Andrew Downton - the phone call from my idol

Andrew Downton was a left arm fast bowler who played grade cricket for Randwick in the NSW Premier Cricket Competition

Looking for opportunities Andrew moved to Tasmania in 1998 and played 33 first class games for Tasmania. He took 102 wickets at an average of 34.12 with best figures of 6 for 56.

With the bat Andrew scored 296 runs at an average of 8.45 and a highest score of 45

Andrew Downton is Branch Principal & Wealth Manager at Yellow Brick Road, Hobart.

Welcome Andrew

How did you get into cricket?

Through some good mates, I didn’t have brothers or sisters so I grew up with playing Benny and Brian Shelley, Daniel Melbourne and Darren Gillam. We’re still mates today and we started playing for Wentworthville Waratahs when I was 8. We soon all moved to Greystanes Cricket Club in the Parramatta District Comp

What are your memories of your junior cricket days?

Playing nearly every day with friends in the front or backyards and in the nets all year round

I didn’t make a representative side until I was 14 and got selected for Fairfield Green Shield Under 16 team – I was disappointed I couldn’t make the Parramatta teams after trialing every year from the Under 10s.

Funnily I used to throw the ball until I was 9 and the school coach used to make me bowl until I got it right… I still get told I threw the odd one.

Also a great memory was winning the Under 14’s Grand Final Greystanes then Under 16’s with Wentworthville Waratah’s at Ted Burge Oval in Merrylands. I may have hit future NSW spinner Anthony Clarke for 22 off the last over to win the competition

When did you go to grade cricket and how did it come about?

I got a phone call from my childhood idol and fellow left arm fast bowler Mike Whitney (to the home phone). The phone was hard wired so I had to sit in the kitchen and I actually had to talk to Whit in front of Mum and Dad.

Whit said he saw me play Green Shield against Randwick and liked what he saw and asked me to come trial with Randwick. How could I say no and went to Snape Oval Maroubra and Coogee Oval every week for the trials. I was fortunate to be selected in the team, I’m still mates with quite a few of the guys.

How did you progress through the grade ranks?

After being picked for Fairfield Green Shield team I’d played the odd 5^th grade game but when I went to Randwick I also played 6^th, 5^th and 4^th grade that season.

The next season I started in 3^rd grade and soon found my way into First Grade as a 17 year old in what I remember to be a star studded line up. I was very fortunate.

Did you have any mentors or coaches who were assisted your cricket and if yes how did they help you?

Where do I start?

I owe a helluva lot to the great man Billy Madden who was seriously unheralded as a coach. Billy gave you tough love but gee he could spot and harness talent!

He had me feeding balls from the age of 13 every day after school across a few indoor centres in Western Sydney mainly Girraween to some seriously good cricketers across grade, state and International levels

Kevin Chevell or Rambo or Jigsaw which ever you prefer. I went to him when I was 19 for preseason training after hearing about how good he was in getting people fit and stronger.

I drove my little Datsun 200B down the M4 every day and benefitted enormously as was bullet proof, and continued to go each offseason right throughout my career

More recent Brandon Muir from Wellington Cricket Club, one of the great men

What were your cricketing ambitions?

From the moment the Cricket Academy opened when I was 12 I wanted nothing more to be invited to attend and to also to play Shield Cricket and for Australia

Why led to your move from NSW to Tasmania?

Lack of opportunity. I was in the NSW squad and I thought I was ready to play at the first class level after playing well in a number of 2^nd X1 games, doing well in 1^st grade and for the Cricket Academy.

Can you describe the circumstances the led to your Sheffield Shield selection for Tasmania?

I was playing for the AIS and we’d played every states 2^nd X1 team and sometimes their 1^st class teams. From memory it was about 8 x 3 days games and I’d taken a lot of wickets and made my debut for Tasmania before Christmas in the 1999/2000 season

What do you remember about your first-class debut?

I was on an AIS Cricket Academy tour to Zimbabwe April 1998 which was deemed 1^st class somehow against Bulawayo, and I took 3 for 13 before trying to bowl too quick and straining my side

My real one first class debut was for Tassie… I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was against NSW at the SCG and we were staying at Coogee so I obviously knew the place well. I’d dreamed about playing at the SCG since I was a boy.

Having been in the NSW squad the previous I sought I felt at home and the Tassie boys were great. They took the piss out of me the whole time and I roomed with the great Mark Ridgway who gave the nickname Ed, it stuck.

