Sam Perry is a former Grade Cricketer who possesses a deep love for the beauty, the history and the traditions within the game of cricket.
He is The Grade Cricketer. The Grade Cricketer Podcast, The Grade Cricketer on 7Sports and writes for the Guardian and other publications.
Welcome Sam,
What year were you born?
1985
In cricketing circles what’s your nickname?
Pez, Pezza, Sammy
Where did you go the high school?
St Andrews, Sydney CBD
Do you remember your first ever game of cricket?
I do – sort of. It was in the Under 10’s for Lane Cove, so I would have been nine. I remember sitting on the couch at home before the game in my full whites, very nervous. I seem to recall Mum and Dad taking some polaroid shots of me (these have since been lost). My next memory is of batting – I think I was down the order – and sweeping a ball to the boundary. I can still see the ball going to the boundary and feeling the elation of that. Of course I describe this as a ‘sweep’, I probably just dragged the bat in an arc toward the ball and connected. I remember I made 14 not out, and absolutely loving the experience.
Where did you play your junior cricket?
I played junior cricket at Lane Cove, which was in the Gordon District Cricket Association. My Dad’s family all lived in the area and we were around the corner in Hunters Hill, so it made sense. I loved it there.
Which clubs have you played for?
Playing for Lane Cove meant I played underage reps for Gordon. I continued to Green Shield with Gordon, before changing to Balmain for my second year of Green Shield. I remained there for my early years of grade cricket, before switching to Norths when I was 20.
How old were you when you first played grade cricket?
I was in year 11 at school, which would have made me 16 at the time. I played 5th grade for Balmain and round 1 was away at Bensons Lane against Hawkesbury – a baptism of fire for any Sydney Grade Cricketer. I compounded this problem by confusing our opponent and telling Dad we were playing at Raby Oval in Campbelltown. He drove me an hour to Raby, whereupon I discovered that Campbelltown-Camden were playing Manly. He then drove me a further 65km to Bensons Lane, and I arrived just as the game was starting. It was a one-dayer, and of course we bowled first. I didn’t get a bowl, and was listed to bat 11. We chased the runs 8 wickets down, so my debut saw me turn up an hour late, and neither bat nor bowl. Good team song though.
What is your highest score in grade cricket?
I made 202 not out against Blacktown in 2nd grade for Norths in 2006, at North Sydney number 2 – which is probably the best ground to score runs on in Sydney.
What is your best bowling figures in grade cricket?
I took 4/30-odd against Campbelltown at Raby in 3s for Balmain in 2003 (or so). A memorable win made better by 1’s also winning at the adjacent ground, and an all-in team song.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
As a player, it would be opening the batting and facing Doug Bollinger with a new ball at North Sydney Oval, pre-hair, in 1st grade. As a Bears fan in Rugby League, North Sydney Oval was a special place for me, and I won’t forget my uncles turning up that day and registering their fear at the prospect, which didn’t help the confidence. Of course when he bowled I could barely see the ball. At one point I got him away to the boundary, and ran a tight single next ball. The fielder tried to throw down the stumps and wrong-footed the guy backing up, which meant the ball went for five. Bollinger walked past me and said “you know where the next one’s coming, don’t you?” to which I replied “no, not really”. Needless to say I was about 3 foot from the ground when he bowled the bouncer, and in true grade cricket style, having managed my way through a brief confrontation with Australia’s opening bowler, I nicked off terribly to Grant Lambert to following over.
Who’s been the biggest influence in your cricket career?
My Dad, without doubt. He imbued me with a great joy for the game that extended beyond playing. He used to go to Lane Cove library as a kid and read cricket books, and I think he passed a lot of that on to me. He would take me to the SCG as a kid all the time, and play with me in the backyard – I’ve been very lucky. My Mum was exceptionally supportive too – constantly taking me to training and games, getting me ready, making lunch and tea, and never short of advice to ‘toss it up’ as I bowled leggies in juniors.
As an adult, ex-Tasmanian wicketkeeper Mark Atkinson was a major influence on my cricket. He essentially taught me the methods, mechanics and mindset of batting – and playing generally – that I think helped me play my best cricket. I’m very grateful for his education.
Who was the funniest cricketing team-mate?
Too many. The best laughs I’ve had in cricket have been with Nathan Ball. He enjoyed a great career with Balmain. He was the first guy to talk to me when I arrived at the club. He is the gentlest soul going around, but had major red mist when on the field. He’d do things like bat without a helmet or hat for my entertainment, and I’d ask him to theme his celebrations by era. He once dismissed David Warner and celebrated by putting his hands in his pockets and casually walking to me, offering his hand to shake in a dignified manner.
Who was the most annoying team-mate?
Once again, there were a few. Generally anyone who unironically argued the toss during post-play fines. I had one team-mate who’d use fines to highlight that he was a lawyer, and would proceed to argue every fine thrown his way. It emerged he was not studying law, nor had he ever been to university. I think he’d had a troubled life – I hope grade cricket was a positive community for him
Who is your favourite all time cricketer?
