The latest entry in our series on First Grade captains is our current skipper (when Jimmy is away). In between podcasting, avoiding pandemics and explaining why he didn’t murder a potential car thief to random internet weirdos, Leigh Drennan kindly answered some questions from Dom Cassell.
Redlands Sporting Club is a proud sponsor of Redlands Cricket Club
What’s your nickname in cricketing circles?
🐯 I think it has pretty consistently been Drenno… fluctuated with a phase in Adelaide where it was strictly Leighthal but then Drenno caught on down there as well. Myself and my brother now have the same nickname though which doesn’t help.
Do you remember your first ever game of cricket?
🐯 I do remember bits and pieces actually. I know I had a net with Barry Cullen when I was 7 years old and he gave me the all clear to play U10’s at Alexandra Hills Cricket Club. My first game was at Cleveland State School, I know we rotated fielding positions every over and I have seen a few action shots of my batting and I was still just as leg side dominant back then as I am now.
Did Alex Hills remain as your junior club? What memories do you have of your time there?
🐯 Alexandra Hills CC, what a club. Great memories actually. I had some coaches that were fantastic and dedicated a lot of time to seeing me progress. Mark Devlin and Rob Dehayr spring to mind straight away because they coached me through the majority of my junior years. My fondest memories are from when I was in the older age groups. I would play junior cricket in the morning and then play U18s for Redlands in the afternoon. I loved it. We won the competition for Alex Hills two years in a row there without losing a game and that was my first captaincy experience!
Tell me about your first game or training session in grade cricket. Was it with Redlands?
🐯 It most certainly was. I was being privately coached by Brad Murphy in 2005. I was 15 and he told me to come down to Grade training on a Tuesday Night and train with them. My first 6 months of men’s training was essentially just taking balls with the gloves on in fielding drills and having Spud yell at me to clean up poor throws or get my voice up and encourage some people. I learnt pretty quickly! My first game I cannot really remember properly but it was definitely in 6th grade that year and there was some genius off spinner playing for us and I took 4 stumpings on that day!
Walk me through some of the other senior clubs have you played for?
🐯 Yeah I have played for a few. I went from Redlands to Souths, Souths to Redlands, Redlands to Valleys, Valleys to West Torrens (Adelaide) and then West Torrens to Redlands. I also umpired for a while when I had a knee reconstruction so good representation there.
What about rep teams? You must have made a few...
🐯 I have now played for the Northern Territory and Queensland Second XI but my junior rep careers isn’t that impressive. I always played for the mighty BEARS at State Championships!
How did your first game in first grade go?
🐯 Not terribly but it wouldn’t have brought the crowds back to grade cricket. I was playing for Valleys and I was 20 years old. My first ball was against James Hopes. I made 26 off about 90 and then nicked Graham Skennar (off spinner) to first slip. I took a nice catch but we were comprehensively beaten.
Tell me about some of the most memorable characters you’ve come across in cricket.
🐯 I think Adam Pearson is always one that springs to mind in terms of being memorable. I used to idolise him when I was a junior because he was an absolute jet but when I got to know him years later I realised that he was just a very entertaining idiot. He continues to be consistent with those traits now 13 years on. Strangest is Willo for obvious reasons. Funniest was a guy named Carl Mickan from West Torrens. Most annoying was easily a young Marnus Labuschagne when he was a young first grader and I had to play against him. Worst at warm up games would be Michael McEwan which wasn’t really part of the question but I just needed to get it in there.
What’s your favourite ground to play at?
🐯 Favourite Brisbane Ground to play at is comfortably Redlands I would suggest. Away from Redlands I think it would have to be University. Favourite ground in general was Woodville Oval in Adelaide. Unless we include the one game I played at the Adelaide Oval in which case that definitely wins hands down.
Do you have a ground or club you hate playing at but you have done well at?
🐯 I had never liked playing at Toombul because I have had some horrendously long days in the dirt there. However, then I probably played the innings of my life there this season so I might embrace it from now on!
Tell me about the best game of cricket you were ever a part of.
