Dirk Wellham - help others perform well

Dirk Wellham made his first grade debut for Western Suburbs on 1 March 1975 against the old Sydney Cricket Club at the age of 16. He is the very proud owner of Western Suburbs first grade playing number 454.

Dirk is part of a very select club in having scored a century on his first class debut for NSW and a century on his test debut for Australia.

He made his Test debut for Australia on 27 August 1981 in the 6^th Test of the Ashes series against England. England won the toss and sent Australia into bat and Dirk batting at number 6 scored 24 in the first innings and 103 in the 2^nd innings. The match was drawn.

In 6 Tests for Australia he scored 257 runs with a highest score of 103 and in 17 one day internationals scored 379 runs with highest score 97.

For NSW Dirk made his first class debut on 11 December 1980 against Victoria at the MCG. Batting at number 6 Dirk scored 100 and was part of a 221 run partnership with Peter Toohey who scored 145.

Dirk captained NSW to two successful Sheffield Shield victories in 1984/85 and 1985/86.

He played with NSW from 1980-81 to 1987-88, Tasmania from 1988-89 to 1990-91 and Queensland 1991-92 to 1993-94.

As an astute captain, many believe Dirk to be the best captain they’d played with. Dirk has the distinction of being the first player to captain three states in first class cricket.

In 148 first class games Dirk scored 8,662 runs at an average of 42.25 including 16 centuries and 53 half centuries.

For his beloved Magpies who Dirk return to after retiring from first class cricket, he scored 5,341 runs from 1975 to 1997 at an average of 39.56 with 14 centuries and 50 half centuries.

Dirk is a highly respected educator who spent many years teaching across the three states and a School Principal.

Let’s find out more about Dirk’s journey in the game

Dirk Wellham after his Australian Test debut century

What year you were born?

1959 in Marrickville, Sydney

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I remember it vividly. I was aged seven in the Under 10s, for Croydon Park…I bowled and took 5 wickets for 4 runs; and then 6 wickets for 20 in the second innings. I didn’t bat. At one point the umpire was standing in the way, so I had to run round him and go round the wicket – turns out it was because the batsman wasn’t ready, so I discovered.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I’m a Westie – AW Green Shield U/16 competition when I was twelve. My first game was at Caringbah Oval, and I remember batting against Andrew Hilditch’s bowling. He was a big boy then, but he’s slimmed down since.

Dirk Wellham batting on Test debut

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?

I was fourteen and Greg Dyer and I played in Wests 4^th Grade Team under experienced Captain Gerry Garrity. Greg became a Wicket Keeper, because that team didn’t have one, so he thought it would make sure he always played. I’d played against him in Representative cricket for Canterbury v Auburn, when he was a batting all-rounder; and I bowled leg-spin.

At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?

I was sixteen playing against Sydney at Pratten, and made single figures, out to a left hand quick caught behind, I think.

What were your strengths as a player?

I could read the game, and figure out what players were thinking and anticipate what they might be about to do, possibly.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Western Suburbs v Petersham at Petersham Oval 202 not out. In first class cricket it was 166 at The Gabba for NSW v Qld

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

Best bowling in First Grade was four wickets for 36 I think, for Western Suburbs at Bankstown Oval

You played 6 Test Matches for Australia and scored a century on debut at the age of 22, can you share with us how you found out you’d been selected in the Test team and how you were feeling after the game knowing you’d made a century?

I was in a car with John Dyson and Steve Rixon with the Tooheys Cup somewhere south of Sydney in the country, when they stopped the car to listen to the radio for the touring team being read out. I didn’t think anything of it but they had said I might be a bolter as the young player. Doug Walters was left out; and I was named in the touring squad. I had no idea about this.

Can you share what it was like to be on the 1981 Ashes tour to England as a young 22 year old when you’d made your first class debut just months prior?

I suddenly was playing with television heroes like Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, Kim Hughes, Terry Alderman Graham Yallop, Rodney Hogg, Ray Bright and Allan Border. Most of them I’d never spoken to before. We went to Sri Lanka for two weeks prior to arriving in London, and that was a wonderful two weeks in the Sri Lankan sunshine. In England, the cricket weather was so cold, to start the tour. I simply played and batted; thinking not too much about anything, trying to understand what was going on.

Dennis Lillee

It was the Botham series, Bob Willis, David Gower, Geoff Boycott, Mike Brearley, Alan Knott and John Emburey were memorable because I had seen them play for the MCC v Riverina in Wagga, when my Uncle Wally played against them. I was twelve years old in Wagga, with the NSW Primary Schools team on the way to Adelaide.

You were captain of the NSW team that won the Sheffield Shield in NSW in 1984/85 and 1985/86, what are your memories of the great era in NSW Cricket?

