.
Nick Jewell - Imposing ?gure, you felt like you’ll never get him to play and miss or even get a ball through to the keeper, amazingly tough and competitive and can take an attack apart.
Michael Klinger
Who played the best innings you’ve seen ?rsthand playing with or against?
Premier Cricket
For - Easily Matthew Mott 216 not out against South Melbourne. We made 4/435, Jimmy Miller got 140*, they put on 291* for the 5th wicket. It was a Saturday/Sunday game, we batted late on day 1 after knocking them over and I can remember batting with Motty before stumps. I can clearly remember him saying make sure you’re here at the end of play because this pitch is a belter and tomorrow is going to be a big day. I got a good yorker for 19 and was out unfortunately and had to watch Jimmy and he proceed to smash that Swans attack all over the place the following day which was an amazing partnership and individual knocks.
Against - Probably a combo knock in the same game. We played Melbourne at home and we managed to scratch our way to 175 in a one day game. It was 2004 so prety much as T20 cricket came into the game. Groove rattled Brad Hodge’s stumps ?rst over I think and we thought maybe we have a chance. We then watched Andrew McDonald and Liam Buchanan both get 80s not out and knocked the total o? in 18 overs. It was an amazing duo innings. Some of the cleanest hitting I’ve seen.
MPCA
For - Gary Cooper back when I was at Boneo as a kid, made a 100 against Frankston East and brought his 100 up in the ?nal over of the day with two 6s. He was a class player, great fella to have as a young player coming through to look up too.
Against - Sam Lyons for Main Ridge, very similar to the above one against Melbourne. We were bowled out on day 1 for 170 odd and there was 15 overs left in the days play up at the Chip. Main Ridge ended day 1, one down and only 3-4 runs away from victory, he got 100* and smashed us everywhere. The following week we got washed out and managed to split the points! LOL. They would have only needed one more ball but they didn’t get a chance to their huge disappointment and our elation.
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Premier - Most of the State quicks you faced were pretty tough, hard to split them but probably Siddle for many reasons. I can remember playing a midweek T20 against Dandenong. I got in late, must have been the last or second last over but coming o? a short run, he skittled me with a fast yorker and I was not even close to getting my bat down on it.
MPCA - Luke Collins - Bowled those huge in-swingers and they always went pretty late as well which made judgement tough. He even got me a couple of times in the same innings HAHA! Both LBW, ?rst one was plumb should have been given and then next ball I left one, swung back a mile and got me again. He had it on a string that day.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
Playing against Fitzroy Doncaster in a country one day game at Lavington, the wicket was green, bouncy and fast which suited their attack. They had 4 quicks, Dirk Nannes, Chris Street who took 70 wickets one season, Jonathon Fagg who had just played Vic U19s and another guy Ben Waterman who swung it both ways at a decent pace as well. Dirty Dirk was a bloody handful that day, fast and nothing full to make things easy. I couldn’t score of him or Street. I think they bowled their 20 overs for 30 in the end and our top order all couldn’t lay bat on them and we had Kennedy Obuya who was our Kenyan World Cup International playing for us and Steve Stubbings who we all know and played loads of first class cricket for Derbyshire. It was a class above that day.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen ?rsthand playing with or against?
Premier Cricket - Comfortably Darren Berry, his record speaks for itself, extremely competitive on ?eld. Whenever you played against Northcote he always reminded you weren’t playing against Heatherhill, Moorooduc or some other MPCA team. There’s hardly a bad keeper at that level but playing with David Nankervis, he was a damn good one too.
MPCA - Played with an Englishman at Boneo for a season Spencer Byatt. There were times that you couldn’t even hear the ball hit his gloves and was amazing up to the stumps to both seam and spin, fastest hands I’ve seen and when you turn up with your keeping gloves having his initials properly printed on them you probably knew he was going to be pretty handy. Then couldn’t separate “The Gun” Andrew West and Craig Black, both elite keepers.
David Nankervis
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Premier Cricket – Matthew Mott easily, just a dogged determination to bat and dismantle attacks. He was a great leader and tactician and leanred loads from playing under him as well as Nick Jewell playing against him then under him at Frankston. Great player who you’d have to pick in your top 2-3 guys that if you had to have them bat for your life.
MPCA - Aaron Kaddatz. What he did in the season we won the ?ag in 2014/15 was remarkable. Headlined by 10 wickets in the Semi against Seaford. Always wanted the ball in the toughest situations and has won us loads of games over the years with his all-round ability.
Matthew Mott
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Either Motty or Tugga. Both being State players they were always a step ahead and could read all the situations a game can throw up. Both led by example with the stick as I’ve mentioned earlier as well which is the greatest way they can contribute to the side’s success. Both great motivationally and it was always enjoyable with plenty of wise cracks getting around. You don’t win too many (any) battles against Tugga on the lip.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
There’s been a few over the years for totally di?erent reasons. Some because their loose and always out there, some because they don’t even realise their being funny, it’s just what they say. Some because they are just hilarious to spend time with and others with their dry senses of humour. It’s one of the main reasons you play, the banter between us all. Jayde, Groova, Tugga, Andrew Cowen, Luke Walker, Scotty Phillips, Steve Stubbings, Roshan Perera, Jo?a Williams, Chris Robson and Adrian Wilson are some that come to mind for di?erent reasons at the Heat whilst Kadda, Roachy, Russ, Dan Kuelen, Westy and plenty of others at the club that you don’t even play with.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket ?eld that still makes you laugh today?
