Rhys Elmi has been playing for Baden Powell Cricket Club since 2005 at the age of 14.
Rhys to date has won the Club Champion award on 6 occassions – 2010/11, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.
He was the 1st XI captain from 2011 to 2017 and represented Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association in Country Week.
In 2018/19 Rhys was awarded the WB Wedgwood Medal for the Best Provincial Player in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association competition.
Let’s find out more about Rhys journey in the game.
What year you were born?
1991
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I actually can’t remember it, but I would’ve been a young junior (maybe 7 or 8) at Frankston YCW on the old Samuel Sherlock oval
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I started as a junior at YCW, would’ve most likely been there for my career if they had been able to field a Junior U14’s side. I ended playing for Delacombe Park that year as a junior under Shack (a tremendous junior coach and great to see him still around there). That season I went to the very first MPCA England Tour in 2005 with Colin Bowes and Norm Jardine where I met Travis Kellerman and Coen Chernishoff, became good friends, and was talked into joining the boys at Baden Powell. I’ve been there ever since.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
I must have been around 14, it was in the 6ths under the great Valentine Gnanakone. I think it was against Seaford on the soccer pitches and the gully fieldsman just started taking a leak during the game which was a bit disturbing as a 14 year old.
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?
I’ve played at Baden Powell since 2005. My first ever game (and most fearful) was in the Provincial 1s in 2005 as a 14 year old when Baxter were flying and we weren’t much chop.
Baxter were crazy good with Paul Bradley, Dan Warwick, Dale Irving and the Uccello’s.
Coach Ben Davenport sent me out at number 3 (he copped an almighty spray from one of the Uccello’s for doing so as I walked out to bat) in the first over after Dale Irving knocked over Ben Holland middle stump. The stump must have cartwheeled 15 metres and I’ve never seen someone bowl so fast. First ball I faced I legitimately did not see it, second ball I smashed it onto my pads and got triggered LBW. I’ve never been so happy to get off the ground! I had a good relationship with Braddles from our YCW days and he was kind enough to loop me a few full tosses in the second dig so I could score some runs and ended up 10 not out.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Always been a batsmen at senior level, and quickly worked out trying to bowl fast (when you’re not fast) doesn’t work in the grade. I have learnt to bowl slow with some control and now can probably be classified as an all-rounder.
What were your strengths as a player?
Putting away the bad balls, hitting through the leg side and being able to perform in big games. I believe I’m not that technically sound but rather a more mentally strong player.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
Baden Powell against Carrum at Roy Dore. It had to of been 43 degrees that day, I made 155 and I don’t think Foz was overly impressed with his opening bowler (Lachie Dobson) having a million beers the night before.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I managed to snag 6/31 in Round 1 against Heatherhill one year. They were smashing us to all parts and Kristian Miller hit a ball for 6 and it went down a drain. I always kept a ball (red king) in my bag that I bowled with at training (was known as the swing king) and I pulled it out after we lost the ball and the umpires and Kristian somehow gave it the all clear. Anyway, managed to snag 6 and steamroll them after the change!!
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Issy Dias: not necessarily a fast bowler, but he could nip it off the seam both ways which was sometimes near impossible to face.
Jake Wood: one day down at Sorrento he was bowling with the wind down hill and it was sharp. Think he got 8 wicket and took the piss. Keeper was catching the ball head height and was standing 5 yards behind the 27.5m line.
Dale Irving: Only faced 2 balls of his in 2005 but a timely 14 years later came up against him once more and he was still quick and did a bit with it. A handful for batsmen.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Dwayne Doig: Never seen a bloke flight the ball so much, yet have you struggle or be worried to use your feet to get to the pitch of the ball. Amazing bowler.
John Forrest: Never knew what all the fuss was about for many years as I’d never played against him, but the last couple of years since opposing Ox it’s been a great battle. Quality bowler.
Tim Birch: Super arm ball, and used to try and intimidate the crap out of you, especially as a kid….which made him better!
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Ben Clements: an absolute gun, could put the ball anywhere, technically superb.
Simon Dart: a genuine match winner, superstar.
