Tom Shiner, right arm leg spinner. A character, competitor, irreverent, a magician and the Charlie Chaplin of Sydney Grade Cricket of the 1980s and 90s.
I had the good fortune to play against Tommy and enjoyed the battle immensely. I had the greater fortune of playing with Tommy at Western Suburbs in 1992/93 and 1993/94.
Keeping to Tom was fun. He could bowl all the balls the very best leg spinners speak of. He’s accuracy, pace, spin and zip off the wicket, fooled many and often.
Many speak of Tom talent and performances and how unlucky he was not to play for NSW. Cricket can or does have a funny way of bracketing or typecasting players. Could he have trained harder and worked on his batting and fielding more? Of course he could’ve, but give him the ball and ask him “can we win”….. “just give me the f&^%ing ball, “ and he’d waddle in and deliver.
It would seem Tommy got better with age and as he hit 30, maybe cricket was not a high priority but I would have loved to seen him given the opportunity to play under captains like Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor or Dirk Wellham in first class cricket.
Tom Shiner made his first grade debut for Randwick in 1979. In a career spanning 15 seasons Tom played for Randwick, Penrith, Campbelltown-Camden and Western Suburbs and took 436 first grade wickets at an average of 22.30. His best figures were 8 for 37 and he took 5 wickets or more in an innings on 23 occasions.
He played many years of NSW 2nd XI cricket and took on the Poms in February 1985.
In the profile interviews on stump to stump Tom is often mentioned by Sydney Grade Cricketers of the 1980s and 90s, as one of the top 3 spinners they played with or against. Let’s hear from Tom Shiners peers.
Rod Bower
Tommy affectionately known as Casper due to his magnificent pale tan.
Tom was an excellent leg spinner had all three, the leggie, the wrongun and the toppie.
When batting at the top of the order you would always hope that you were still occupying the crease when he came on, the challenge was always fantastic.
I was certainly as was many the victim of the Tom Shiner toppie, you didn't wait for the finger you just walked.
Tom was never short of odd verbal either letting you know of exactly what he thought of a poor shot or shit decision, mind you everything was out.
I always enjoyed not only his competitive nature but also the beer and the chat after the game, in my opinion a gentleman who must’ve been very close to playing at a higher level.
Gary Bensley
I had the great pleasure of playing with and against Tom over a period of many years.
He was extremely funny, a great team man, a fierce competitor, a wonderful leg spin bowler and unlucky not to have played at higher levels.
Although not a big turner of the ball, he was quick through the air and got lots of bounce which made him very difficult to attack.
Because I liked attacking, we had lots of good contests but we always caught up for a beer after the game to discuss what did and what should have happened.
A great bloke.
Hurlstone Agricultural High School First XI 1975
Back Row - Scorer, Paul Southern, Steve English, Graeme Watt, Jeff Jones, David Lester, Mr Peter Collins (Coach)
Front Row - Ed Molan, Tom Shiner, Barry Everingham, Steve Frances, Craig Peck, Steve Clarke.
Phil Marks
Tommy Shiner was one of the best bowlers of the 80’s and early 90’s era. A tough competitor with all the leg spinning skills including a deadly flipper and top spinner, he didn’t mind offering batting advice although seldom accepted any.
One of the few bowlers that didn’t need the conditions to suit him, he was always consistent and in control, I can’t remember him bowling a bad spell, not to me anyway.
His distinctive walk and bowling action still brings a smile to my face when I look back at those times.
Probably should have played higher than NSW 2nd XI but his batting and fielding skills probably had a bearing on that decision.
Terrific bloke off the field too and we enjoyed many a beer after play usually discussing how he’d got me out.
Paul Bourke
I had the good fortune to play with Tom for three seasons when Campbelltown entered the competition in 1985/6.
He was generally regarded as the best leg spinner in First Grade from the mid-1980s until the early 1990s. He had the full skill set including a deadly flipper, was a fierce competitor with an analytic mind, and always happy to verbalise his thoughts on any relevant issue.
