My Best Grade team - Greg Rowell 1987 to 2006

This was quite an interesting exercise, selecting my best grade team from players I played with during my time playing in Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart.

My grade cricket career started at Mosman Cricket Club in Sydney in 1987 and 1991 I moved to Queensland and played with Western Suburbs Cricket club until relocating to Hobart in 1998.

I played with University of Tasmania for two seasons before returning to Western suburbs and retired in 2006.

Here is my team in batting order: 

1. Dene Hills (University of Tasmania - Hobart)

Thoroughbred batting pedigree hidden under a no-fuss chassis of hard work and humility. ‘Dink’ was made for the openers thankless task and never underestimated the attack or the challenge at hand. The best anchor of a big run chase to win a game I saw. A real appetite for batting long, a student of his craft but always had time for his teammates. Unarguable statistics in the toughest of era’s and now Australian batting coach say it all. A must have at the top of the order.

2. Aaron Nye (Western Suburbs Cricket Club - Brisbane)

Aaron’s two ‘Peter Burge Medals’ conceal that he was runner up or within a point or two of a further three of Grade Cricket’s Best and Fairest Awards between 2000 and 2011. Prolific stats, hit the volumes in training of a golf pro and the confidence, technique and determination for the top three engine room. Aaron had the desire and grit to stare down the most fired up quality attack. Great chat in the big moments and happy to take the heat for others. Attitude, body language, and the will to win. One of those competitors that took his team to another level.

3. Scott Jacobson (Mosman Cricket Club - Sydney)

Scott Jacobson’s starchy competitiveness puts him just ahead of Wayne Seabrook’s doubtless pedigree. To understand what a good player he was you need to understand Mosman CC before it managed to renew its playing roster with the likes of the Lee brothers and the ‘Rawalpindi Express’. Jaco had a target on his back for many years from opposition attacks as the key wicket in a struggling Club. But he stuck it out, stuck around and built a team that wanted to win as much as he did. Top order runs that dragged an unlikely Mosman outfit to the Grand Final in 1990/91. A top 3 bat, all day competitor and all-season leader you could build a team around.

4. Steve “Harry” Paulsen (Western Suburbs Cricket Club - Brisbane)

1^st Grade debut 1997\ 98 and still going at time of press, ‘Harry’ is Western Suburbs all time highest run scorer passing Qld Cricket legend Sam Trimble’s seemingly unassailable Club record some time ago. Particularly strong square of the wicket, versatile in the order and as the game demanded, a tremendous runner between wickets and simply unmatched as a fielder in all positions in the style of Jonty Rhodes. Understood the angles to set fields and get run outs without equal A great understanding of, and appetite for the game. The complete cricketer.

 Steve Paulsen

5. Dean Tuckwell (Western Suburbs Cricket Club - Brisbane)

Dean Tuckwell was a natural No.4 but must drop down to No.5 in this line up. Tuck understood how to pace and innings and had the shots to cash in after building a base. Dean stalked oppositions weakest bowling link and was patient and calculated with the who, when and where. Tuck had a well-developed sense of when he could take it away from the opposition. The ‘accepted wisdom’ was moving away from this style of player by the time Tuck emerged for Wests in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Mentored early in his career by Greg Ritchie and clearly influenced by the style of Botham, Tuck was one of those players that could still accumulate big runs in the toughest of seasons for Wests team in the early 90’s. Come Saturday, he always exuded confidence when he walked through the gate regardless of his mid-week preparation, state of the game or the quality of attack. He had batting self-belief you can’t really coach, and he throttled out innings that demanded respect from all that encountered him over 20 seasons of first grade for Western Suburbs. A quick-witted master of the cruel observation but never really sledged. Top three all-time runs scorers for Wests behind Steve Paulsen and Sam Trimble, Tuck’s returns are all the more impressive in a competition with surprisingly few heavy run scorers on Brisbane’s heavily grassed Club wickets and tropical rain fall after Christmas. (and understood Saturday was an 18-hour day.)

6. Gary Bensley Captain (Mosman Cricket Club - Sydney)

At first glance not a standout talent but Benso was a standout competitor and is my chosen captain. He could swing a game with the bat or ball, be it a century late in the day, knocking over the opposition Test player (they often played back then) with the ball of day. Could get under the skin of the opposing captain /coach if needed and had the uncanny knack of the being at once, a source of the team’s drive and intensity but somehow still be the calmest influence in the dressing room. Six Premierships with Randwick before becoming captain at Mosman to mentor a tough unit out of some unlikely younger travelers. Benso barely concealed that crazy desire to win and instilled belief in his teams from members 1 to 11.