One of my favourites was in that Semi Final against Seaford in 2014/15. We were defending in the 4th innings and the rules were on day one of the Semi you play to time or overs and on day two you play to the opposite.
Whatever it was the game stopped for about 15 minutes late on Day 2 to try and clear it up with the umpires. We took a wicket which I think was Damo’s run out and as we were in a huddle and waiting for the next batsmen to arrive when suddenly Paul Hartle from the opposition appeared not too far from our group going on about the Day 2 ?nish and whether it was time or overs and having his two cents worth about the whole situation ?ghting for his side because the game was so close and right in the balance.
Because Arnie had already batted and we didn’t expect to see him back out in the middle Andrew West says to him “batting again are we Paul?”
Arnie equipped with nothing more than a half empty bottle of water, points it at our huddle and says something to the e?ect of “I’ll take the lot of you on by myself”
We’ve all seen the Homer Simpson meme where he back tracks into the bushes to disappear and hide. Well that was Andrew West quick smart, something which brings a tear to the eye when we relieve that memorable game together.
Who was your childhood hero?
Dean Jones and the Waugh brothers through the late 80s growing up. I can remembering games of cricket around 1988 and the one day games against the West Indies thinking how the hell are we going to beat this side.
Dean Jiones
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
I reckon having a net and talking cricket with Ricky Ponting would be a great experience and having a shoot around with Ray Allen (particularly when he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks) would be amazing and having a beer with Luke Hodge to discuss the Hawks era of late would be superb.
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
For entertainment purpose it’d have to be Bumble ()david Lloyd) but growing up with the 12th Man tapes in the late 80s, early 90s wearing them out repeatedly, that whole era of commentators together were outstanding.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Premier - the Junction Oval was always a great ground, proper picket fenced ground and was always an amazing deck to bat on. Can’t remember a bad wicket there.
MPCA - Has to be Jones Road our home ground for the Eagles. Great place to bat, some short boundaries and then post game the place to be.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning a senior ?ag for the Eagles in 2014/15 would easily be the most. The reason you play and as time goes on the bond you have with your other 10 team mates grows. We’re especially looking forward to the 10 year reunion in the next couple of years.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Obviously the 2014/15 Grand Final is the best but in Premier Cricket it’s tough to separate 2 games.
One a reverse outright win against Footscray. They made 230 and we were bundled out for just over 200. We then had 45-50 overs left on the 2nd day and we went out to ?eld shattered we’d lost and couldn’t wait to get o? the ground. Next thing you know the Dogs were out for 48 in 20 overs and we were chasing about 70 to turn around a remarkable reverse. Darren Groves ran through them with 5 wickets.
The other one that comes to mind was a 300 plus run chase when an arrogant Melbourne decided to declare on day 1 with around 13-14 overs left in the day. They were basically saying that we’ve got enough now, (100 over days then) you guys from Frankston have no chance of chasing this and we’ll have you 3-4 down overnight. We didn’t lose a wicket that night, then proceeded to win 6 down. I put on 160 odd for the 2nd wicket with my close mate Andrew Cowen who got 100 and I got 70. Was a sensational feeling and even more so due to the opposition.
In the MPCA it was the Semi Final against Seaford in 2014/15. It was a low scoring game. We made 114 to begin with, then Seaford were 9/90 odd overnight. Both Kadda and Roachy ended up bowling 30 of the 32 overs the innings and we got the ?nal wicket very early on day 2 when Kadda bowled Nick Simpendorfer.
We just needed to bat out 30 or 40 overs to put the result out of reach. We were 2 for 60 odd and probably about 15 minutes away from the day being called when we lost 5 for 30 or so, eventually making 130 and leaving 150 for Seaford to win reverse.
Other than losing an early wicket they got o? to a ?yer with Ryan McQueen and Dil Pageni smashing it. 1/60 turned into 7/94, then Damage Lawrence was run out by an awesome bit of ?elding by Alpy, 8/136 then all out 142 to win by 6 runs. Aaron Kaddatz bagged back to back 5 for’s to take 10/90 all up. A masterclass it was celebrating Andrew Flinto? style, jump on …
.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Andrew Cowen, Aaron Kaddatz and Bobby Chawla, one from each of some of the teams I’ve played with.
What are your hobbies?
Messing with the kids, love my punting and getting stuck into the garden.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
It’s always had an in?uence on my game over the years. I went halves with Andrew Cowen in a bowling machine when I was 20-21 we took it all over the Peninsula wherever we could ?nd a spot to plug it in. Having extra hits, even now at 43 I enjoy doing extras with anyone that’ll join me. I think no matter at what age you can still expand your game and prepare yourself in what you feel is the right way.
What’s your occupation?
I own a Jim’s Antennas Franchise. New house ?t outs, reception issues, Flat Panel TV mounting, just some of the things we do. Many guys from all clubs in the MPCA have given me a buzz to help them out over the years. Lots of recommendations, so thank you for that! It really is a great cricket community we have.
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 o? the ?eld?
Getting the best coaches to coach the age group cricket where the most di?erences and development can be made. Habits are born and engrained from an early age so forming those skills through the age group cricket is a good start.
Cricket is a game that’s not simply mastered and generally speaking the older you get the more you develop the skills of the game through repetition. Finding a way to raise the average of the Premier Cricket scene would be something to try and tackle. You’ll always have outstanding young talent that comes through and has to be given a chance at Premier level early but overall I think it’s too easy for youngsters to be exposed to levels of cricket they haven’t yet mastered or shown form in.
