Wayne Hamlet has spent 28 seasons playing with the Northern Brothers Diggers Cricket Club in Toowoomba.
He’s on the verge of a milestone but work commitments are hindering his progress.
Let’s find out more about Wayne’s journey in the game
Livewired Electrical are proud sponsors of Northern Brothers Diggers Cricket Club
Welcome Wayne,
Firstly, what year you were born?
August 1972
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
No, I don't remember my first game, I can remember playing a competition in primary school called "single wicket" which was an individual competition against all other players in the top 3 grades in a one on one game while everyone else fielded. I remember being happy that I made the quarter finals in grade 5, semi-finals in grade 6 and then I lost the grand final in grade 7 against good mate Colin Otto.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey? Where you’ve played, clubs you’ve played for?
My cricket journey outside of school started with Wests Juniors which was our local area club. In those days you had to play in the area you lived. I played with these guys from under 8's to under 14's from memory.
I stopped playing outdoor cricket when I was around 13/14 and just played indoor cricket for a few years. With some indoor friends I got asked to play a game for Brothers Diggers when I was 19 and 28 seasons later I’m still having a crack when I can due to work. I have loved every minute of it and still wish I could play every week.
What other sports do you play?
I try to play hockey during the off-season
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
I do like to pull out Major League from time to time.
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?
When I was a kid I used to hate the bowling action I had and practiced for months & months running up and down the hallway at home with a mirror at the end trying to change my bowling action to that of Denis Lillie. But unfortunately to this day I still bowl like Lance Cairns.
Lance Cairns
What’s your highest score in senior cricket? For which club and where
114 vs Mets at St Marys College playing C Grade for Northern Brothers Diggers
What has been your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
5 for 36 vs Mets at St Marys College playing D Grade for Northern Brothers Diggers
Can you tell us which players in the club we should be looking out for in terms of higher representative honours?
Aidan Watterson (who has now moved to Brisbane) and Codie Walker
Who has been the fastest bowler you have played against so far?
Mick King for Railways was pretty slippery
Who has been the best batsman you’ve played against?
Probably Glen Hogarth, but then he was a former Toowoomba Cavalier playing C Grade
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Shane Samuelson back in his day, although the old fella has dried up a bit of late
Who was your childhood hero?
Allan Border
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Brett Kenny, Ian Botham, Matt Hayden
Brett Kenny
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Bill Lawry
Who are the two local players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit?
Peter Klein & Tony Guse
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
Love just having a joke with the boys on a Saturday and winning games of cricket for Diggers
Wayne is pictured 2nd in from the right in the back row and his son Todd is 2nd in from the right in the front row
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Really hard to split between opening the batting with my son in a D Grade Final against University and winning back to back premierships on the back of losing 3 straight Grand Finals
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Winning the C Grade Grand Final as captain after my 10th attempt to win a 2 Day competition as captain. West won the toss, sent us in and we put more than 400 on the board...happy days.
What are your hobbies?
Cricket, Hockey, Nintendo & Business
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
More a quote that has stuck with me over the years "If it's to be it's up to me"
What are your cricketing ambitions?
I'd like to have scored 10,000 runs for Diggers but I'm probably running out of time with the way my body feels these days and not being able to play the games as I’m working on weekends
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