🐯 It probably is a weird choice but the best game I have been involved in just for the sheer weirdness of it was when Valleys played Sandgate Redcliffe in a 1 day game. It was a dreadfully green wicket and we were bowled out for 119 in 44 overs. We thought we were in more trouble than the early settlers. However, instead Matt Petrie took 6 for 8 and Luke Feldman 4 for 13 as we bowled them out for 22. Strange scenes but quite exciting.
Best win you were involved in?
🐯 I keep referencing Adelaide stories here which is probably not ideal for our demographic however, in the season we won all 3 premierships for West Torrens… our semi final we were absolutely down and out in the 2 day competition. Port Adelaide batted first and made 173. We were 7 for 99 in reply and then won 8 wickets down. We were on the sidelines thinking we were dead and buried and our number 8 and 9 just dug deep and won it for us! In Brisbane I would say chasing down University’s total of 7-345 last year for the loss of 5 wickets. They are always a very tough team to beat.
Do you have any superstitions or habits when it comes to cricket?
🐯 I probably get particular about the moments before I go out to bat. I like to make sure I have worn my helmet for a few balls on the sideline before I walk out. I touch the ground and look to the sky when I walk out just because I have always done it. I think you would also find that I scratch the ground with my spikes in between every delivery I face.
Who is the biggest name cricketer you’ve played with or against?
🐯 Well I can just say playing with Marnus now really. He’s a genius. Also included in the list would be Usman Khawaja, Kane Richardson and Callum Ferguson. They are ones I have played with. Against I would say Brad Hogg or Ryan Harris.
A few off the short run now:
🐯 Fastest bowler I’ve faced is Shaun Tait. Goodness me he was fast. He also hit the guy at the other end in the head and knocked his helmet off while I was at the non-strikers end so I didn’t find that overly appealing.
🐯 Best bowler I have kept to is Matt Petrie. He was elite at nicking people off.
🐯 I think Steve Paulsen has always been the guy I feel like we are least likely to get out when I have played him.
🐯 Scariest bowler to face in the nets is Lachlan Honan or Jacob Apted. Both not overly fond of pitching them up.
🐯 Opposition player that I have most respect for: Andrew Gode… Valleys. Has dominated for 10 years.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
🐯 “You catch them with your hands not your head” (Spud Murphy). In response to whether I should wear a helmet whilst keeping or not.
Do you have any lessons you’ve learned in your cricket life that you’ve taken into life in general?
🐯 I think the concept of winning becomes a lot easier when you have great people around you that enjoy each other’s company and want to see each other be successful. That can certainly apply to life as well. Also just a lesson in patience. Any new skill, new job, new hobby etc. can be difficult at the start. It is allowed to be. Work hard through that part to make sure you reap some rewards.
What’s your advice for a young tiger trying to get up the grades?
🐯 Embrace the challenge. Try to get away from making excuses and make sure that your currency is runs and wickets. You will be far better off for having to work out the way that you achieve success in your game. This will definitely place you in really good stead when you do get to where you want to be. You are only ever a couple of good games away from playing higher. There are plenty of opportunities!
What’s been your biggest challenge in captaincy? Would you say you have a “captaincy style”?
🐯 I think the biggest challenge in captaincy is actually maintaining the balance between ensuring your own contribution is still quality, but that you are also paying enough attention to every team member and ensuring they feel like they they are in a headspace where they know every person thinks they can succeed.
I wouldn't see that I have always got that balance right. It can be quite difficult sometimes to either not seem self obsessed, or to go too far the other way and not contribute with bat or gloves.
I think my style is to try and get the best out of every individual. To try and lift people an extra 10% than they thought they could produce, but I have also placed a lot of emphasis on leading by example in terms of on field performance. I think it is poor to expect your team mates to do something you aren't trying to do yourself.
What do you do outside of cricket?
🐯 Run a brilliant podcast, name drop, We Got The Chocolates. I’m a teacher. I do some cricket coaching and play touch footy and AFL.
Promise this is the last one: what’s a question you’ve always wanted an interviewer to ask, and what’s your answer?
🐯 Would you date a fan of the We Got The Chocolates podcast. The answer is yes if they have listed to a minimum of 15 episodes.
Drenno, you’re a modern legend. Thanks for your time.
Dom Cassell
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