Introduction by Brad Murphy
Greg White is one of a kind. A former First Grade Premiership winning opening batsman for Easts in a very good era, he faced the high quality Queensland bowlers of those years including the great Jeff Thomson and collected a century along the way (not in that game!).
A proud Easts man, BUT when the club moved and became Easts/Redlands and went out to its new facilities at Redlands Whitey began a long association with the Wolston Park Cricket Club in the Sub- Districts competition where he is now (we think) the only curator in world cricket who owns a Mustang!
I played against Whitey and also played alongside him when he joined us in the midweek Wanderers Cricket Club. Make no mistake he was a good cricketer but the thing that always shone out was his passion for the game. Totally unselfish and now he’s very often found on his roller at the beautiful Wolston Park ground. He just loves it.
Whiteys favourite saying is “cricket is the winner ". Everyone who knows him knows he will utter those words at some stage every day, usually more than once.
He is indeed one of a kind. He collects cricket ties, he has a cricket book and magazine collection and he drives that magnificent Mustang.
The game is richer for guys like him so I thought we should catch up with him for his collected thoughts so here we go
Welcome Greg
What year you were born?
Cricket has been part of my life for 50 years… so I’m an experienced cricket person.
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
Whites Hill State School Junior Cricket team. I was about 10 years old. Played on concrete wicket with a red cork ball… can’t remember any scores. One side of our Oval was downhill with grass, the other side was uphill and dirt/stones. Bigger kids always dominated!
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Whites Hill State School (Junior/Senior team), Brisbane Grammar School 1st XI (2 years), Eastern Suburbs District Cricket Club 1972-1995 (1st Grade 1979-1986), Tickles Warehouse Cricket Club 1978-1986, Wanderers Q Cricket Club 1995-2011 and Wolston Park Centenary Cricket Club 1987-to date.
I played about 80 1st Grade games of cricket in Brisbane from 1979-1986 with Eastern Suburbs District Cricket Club. I also played cricket in the following competitions… GPS, Warehouse, Churches, Wanderers Q and Sub-Districts cricket.
I’m currently the WPC Curator of Eddie Gilbert Ground turf wicket at Wolston Park.
What other sports do you play?
Never had much time for other sports, however enjoy Surfing and Tennis.
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
‘Field of Dreams’ and ‘Bull Durham’… both films about baseball with Kevin Costner.
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?
I have an extensive library of cricket books, magazines, cricket ties and cricket memorabilia.
What’s your highest score in senior cricket?
Highest Score for Easts 1st Grade was 112 against Sandgate - Redcliffe and 157in 2nd Grade also against Sandgate - Redcliffe. Both scored at Bottomley Park.
What has been your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Best Bowling for Easts 1st Grade 2- 19… also took 6-9 in 4th Grade. Both at Bottomley Park.
Can you tell us which players in the club we should be looking out for in terms of higher representative honours?
Sohaan Sharma, 12 years old batsman, who goes to Ipswich Grammar and plays with our WPC juniors.
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
As a young opening bat I faced them all… first up.
1. Jeff Thomson,
2. John Maguire and Carl Rackerman (always played together)
3. Any one of these lefties… Dymock, Tazelaar, Frei and Schuller.
I faced 5 or 6 overs from ‘Thommo’ at Toombul in 1980. Made 33 runs. He was frighteningly quick and every ball was around my head. I was not wearing a helmet, just my Easts cap.
Only 1 fieldsman was in front of the wicket… all in the slips, gully area. Snicked him along the ground through the gully for 4 runs in the opening over and he gave me an absolute gobful.
Never forget the afternoon… can still see him running into me ready to let go something short! It’s a wonder I didn’t get hurt?
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
Probably 1. Bob Joyce (Sandgate/Redcliffe), 2. Malcolm Franke (Valleys) and 3. Brian Rubb (University)
Greg and his Mustang
Who has been the best 2 batsman you’ve played against?
Played against Greg Chappell and Alan Border a couple of times. Stood at bat-pad to both of these Test greats… what a great experience!
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Kepler Wessels (Valleys) batted most of the day and made 161… typical Wessels Innings… occupied the crease and played every ball on its merits, in hot conditions at Ashgrove.
Who has been the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Peter Anderson closely followed by Ian Healy… really great blokes… played a 1st Grade season with both at Easts.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Evan ‘Banger’ Bancroft closely followed by David ‘Spacey’ Trower
Who was your childhood hero?
Had 3… Barry Richards, Colin Cowdrey and Ian Chappell
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Two are dead now… Sir Donald Bradman, Colin Cowdrey and Ian Chappell. Would be interesting conversations, heated discussions between Bradman and Chappell with Cowdrey as moderator.
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
John Arlott
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Excluding Test players… John Bell was the most competitive person I’ve played against and Don Regeling the most skilful… Don played Cricket and Rugby for Queensland and could do anything… also a champion sprinter!
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
The ‘whole cricket thing’… playing, watching, reading about the history of the game and preparing a cricket turf wicket.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
My 1st Grade hundred (112) at Bottomley Park… in an opening partnership of 181, with Mark Gaskell (84). We passed Sandgate - Redcliffe’s total of 178.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Any Premiership in Grade Cricket, Warehouse or Sub Districts Associations.
What are your hobbies?
Organising overseas travel (COVID19 ruled out trips to USA and Germany this year)
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Sam Trimble told me “you’re good enough to play 1st Grade” and Rex Rogers would tell me when batting in the nets…”back and across”… “back and across”.
What are your cricketing ambitions?
Just stay involved in the game and preparing good batting turf wickets.
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