Welcome to the latest Howzat Building Waratahs in History. This Q & A is with Aidan Baker.
Aidan has a great history with the Waratah’s! More recently he has taken on the role of Head coach of our Poidevin Gray side, winning the premiership in 2024/25 season for the first time in 39 years.
We don’t want to spoil his great stories below so read on to hear some of his great memories as a player for the Tah’s!
Our Waratahs in History series is proudly sponsored by Howzat Building Services. Visit Andrew Watkins and the team at www.howzatbuildingservices.com.au for all your building needs.
How did your love of cricket come about as a child? Who were your cricket heroes growing up?
Unsure of where the love came from, but I was obsessed as a child. I always loved the game. Allan Border and Michael Bevan were my favorite players.
Tell us a bit about your junior journey on your way to playing at Manly?
Played at Peninsula CC, was the youngest player to ever get their 5 year badge there. Travelled the UK with Peninsula in U/14s and it was a great club for my grounding. I went to Shore, so probably couldn’t play as much Club cricket as others, but I always loved getting my 2-3 games in a season to ensure rep qualification. I was lucky enough to play 3 years of Green Shield, which was my way into the grade set up.
What are your memories of the club in the early 2000’s as you were coming through the grades? Both on and off the field?
Just a great place to be around. I got my cap presented by Bevo. Winga and Phelpsy did a lot for me as a young kid. Pipey and Benny King coached me in Green Shield, so I was super lucky. I felt on the cricket side of things if I listened (which I probably didn’t do as much as I should have), there were boys around and great clubmen to guide you.
Off the field when we were of age, Stuey and Johnny Griffiths, My brother (Jarrod), Jacko Bird, Mickey Lindsay, Beaver (Mitch Cleary), Scallop (Sam Fisher), Justin Cox, Davey Kennett, Lukey Edgell, Lukey Cameron, Gutty, AJ, Timmy Cruickshank, Jamie Sullivan, The Griffiths, we didn’t need any encouragement to be involved in the off field side of things. That is probably all I’ll say. It was just a great place to be around.
Who helped you the most throughout those initial years starting out in Grade cricket at Manly?
As I said, I had Pipey and Benny King coach me in Green Shield. But Phelpsy and Winga on the technical aspect. When it came to progressing to grade, Gainsy, Mickey Pawley, Patto. I walked into a 4th grade side with Bender, Couchy, Waddo, Daz Bradstreet, Jamie Termanis, we were lucky back then to have a lot of the older boys stick around to help us.
Who were some of the well-known cricketers who you came through the system with, and who was the best player coming through the Manly ranks during your juniors?
Jackson Bird and I were the same age. He went to Riverview so we played a lot of cricket against each other, as well as playing together. We played 3 seasons of Green shield together, and came through the NSW system together. I am just stoked to have him as a mate and our friendship has continued from when we were very young. He was just an awesome guy to play with, a great teammate. We didn’t get to play first grade together, unfortunately, but it was always great fun.
Beaver (Mitch Cleary) and Lukey Edgell were probably the other two I played most with from Juniors all the way through. Again, great teammates and we still remain good mates. All played First Grade together, which is very special.
When did you debut for the Waratahs. What do you remember about your grade debut?
I debuted for Waratahs in 2001, in School Holidays. I was in the Green Shield squad and they needed a player for 5s, I was 13 I think. Johnny Griffiths was my captain. I opened the batting with my brother. I got abused for hours on end about being a child and too small. I got 50 odd, Johnny Griffiths got 7 fa for memory and we flogged them.
What was your top score and best bowling figures? What do you remember about the runs and wickets?
Top score was 172 Vs North Sydney in 5s. I was coming back from a Shoulder reconstruction from Rugby, I hadn’t hit or seen a ball in 12 months I reckon. I also got 170* in a one-dayer, put on a big partnership with Justin Cox, the great sucker. I also got 170 against Campbeltown when we were 9/86, Andrew Hurley and I put on a heap and we ended up getting 300.
My best bowling was 8/71 vs Randy Petes in 2s. We had Andrew Lindsay and Ryan Bonner, so I think they’d try and smash me around the park, because they couldn’t score from the other end. Nonetheless I will take it. I stand bye, I should have got 10 that day. I can’t remember who, but someone tripped over their own feet and didn’t lay a mit on a dolly for my 9th, when they were 8 down. Oh Well!!
What do you consider the best innings from yourself?