In 1984-85 we had top experienced players and played against Allan Border’s Qld in the SCG Final. It was an extraordinarily tough match, no prisoners taken. Trevor Hohns scored a century and NSW chased to the wire late on Day 5. Dave Gilbert hit the winning runs; but we still had Mike Whitney to bat, so NSW clearly won easily. Peter Clifford played a great innings. The current Prime Minister of Pakistan had sore toes, but he dismissed the great Allan Border caught Dyson at two and a half slips.

Courtesy of Cricket NSW - Imran and Kham and Dirk Wellham

Jeff Thomson bowled me with a slow full toss round my legs as I was anticipating pulling a short ball from him. Oh well. Carl Rackemann was magnificent in that game and deserved to win it for Queensland; so I was really pleased for him that he took the catch for the final dismissal when Qld won The Shield for the first time. And the rest is history. Tough game really.

Dirk Wellham playing for NSW

6 Tests in 6 years and such a successful first class record as NSW captain, how frustrating was it not to get an extended run in the Test team?

It wasn’t frustrating because no-one is entitled to that. It is always a matter of opinion who should be picked. I would have liked to have played more so that I could play naturally and creatively as NSW players always try to do, to be attacking. Test Cricket is tough, and it was a great privilege to be selected. That hasn’t changed, but it is stressful and difficult.

Your retired from first class cricket after the 1986/87 season, are you able to share why and then why the move to Tasmania for the 1988/89 season?

I felt that I was not going to play anymore for Australia; and NSW had far too many good young players who could play Test cricket for me to keep them out. I felt I had done what I wanted with NSW. I had no plan to go anywhere else, but my wife and I are learners - Tassie was a beautiful place; and Brisbane is our home. Our children have their own interstate families.

6 Test matches for Australia, 17 One Day Internationals, 148 first class games, 8,662 runs, you captained three states NSW, Tasmania, and Queensland, won Sheffield Shield competitions, it’s quite an incredible career, can we ask, how do you look back on your cricket career?

I look back on cricket as Pratten Park being my home. All the rest that followed came from there, with many of my team managers and coaches being Westies. Ray Bowden and my Dad looked after us at Croydon Park; Br Brian Berg was the Green Shield Manager and he took the NSW Schools team to an undefeated win in the national tournament in Perth in 1975. Bob Simpson was my First Grade Club Captain and Coach. Gary Gilmour, Peter Toohey, Steve Rixon, David Gilbert, Greg Matthews, Greg Dyer, Brian Rhodes, Wally Wellham,. Brad McNamara all played in my Wests’ teams. I watched Ian Chappell batting against Lance Gibbs and Wes Hall, on black and white TV, and I always thought that looked a good thing to do. So I became a cricketer, with my brother and cousins in First Grade at Wests, a short walk from school and home.

NSW and Australia, Queensland and Tasmania (and Easts and Gold Coast in Brisbane, and Sandy Bay in Hobart), NSW Schools and NSW Primary Schools, NSW Combined High Schools, sprang out of Sydney’s inner west’s Pratten Park.

Bob Simpson playing for Western Suburbs

Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

Best three fast bowlers, are too numerous – Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee, Michael Holding; Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner; Andy Roberts, Bob Willis, Richard Ellison, Rodney Hogg, Jeff Thomson, Terry Alderman, Geoff Lawson, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Craig McDermott, in absolutely no particular order, and with apologies to the many that I haven’t mentioned in my top three.

Michael Holding

Who were the best three spinners you have played against?  

Best three spinners include Abdul Qadir; Phil Edmonds; Greg Matthews, Shane Warne; with apologies to all of the others I haven’t mentioned. Abdul ripped the ball, and with a killer wrongun that was fun to play against; Phil spun and drifted; Greg was always wanting to bowl and didn’t mind a few games; and Shane wasn’t at his peak the days I played him, but he spun and always wanted to bowl and control.

Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

Best three batsmen include Viv Richards who was so strong; Gordon Greenidge who was quiet and tough; Allan Border so focussed and dominating, Greg Chappell whose timing and ability to score were stunning; David Gower for grace; Ian Botham for strength and power; Bob Simpson for controlling a game; Clive Lloyd for being special; Javed Miandad for his all round scoring; Sunil Gavaskar for his control and understanding of the game; Matt Hayden for his power; Adam Gilchrist as a dynamic carefree country boy who loved to hit long; and Kapil Dev was a brave leader of his team with the bat and with his calm personality. With apologies to all of the others who are in my top three, including Steve Waugh for his toughness.

Viv Richards

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Viv Richard’s domination of England at Old Trafford is very memorable for its brutality and swagger; although I only saw it on TV later. Kepler Wessels made a big hundred in the 1985-86 Shield Final batting first for Queensland and that was tough to take, with our young side.

Was there a bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?

Richard Ellison in England swung the ball so much and so late, both ways, but predominantly out. Rodney Hogg was strong, quick and fierce because he never seemed to want to bowl because it hurt physically; so he was always annoyed when David Hookes threw him the ball. And I’m sure that Hook used to irritate him deliberately, for that reason.