Bobby Wilson: fantastic batsmen who can play a few different ways, can hit over the top or along the ground with power.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Watching: I wasn’t playing but Simon Dart played the best innings I have ever seen in the grand final against Delacombe Park chasing 300 odd. Must have made 160 and got the job done.
With: We were 5 for 80 against Delacombe Park one day at home on Overport 1 and Elia Carter went nuts and made 140. We ended up with 300 plus out of nowhere on the world’s slowest ground. At stumps that day I asked Chico who they were playing next game given the result of this game was never in doubt haha
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
I don’t know what it is but this kid from Sorrento, James Rulach, got me out 3 times last year for not many. He gave me a huge send off in the Grand Final last year too…. Very brave the kid, have to give it to him!
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used?
Yeah I have, but not in a game. In both the nets at Jubilee Park and The Peninsula School. Maybe one of the reasons I never went to play on Turf. I used to cop a barrage from those decks from any quick bowling 5 metres over the crease, even the slow bowlers were fast. Hated it.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Ben Tracy is a gun and I reckon Charlie Parker is the best going around at the moment.
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
I always used to admire Scotty Phillips, he was the bloke as a kid I used to look up to on ability. Again, Simon Dart I respected a lot. He always got a bit of a bad rap from other clubs on how he went about it but I couldn’t have disagreed with them more.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Haven’t played under many considering I did it for 6 seasons, but, Ben Davenport was a tactical genius – we never won when he was skipper as we were no good but you could tell he read the game well. Craig Entwistle came to the club and we snagged 2 flags. An elite cricket mind and he actually turned my career around with one minor technical change with my batting from a coaching perspective.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Daniel Di Paolo (Dippa)
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
I think we were playing Rosebud and we had them under the pump, our bowlers were bowling sharp and the batsmen were hating it. Anyway, at about the 15 over mark Dippa started counting down “12 balls until drinks to survive”.
The drinks break was at Over 20 so no idea what he was on about but we went along with it.
Anyway, it got to “the last ball before drinks” and I think it was Patty Nagel or Kane Donald who survived. He ended up taking his gloves and helmet off and walking halfway off the ground after the 16th over thinking it was drinks but little did he know he had 3 more overs to survive. An absolute pisser.
Who was your childhood hero?
The King, Wayne Carey
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Shane Warne, Fernando Torres and Chris Gayle
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Shane Warne, I don’t watch much cricket but if he was commentating when I chucked it on I would be sure to watch.
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Flinders or Main Ridge.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
There’s a few, Sub-District, District & Peninsula 1st XI Flags as well as the Jack Peacock Cup followed by the Statewide T20 Cup on the MCG. Only one cup is missing now! Winning 14 x T20s in a row and ultimately winning on the G probably something that’ll never happen again so it’s probably the standout.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
We were hot favourites in a Semi Final against Mt Martha. We were reeling at maybe 5/40 chasing 170 on a slow ground. Craig Entwistle came in and slapped the best 60 I’ve ever seen… I actually was his runner that day, so got the best seat in the house. That game set up the back to back flags.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Chocca Munday – just talks smack but I love it
Andrew Norris – could listen to him all day at a BBQ talking about how he won the 2009/10 Sub District medal
Shaun Foster – we’ve had some great moments over the years, he loves talking about his 100 against us and I love talking about hitting him for sheds in the Granny. Be a great arvo!
I’d love to bring the ‘shed’ Josh Waldron along as well. These four together would just be a sight to behold. Might have to make it happen.
What are your hobbies?
Love spending time at the beach in the sun and playing cricket!
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Learn from your mistakes.
What’s your occupation?
I’m a Mortgage Broker at Mortgage Choice. You can find me on Instagram @home_loan_helper
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?
Personally, I have no idea how the State format is played anymore. I don’t watch or follow cricket really. If I were to run it – I’d bring state games to premier clubs to get some sort of atmosphere at games. I’d probably be keen to go and watch if they were playing a game at the Heat, similar to the old days when Sri Lanka played against I think the MPCA at Graydens? That was awesome.
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