I was asked what’s the best sledge I ever received.

Incredibly it was from one of my own players. I was playing for Sutherland District Cricket Club in Sydney and the senior professional with a team of young players.

The game was against St George who’d won the competition the year before and we came last.

We had them on the ropes and needed 5 runs to win and I’m at the non-strikers end when our young wicket keeper Evan Atkins came to the crease.

We had a mid-wicket conference and I said ‘don’t panic, leave it up to me” and I go back to the non-strikers end with one ball to go in the over.

Murray Bennett, the Australian spinner, was bowling and he wanted to change the ball, I said "no"

Then there was issues with close in fieldsman and shadows and after what seemed like15 minutes Murray bowled the ball and Evan hit it straight to cover and started running.

I was run out by the length of the wicket.

In the dressing room it was sullen and I asked Evan “what possessed you to run”

He hit straight back, “if you slid your nose in you would’ve made it by a yard.’

We all laughed and I knew I had a good team and the loss was not an issue.