Why they call you "Bug", Bug?
It used to be "Gecko" because I had a habit of climbing up walls and hanging upside down in changing rooms. Geoff Tucker reckoned I looked more like a bug and for whatever reason it stuck.
How long you played cricket?
Retired now but played for 30-odd years.
Can you remember your first game?
Don’t really remember it. I was six years old playing U/10s. Would have got either one or none. Fair chance I was bowled. I amassed 2 runs that season.
Got him, yes. Bug catches another one.
Tell us briefly about your journey in cricket
Played for Baulkham Hills U/10s until I was eight. Then I made the move to Blacktown City U/10s. I captained them, and took association aggregate wickets (32) and runs (338). Started rep cricket for Blacktown playing Arch Cawsey Shield [U/12]. And it was all downhill from there!
You appear to have kept playing...
I was at Blacktown Workers, played Watson Shield for Blacktown. I’d play juniors in the morning then senior cricket in the afternoon for a team called the Royal Boars. Played Shires for Baulkham Hills for a season aged 16. Then 4ths and 5ths at Penrith for a season. Went back to the Hills to play first grade for a few years. Skippered Frank Gray for a couple of seasons. Went to Warringah around 2001, played ones and twos. And did that for about ten seasons.
What’s your role at WCC?
As a player I was club captain for a season, contributed to the newsletter from time to time. On the field I was ball maintenance and chat leader. Today I’m a supporter.
What was your best personal performance?
Highest score 103* against Pennant Hills on a wicket I helped build a year before (Castlewood). Best figures were 7/6 though needs a pretty massive disclaimer: it was U/10s. As I said, it was all downhill from there.
What’s been the best team performance you’ve been involved with?
U/13s grand final win over previously undefeated Rooty Hill. They had a gun team, most went on to play first grade at Hawkesbury, Penrith and Blacktown. Also never a lost a game of league at Blacktown City in four seasons. Closest was a draw against Mt Druitt.
Who have been the best 2-3 players you’ve played against?
Geoff Whitford: had some natural talent but worked super hard. Great bat who later became very sharp with the ball. Damian Duroux: freakish natural talent, very cheeky, could do it all. Was described by John Benaud as the best batsman in NSW when he was playing seconds at Penrith due to disciplinary reasons.
Same for the best 2-3 players you’ve played with.
Steve Ware: gun bat, gun bowler, gun fielder. Freak of a player, some good judges say the best player never to have gone to grade. David Millar: unbelievable spirit, absolutely unplayable on his day - and he had many days.
Smooth operator: Matt Anderson launches in
What’s been the best performance you’ve seen by a team-mate or opponent?
We beat Strathfield in a first grade semi-final on 1st innings then got rolled by Simon Day and Robbie Luck in the second innings. On a wicket doing plenty, they were fast, accurate and unrelenting. The other standout was by some bloke called Green from Dubbo who destroyed us in a pre-season trial. Hardest hitting I’ve ever seen. It was actually a bit scary.
How about in the field?
All the best catches I remember were mine.
Who has been your funniest team-mate?
No shortage of these people. Geoff Tucker - most acidic tongue in the game. Dave McDonald, after a massive night, fell asleep over his bat as the bowler was running in. Hunter Drew couldn’t get physio one morning because he has "soft skin". Jono Parker pulled out his old fella at the top of his mark to put a batsman off. Everyone has a story about Tim “Tip Rat” Bourke. There’s Louie McMillan, Matthew ‘Rev’ Johnson. I could go on and on...
Who was your childhood cricket hero?
Phil Simmons
Who’s your current one or favourite cricketer to watch or someone you most admire.
Steven Phillip Devereaux Smith.
Who are the three cricketers in the world you’d most like to have over to a dinner party?
Christopher Henry Gayle, Andrew Flintoff, Greg Matthews
One of the Men In Green's many funny men amuses Matt "Bug" Anderson (left) and Brad Lewis
Who’s your favourite commentator?
Harsha Bhogle
What are you hopes for the club?
I would love to see Warringah crack that first grade premiership and/or the Club Championships.
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know?
I’m known as “Sydney’s Favourite Son”. I took the vacant title via an email to Clover Moore circa 2010, and I’ve held it ever since. True story.
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