I wouldn’t say it was my best innings. But the one most special, is with my brother. We put on 270 in 3s against Syd Uni – my brother got 150 and I got 136. Mo Matthews carried on like an absolute pork chop and he went for 0/110 off 10. My brother batted in a pink G string, (his mrs) as he forgot he was wearing boxer shorts.
What do you think your strength was as a cricketer?
I enjoyed others’ success as much as my own. Cricket is a tough game, a great leveller. Being around the boys was the most important thing for me and without the lads, you do question why we played so long.
Who was the best player at Manly that you played with?
Jacko Bird is a clear standout, from juniors right through.
Timmy Cruickshank was phenomenal and he was great to bat with and be captained by. Adam Crossthwaite, added a new dimension to our club, with his hard edge approach. Andrew Jeffery and Darren Wotherspoon come to mind opening, two totally different players. Stevie O’Keefe was unreal to play with and his record speaks for itself. Can’t forget Jay Lentons, 3 hundreds in the weekend, he was next level and still is. I was lucky enough to play one game with Jacky Edwards who I had coached in 11s-13s, I was super impressed with his knowledge of the game and how he was approaching his batting in that game. Unfortunately I never got to play with the Davies boys, I think I got dropped for Ollie so skipped him and Joel I was too old for, they were the best players I coached.
What is the best innings/bowling spell you saw at Manly from a fellow player?
Best innings would go to Jamie O’sullivan (199) at Blacktown. They had a couple of test bowlers that day. He pulled up next to me in the car park, wound down his window. They were having a team meeting within ear shot. He said “Flat you got $5 on you”, me “yeah mate, why?”. Sully “I am just going to go and put a deposit on that house over there”. Good job he backed it up.
Any spell Billy Lindsay bowled was unreal to watch or be a part of. Bulge Ryan Bulger bowled an unreal wrongun when Penrith were 9/320 chasing 321, which castled their number 11. Ian Wheeler took an all time hanger down leg side on the last ball of the day, when they needed 2 to win. I remember moments rather than spells I suppose.
Who was the funniest player you played with at Manly and why? Do you have any clean stories you could share with us?
Mickey Lindsay, Stuey Griffiths, Billy Darcy, Sammy Gainsford.
Ask Mickey about his cabin exploits and his subsequent manhunt, or when he pulled the Taser off himself when shot by the cops. Ask Stuey about his exploits at Cover. Ask Billy Darcy about wine and a couch. Ask Sammy Gainsford about someone’s knee in the corso. All good fun.
Who drove the standards at the club during your playing time?
I walked into a club, with Winga, Bevo, Phelpsy, Scud, Heathy, Spolly. The standards looked after themselves when you have these blokes to look up to. They trained hard, but were always there for the young fellas.
In the lower grades, Bender, Couchy, Daz Bradstreet, Waddo, Jamie Termanis, Warney, Parko, Fitzy, Loose, Cammo, Stuey and Johnny G were so good for all the young fellas coming through. Then when you progress, Benny King is underrated for what he did for twos. Gave you a clear role and you needed to meet it. Then Timmy, Nappa and Crossy come to mind for taking us to another level in First Grade.
Who was the person/people who really drove the on-field and off-field culture at Manly during your time?
Jackson Bird, my brother, Mickey Lindsay, Timmy Cruickshank, Benny King, My brother, Stuey Griffiths, Jamie Termanis, Gutty, AJ, Sully, the Cleary boys, Wheels. We were lucky back then to be so close and have so much fun together.
Who was the best Captain you played with and why?
Crossy by a long way. Just different levels with his thinking and a true competitor. Benny King in twos was unreal too. It is no surprise how well he has done in business.
Who was someone that you loved to captain or played with that you loved seeing succeed?
I never really captained much for whatever reasons. But I loved playing with all the boys I played with. Big Nelly Dave Poskitt was a great story from a backpacker who played First Grade. I also had Prowler living with us for 2 years, what a player he was. 2 premierships in 2 years for Memory. Not bad for 2 poms. Adopted Aussies I say.
Best Nick Name?
Justin Cox (sucker).
What does your life involve now, and do you keep abreast of how the Waratahs are faring?
Up until this year, I was Head of Cricket at St. Augustine’s, so I was still heavily involved in the juniors’ development. I am now Head of Sport at Abbotsleigh JS, so all girls are a bit different. But coaching PGs still, I have been doing that for 5 years now, and won the competition last year, which was unreal. It is great to give back, especially when so many gave to me, in my time at Manly.
