As a schoolboy and all-round sportsman in the 1970s Greg Ellis was a very good Australian Rules footballer for Sherwood and when he went to Brisbane State High School for his secondary education he played rugby union for the school.
He could hit a golf ball a very long distance, strike a tennis ball soundly, and represented Qld Primary Schools at both Australian Rules and cricket before settling on cricket as his major sport after leaving school.
With a first grade century to his credit playing for Easts he is probably best remembered for hitting a six onto the roof of Union College at Wep Harris Oval against a hapless University spinner. Ellis was indeed a huge striker of a cricket ball.
As a bowler he had genuine pace and if his radar was tuned in he was effective and bloody good. He earned his nickname bowling in an early career game for Souths against Valleys when his radar was not on, his line suffering badly, and in "freezing up" was first called "Eskimo" which was hence shorted to "Sko".
Having played all of our junior cricket together at Souths through to senior grade when we both went to other clubs, Greg to Easts and myself to Sandgate, we therefore became opponents and at this stage we were sharing a house together with another Easts player Graham Foote at Norman Park just near Bottomley Park. Some great times were had in that house for a couple of years.
So I guess I am pretty biased but I reckon Greg was a bloody good player and certainly a good fella!
So we asked him a few questions about his cricket memories now that he is back in Oz
Before we start I’d like to give a little shout out to the team at Gabba Sports for all their support
Welcome Greg
What year you were born?
1962 in Mundubbera, Queensland.
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
At Sherwood Primary School. No clue how I went. 2 guys in the year above me were Andrew Courtice (Qld Shield player) and John Wylie (successful businessman)
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey
Pretty standard path. Primary school cricket, Primary representative cricket went to Sydney with Qld Under 12s and won the National Primary Schools competition. Ron Buchholz was in the side, he was shaving at 12 years old.
I started senior grade cricket at Souths before moving to Easts in grade cricket and finished off at Easts/Redlands .
What other sports did you play?
Football mostly, Aussie Rules for Sherwood and then Rugby Union at high school
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
Peter Norman (Australian Olympic 200 m runner)
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know?
Should have played tennis or golf instead of cricket
What’s your highest score in senior cricket?
110 I think Easts first grade against Wynnum.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Don’t know if they were the best but it was a good day. Playing Norths at Windsor Park in a One Day final and I took 3-30 with a couple of lightweights playing for us in Craig McDermott, Greg Chappell and Harley Hammelman!
Who have been the three best genuine fast bowlers that you have played against?
Craig McDermott, Phil Bawden (Sandgate and Toombul) - no idea where they were going & Jeff Thomson
I played against Thomson with Glenn Trimble in a Wanderers Club match for State High at BSHS just before he went to the West Indies with World Series Cricket (absolutely frightening). I was the captain of the side so the process was that I umpire the first few overs before padding up as we had no officials (I was batting 5 I think). Thomson comes in to bowl and 3 balls in a row he over steps the popping crease by about 15 -20 cm. On the 3rd time I just said to him on the way back to his mark – “excuse me Mr Thomson but you are way over the popping crease”.
He looked at me and said “listen %$#@, the only way I can fix that is to go off my long run.”
Who were the best 2 batsman you’ve played against?
Glenn Trimble and Matthew Hayden. Trimble for his timing and Hayden as he just had so much time.
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Graham Rogers got 90 against Valleys in first grade debut for Souths. The ball never missed the middle of his bat.
Who has been the best wicketkeeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Peter Anderson.
Who have been your funniest team mates?
Gerry Miers (Souths) -always crazy and Brian Dobinson (Easts) - accents.
Who was your childhood hero?
Superman
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Muhammad Ali, Gary Sobers and Ian Chappell
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Bill Lawry - “Got him he’s gone “
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played in?
Johnny Bell for competitive spirit, he never gave up and Matthew Hayden. I played against Hayden when he got his maiden first grade hundred and every ball went into the gaps
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Being part of the team in both good times and bad.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning the First Grade premiership with Easts 1989.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
First Grade final against Toombul at the Gabba where the game swung forwards and backwards until the end
What are your hobbies?
Golf and race car driving
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Don’t target the fieldsman on the fence to hit over and from Alex Parker (Souths & Queensland) – spin bowlers can’t spin it if they don’t bounce.
What are your cricketing ambitions?
Retire gloriously and look back at how good I was (100 % better than reality!!
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