It’s Shane Warne, then daylight – though I understand that’s a bland answer. I was studying Sociology at Uni during the ’05 Ashes, and I remember my lecturer, Dr Annette Falahey, sidling up to me and explaining how beautiful Warne’s bowling was to her. This was a woman clad in black who would have been as arch-feminist as they come, recognising this man’s genius. So Warne was a level above. I’ve always admired and respected the dogged and disciplined competitors but have most enjoyed the misunderstood stylists.
What was the best win you were involved in?
It was probably a school match in 2000. It was the first year my school, St Andrews, had entered a team into the Saturday competition (we were a noted choir school, not a sporting one). Because of some caution they put us in the 2nd XI competition, and we just so happened to have a team with four future 1st graders. When we won that competition it was very satisfying – primarily because you do it with your friends and share those memories for life.
What did you like most about playing grade cricket in Sydney?
It was a great arena for life lessons. Learning how to manage yourself in a hyper-competitive environment, where everyone starts with a dream to go all the way, then soon learns how difficult that is.
Grade cricket hastens one’s ability to understand and manage hostility and aggression, whether on the field or off. Very few subsequent workplace conflicts bother me following the grade cricket education.
The cricket is obviously excellent, and allows for great satisfaction when looking back at memories and achievements – whether it’s your own or others’.
If you’re in the middle seat of the middle row of Qantas QF1flight to London which team mates -would you choose to on your left and right?
Nathan Ball (Balmain) and Will Mottram (UK guy, came to the Tigers).
Did you have any cricketing superstitions?
Cricket is such a brutal game that we develop all manner of habits, probably in a futile bid to control the chaos around us. I generally did everything the same way, whether it be pads, shoes, the way I’d face taking guard etc – but I never had any out-and-out superstitions that rendered me a mess were I not to observe it.
Which ground in Sydney club cricket did you enjoy playing at the most?
North Sydney Oval, for its special place in my family (and its beauty). Though I very much enjoyed Manly Oval, Coogee Oval, and I loved Petersham Oval too.
Who was the fastest bowler you ever faced?
That’s hard to say, there seemed to be so many quick bowlers in the mid 2000s. I suspect the fastest bowler I faced was Burt Cockley from Randwick-Petersham, who bowled me with an inswinger at Coogee once (didn’t see it). I managed to avoid Mark Cameron somehow. Scott Coyte was very quick.
Who was the best spinner you played against?
Hard to answer that. Steve O’Keefe was in my age cohort, though his bowling (like most good spinners) developed a bunch after I finished playing. Nathan Hauritz was the Test spinner when I played against him, though I think we were on a good wicket. I had minimal ideas when Beau Casson bowled to me – absolutely zero clue which way the ball was spinning.
What’s the best advice you ever received?
Oh God, too hard to say. My Dad used to do a lot of work in Newcastle, and often used to pass on a saying up there that “the harder you work, the luckier you get”. Or similarly, that all the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today. I like the idea that there were things you could do to tilt the brutality of cricket your way. Looking back, I’m not sure if it did, but I did like to practice hard, and these kinds of values became helpful in life beyond cricket.
Are you still involved in Cricket and if so, in what capacity?
I am – I’m lucky enough to tell cricket stories through some freelance work, both under my own name and through a little collective called The Grade Cricketer. It’s given me a great opportunity to contribute to the conversation around cricket – where often the grassroots, club experience is overlooked in favour of a shinier, more polished presentation of the game. TGC allows for the authentic story of cricket – the way most people experience the game – to bubble up and be shared, which I think people appreciate. Whether those stories are funny, dark, brutal, celebratory, strange, or otherwise – I think people enjoy seeing cricket represented in a way they remember it, so to use a tired corporatism, we hope it’s ‘adding value’ to people’s enjoyment of the game across Australia, the UK and beyond.
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What advice would you offer a young 13 year old who has the ambition of playing test cricket?
My advice would be that it is an extremely lofty goal, but properly managed lofty goals can be an excellent thing to pursue for myriad reasons. You can do anything if you put your mind to it.
What are your hobbies?
I like to spend time with my mates, my wife, my little boy Ted, and my family. I like to read, listen, speak with interesting people about politics, social issues, Australia.
What is your occupation?
Sports writer and presenter primarily. I do some communications work on the side too.
You may as well give your employer a plug, who do you work for?
I work for myself primarily! My communications work is with a small firm called Character and Distinction – a group of extremely smart women who provide PR and Corporate Communications consulting to a range of clients across Australia. A very successful group that I’m privileged to play a small role in.
Are there any lessons from your time in cricket that you take into work or life in general?
An amazing amount, too many to list here. As mentioned above, I think life throws a number of adversarial people and scenarios at you – and I think grade cricket has helped my ability to avoid taking it personally, to focus on what’s important, and to stay on even keel when people want to play a shot or two at you!
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