During the 1986/7 season I was his captain as Tom enjoyed his best all round performance when the team were runners up in the Belvidere Cup, Limited Overs Premiers and NSW Champions.
He was the competitions leading wicket taker with 63 wickets at 16 (economy rate 2.5 per over), took 14 catches, and played a number of important innings, including batting for more than a session as a nightwatchman in a hard fought win over Fairfield.
A captain’s dream in so many ways who simply loved to compete. Tom was, and still is, a real character. It was a real pleasure to play with him and enjoy a beer or two or … after stumps were drawn and beyond.
Randal Green
Tommy was hugely respected by all good first grade batsmen in the 80s.
A most aggressive leggy with a temperament that would rival any angry quick bowler. Although was not a huge turner of the ball, he had all the tricks and bowled the Gazoota (flipper) better than anyone (apart from the Legend). This was a great weapon for him.
My best memory of Tommy was when he ripped through the Victorian 2nd XI at the Village Green in a match winning performance. It was a great spectacle to see the Vics so helplessly bewildered during (and under) his bowling spell.
Great bloke, good character and never underrated by Northern District. Have a beer or two with him any time.
Martin Haywood
Without doubt one of my favourite team mates and really influential in my early years trying to find my way in Sydney coming up from Canberra.
He was one of a few senior players at Campbelltown that had genuine interest in our young squad and helped in any way he possibly could. I, along with Craig Hughes and a young Shane Lee all benefited from Tom’s experience and knowledge of Cricket.
Having said that, he was genuinely “old school”, once we were out on the pitch batting we were on our own. At 11.05 Tom would make his way to the local TAB and enjoy a few hours of punting while we were back at the ground trying to get some runs on the board. He would pop back to the ground at 3.40 for afternoon tea then off he went back to collect his Quaddie.
An absolute genius with the ball in his hand and absolutely bamboozled the very best with his leg spin.
I can only think it was his dodgy body, his lack of ability at mid-on and very ordinary batting skills that cost him many games wearing the Baggy Blue NSW cap. Simply one of the very best leg spinners I ever played with or against but most importantly - a good man.
Shane Lee
When a young man or girl these days makes his or her debut in cricket, they immediately look towards the older generation within the team for comfort and guidance.
How can I fast track my career and learn from the doyens within my team and become a better player sooner?
The number one doyen when I made my debut at age 15 for Campbelltown came in the format of a wily leg spinner with coke bottle glasses called Tom Shiner.
Control, subtle variation and a fierce competitive streak his greatest assets. Oh and a flipper as good as Warneys also helped!
His deficiencies came in the form of batting and an inability to wash his cricket whites from one week to the next.
In saying this, Tom was one of my all-time favourite team mates. Quirky, irreverent and relaxed. His ability to appeal for LBW before the flipper hit the wicket or the pad still makes me laugh today. '
Mike Swan
Tom Shiner joined Western Suburbs in 1992/93 after a number of senior and representative players had left the club. It was a rebuild.
It was a privilege to captain Tommy and a joy to watch him weave his magic as opposing batters didn’t know which way they were going.
It’s abundantly clear how highly Tommy is rated amongst his peers and I would have loved to have seen him play for NSW.
His batting, well he was never in the mix to be night watchman.
Scott Jacobson
Tom had great control for a leg spinner, incredible zooter and good wrongun. I ended up playing with Tommy at Wests where he turned a game single handed against UNSW on a flat Village Green deck.
Uni were one down for 200 chasing down around 250, Michael Slater had smashed a hundred in a session. Tommy waddled up to the crease as he did and proceeded to take 8-20 odd to win the game, incredible spell.
A genuine No 11 bat and only fielded the ball when he had too, probably stopped him from playing at the highest level.
Jason Ellesmore – Secretary of Campbelltown-Camden Cricket Club
Tom Shiner was the first inductee into Campbelltown-Camden Cricket Club Hall of Fame. His contribution and admiration within the club is reflected in the fact after 35 year we have only 3 inductees to date in the clubs Hall of Fame.
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