7. Gavin Robertson (Mosman Cricket Club - Sydney)

The ‘Riddler’ was one of the great team men to go with his unmistakable talent. Robbo quietly built team culture around him without you really noticing he was doing it. Strong athletic build for an off spinner, he got ‘drift’ and ‘drop’ from good technique and the martial arts background his Dundas Valley upbringing demanded. The match winning spinner every team needed on Sydney’s turning wickets. An unlikely Mosman win v Sutherland on the way to the Poidevin-Gray Shield in 87 had everyone in the sheds talking up what a great young team effort it was until it was realised Robbo had got 6 - 40 with the ball and 60 odd with the bat in a one-dayer. A lively dressing room presence, but a humble teammate full of consideration, courage and generosity for his teammates off the field as much as on it. Gavin brought that intangible stuff that builds the culture all teams are searching for. It was more than his runs, wickets and catches and the Riddler served it up it in spades.

 Gavin Robertson

8. Paul Ryan (Mosman Cricket Club - Sydney)

Paul Ryan gets the nod just ahead of both the Cheadle brothers at Mosman and Brad ‘Spud’ Murphy in Wests for the keeping role. Tall for a keeper but had that extra proficiency with spinners you need in Sydney.  But it is Paul’s innings of 140+ not out against Campbelltown in 1991 that demands selection. Still the best Premier Grade hundred I saw batting No.3 and Mosman in trouble at 4 for 12 on a fast Rawson wicket. Up against an attack that included Jamaican left arm quick, Ken McLeod, Chris “Killer” Killen, a young and lean Shane Lee, leg spinner Tom Shiner at his peak and Michael Bevan (test 10 fa). An innings that required all the dimensions of batting. Courage, composure and technique early, stroke play and endurance late. Paul remained not out in what was an innings of the highest quality and a signpost on the way to a memorable season for Mosman in 1990/91. I had still not seen a better Grade hundred when I gave it away in 2006 and this gets Paul the spot.

9. Steve Magoffin (Western Suburbs Cricket Club - Brisbane)

Steve started his first-grade career in 97/98 as a quiet and shy young 17-year-old but even then, you could sense the burning desire that was to set him apart. Steve was not just another talented player recognising an opportunity if he worked hard. Mags didn’t just ‘want’ it, he seemed to ‘need’ it. You could sense the fear of failure in him at the top of his mark in a new spell. It drove him over and through many obstacles and lazy assumptions of selectors that this unfashionable fast bowler would need to overcome. Able to bowl disconcertingly quick or toil into the wind. He was surprisingly durable and unorthodox by swinging the ball into the right hander at pace and away from the left hander with bounce. His memorable spell late on the day 1 of in the Brisbane Premier Grade Final 2003/4 v Sandgate was testament to his pedigree. Took his 500^th first class wicket at Lords on his way to 597 poles but always turned up ready to work his trade in Club cricket. Remarkable career across 20 years and always put in for his Club in the style and passion reminiscent of Mike Whitney for Randwick.

10. Wayne Daniel (Mosman Cricket Club - Sydney

Of course, any fast bowler that managed to play Test Cricket for the West Indies in the 70’s and 80’s was of special pedigree. I was young and impressionable in 1987/88 but there is something that stays with you when you see real pace from inside the fence for the first time. T.V. games and the SCG outer is one thing but being in the gully to Wayne Daniel against Parramatta in 87/88 was something that has stayed with me. The thing about ‘Diamond’ was he was just as quick with the old ball, flat wickets, hot days and the rare long day in the field. He was big, strong and frighteningly quick when he got a sniff. A great storyteller and a cracking bloke. A summer to remember and his WSC heroics to hit Mick Malone for 6 off the last ball to win at the SCG gets this legend into the No.10 spot in this batting order.

11. Carl Rackemann (Western Suburbs Cricket Club - Brisbane)

Fair to say Mocca probably bowled his best stuff for Australia and Queensland but had the rare ability to bowl express at will. Those with a deeper appreciation for these things may have noted how technically strong were the foundations of his bowling action despite what many regarded as an ungainly technique. Add to this a strong ‘farm built’ frame and I can understand why Carl confided to me once he never got nervous before a game.  Most quicks need to have rhythm, a bit of luck, the body feeling good and perhaps some match practice. Not Carl. He could just ‘decide’ to take it up to a level that made the best of batting line-ups nervous. A cricket statesman and legendary storyteller and the respect of the best players in the World. Awkward angles and raw pace whenever he wanted to. I played enough Club cricket with Mocca at Wests to know he has to be on this XI just ahead of Wests stalwart Dirk Tazelaar.