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you’d been used to If you could add a few words as to the experience.

Every time I played a Test match I thought that this is very difficult. Some wickets I played on were scary at times, when they were green, hard, but uneven, so nothing could be anticipated. The cracks opening across the WACA were a pleasant different experience. And the MCG later in a Test match (day two?) in the early eighties, was a grub’s nightmare.

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

The best keeper was possibly Alan Knott because he was balanced with beautiful soft lightning hands. Ian Healey for his consistent, tough professionalism was outstanding. Kiran More for India was also quick with soft hands and great movement.

Allan Knott

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

Steve Waugh, Bob Simpson, Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd, Bob Willis, Ian Botham, Alan Border, Dennis Lillee, Mike Whitney, Greg Matthews, David Hookes, Dean Jones, Javed Miandad, Viv Richards, and Tony Greig.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

Bob Simpson always played tough cricket personally and his teams were always on the edge of performance. Mike Brearley was a quiet communicator so his players knew what they were doing. David Hookes was a wonderful athlete and an aggressive Australian player and Captain for whom I always had great respect. Allan Border learnt the Captaincy as he grew into it to become outstanding; but he was always a leading player with his own performances and expectations. Tony Greig I played against but I knew Tony well, later from working with him – he was a wonderful player and an equally aggressive counter to Ian Chappell.

David Hookes

As an astute and successful captain what are the two characteristics you like to see most in a cricket captain at any level?

Playing the game, rather than talking about yourself. Helping others to perform well.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Peter (Sounda) Sleep didn’t mean to be. Mike Whitney always had a line from somewhere at ‘Larper’ (La Perouse).

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

Barry Reilly from Petersham, as I came into bat as a sixteen year old in my third game in First Grade asked, if I had got my bat from Green Shield (it had some tape on it holding the face together)? Yes, I replied, and he laughed.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

Against Tasmania in Newcastle in a dead second innings in a not memorable match. I was batting with Steve Small and when I missed a drive from the bowler (Mark Ray I think ) that spun through to first slip and I heard a ‘Yes’ call (It must have come from the bowler). I thought it was Steve calling me through for a bye because Roger Woolley the wicket keeper didn’t catch it, so I took off for the run. First slip threw at the stumps and managed to hit Woolley, but I was already walking off when they finally managed to pick up the ball and break the stumps. I thought it was funny, anyway, but I guess you had to be there.

Who was your childhood hero?

Ian Chappell because he was an attacking batsman; leading a positive, successful team. I always enjoyed talking with Ian Chappell years later, because I think we shared many of the same views about how the game should be played, for everyone’s benefit (at least in your team).

Ian Chappell

Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?

Maria Sharapova; Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and Lady Diana Spencer (again).

Evonne Goolagong-Cawley

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

Jim Maxwell, dramatist.

Can you share the two cricket journalist whose work you’ve enjoyed most over the years? 

Bill O’Reilly; Richie Benaud, Ian Chappell, Bill Lawry, Tony Greig.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

I loved The Gabba for its beautiful fast even playing surface; the SCG and Lord’s for their history; and Canterbury for its Oak Tree that I had the pleasure of hiding behind, just for a little while, against Kent.

What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?

I always enjoyed playing against The West Indies because they were great athletes; they were great fun to talk with and they were good people who never had a cross word with me, although Joel growled at me once at the MCG on a dark afternoon’s One Day game.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Winning the Sheffield Shield three times with NSW, in Perth, then in Sydney. Winning the Australian Schools’ Championship in Perth with NSW in 1975. Scoring 198 against Combined High Schools, Queensland, in Newcastle. Playing against Mark and Glen Ella in Primary Schools District teams when I was ten. Being with Peter Taylor on his Test debut when we won against England at the SCG in 1987. Each Test.

What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?

Best being close was the 1984-85 Shield Final; and that SCG Test in 1987.

NSW Sheffield Shield Champions 1984-85

If there was one match up, a bowler and batsman going head to head at their peak, who would you choose?

Malcolm Marshall v Viv Richards

Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?

Dave Gilbert, Greg Dyer, Greg Matthews.

What are your hobbies?

My wife.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

You’ve done all the hard work, don’t throw it away (Ian Botham quietly at Drinks, when I was 99 not out on Test debut).

What is your occupation?

I am retired, from teaching, but still learning.

Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?

I help with schools’ teams; and anyone who asks. Western Suburbs has been great in keeping me involved, and it’s always special to go back to Wests Leagues, Ashfield Boys’ High, and Pratten Park, whenever I can.

Can we ask what state cricket associations need to have as their top 2 priorities to ensure cricket in their state and across Australia remain strong and successful on and off the field?

Positive learning for each player, at whatever stage and age they’re at. Make sure the game is played in good spirit and with good communications with the oppositions’ players. That was why I enjoyed playing against The West Indies, England, and all of the other Test teams, because they were good people, with different cultures to learn from them.