I made the team, Shannon Tub was made 12^th man as the wicket was a raging seamer and we lost the toss and were soon 5 for 13. What was going on!!

Incredibly we ended winning the game before lunch on Day 4. I took 1 for 39 in the first innings and 6 for 56 in the 2^nd. I also scored a pair with the bat.

What are your recollections of your time in the Tasmania?

The best place I’ve lived in and still lucky enough to call Hobart home. After my first season 1999/2000 I was offered a good contract to go back to NSW but I chose to stay in Hobart, sliding doors moment.

What was your best performance with the ball and what do you remember about it?

It was the 6 for 56 in the 2^nd innings on debut.

I remember feeling a bit down after Brad Haddin edged my first ball in first class cricket and Dan Marsh at first slip dropped the catch so to get the win and wickets in the 2^nd innings is something I remember very fondly.

The Bacardi Breezes with an old school mate afterwards also tasted so much better

What was your best performance with the bat and what do you remember about it?

45 I think vs Western Australia at the WACA and I got out slog sweeping Brad Hogg.

I seriously underachieved with the bat and averaged less than most. I did make a few first grade hundreds in Hobart and 209 not out in the Under 16s.

How did your first-class career end?

Not ideal. I injured my left knee during a grade game batting with 2 balls remaining in the day between shield games.

I slipped and needed surgery. At 27 and the peak of my career and unfortunately I was never same. It was life changing in a pretty ordinary way

What do you think looking back on your first-class career? 

Privileged is the word I’d like to use. I made the most of it while I played with pretty limited athletic ability.

Who were the teammates you particularly admired and why?

There was a few, it’s fair to say going way back to school days through overseas and 1^st class and even to now. I can narrow down to 10 I reckon –

Steve Perks – peaked at M&S Western Green Shield level but had more ability than most – a demon in the back or front yard and the epic front yard test matches were fiercely fought. Also from Parramatta High - Chris Singh, the back-yard specialist who had most people measure from 10m away.

The Great man Jack Sundin took me under his wing when I was making my way at Randwick. Taught me how to bowl a serious bumper

Andrew Millican and Richard Chee Quee taught me all they knew about life and cricket especially reverse swing which was vital for my style of bowling

Jamie Cox was a great leader, best I’ve seen

Sean Clingeleffer, the best keeper I’ve seen and gloved the ball like a feather. Not the worst bloke either

Shane Watson was a freak, seriously humble and most talented player I’ve played with and his gym work ethic would put most to shame

Jason Krezja, serious talent

Glenn Lalor from St. Kilda Cricket Club could turn a game with bat and ball

Steve Cazzulino – his work ethic was better than most and I was lucky enough to win a premiership at Lindisfarne Cricket Club in the U.K  

Daniel and Nathan Muir – Brothers from Wellington Cricket Club showing how club cricket and loyalty should be

Who were the opponents you particularly admired and why?

Numerous, I was hit out of the attack often

Damien Martyn as he winding down hit me for 16 off an over. I bowled the same 6 balls in a row changed the field 6 times and he hit 4 straight fours and blocked the other 2 feeling sorry for me

Andrew Symonds and Martin Love, both the best batsman I’ve witnessed live. They both hit tons chasing down 370 in 2 sessions at Allan Border Oval, it was unbelievable batting.

More recently Johnno Wells was probably the best grade cricketer I have seen anywhere and I’m not sure why he hasn’t played higher levels more often

What would you do if you were running Australian Cricket?

Pick and play the best players at 2^nd X1 level irrespective of age. It'll keep older players at clubs longer and creates more depth at grade level

Over 40’s state cricket, I’d be a chance to knock over a few blokes I didn’t previously

What advice would you give to yourself as an 18-year-old?

Keep on believing, if you don’t make it at cricket you’ll make it at something

Are you involved in cricket now and in what capacity?

Yes, still trying to bowl with some pace in First Grade, some days better than others.

I may be nudging 120kph playing for Wellington Cricket Club in the Tasmanian Southern Cricket Association level just under Tasmanian Premier League. Wellington is a very successful club and we’ve won 5 straight 1^st grade flags from 2013/14 – 2018/19. If we’re fortunate to win this season it’ll be eight 1^st grade flags in last decade. Funnily enough I hadn’t won a flag since the Randwick First Grade vs Sutherland in 1998/99.

I’m not coaching at the moment but will as my 6 year old is into his first year of the Woolworths Blast with Wellington.