Welcome to this fortnights Howzat Building Waratahs in History. This Q & A is with Greg “Bushy” Bush.
Greg played 24 seasons overall in the Sydney Grade cricket competition. He started his career in 1972 with Moman. He also played for North Sydney & Manly Warringah (1985-1993). He finished his career in 1996 with the then none Petersham club.
For the “Tahs” he played 115 matches scoring 8 centuries with his highest score being 128* twice!
He still holds the highest opening partnership in 1st grade with Life Member Richard ” Dicky” Fry of 271. (R Fry-159 & G Bush-125).
“Bushy” was recently asked by CricConnect to pick his top 11 players from his 24 seasons of Grade cricket. He nominated 5 former Manly players (4 test players and 1 x first class player) and 1 former Manly club coach.
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?
From the age of 5 I used to watch my father play in the Churches competition in the Western Suburbs area and then in the Manly Warringah A Grade “park cricket”. I listened to the cricket on the radio and the last sessions of Shield and Test cricket on TV and followed all the statistics including the grade cricket scores.
I also played cricket with the older boys in the street.
My father played with Bobby Simpson’s brother Bill (whose son Greg played for Manly) so I followed Bobby’s career as well as Alan Davidson who also played for Wests and Richie Benaud. The first ever grade game I watched was at Manly Oval when I was 10 and I saw Davidson hit Peter Philpott onto the bowling green 3 times.
Tell us a bit about your junior journey on your way to playing at Manly?
I played in the under 11 competition from the age of 8, then Manly junior rep teams -Manly were joint premiers in Cawsey Shield in 1966-67 and Watson Shield in 1970-71 (Sam Mesite was in both teams).
Because I lived in Seaforth I had to play for Mosman Middle Harbour in Green Shield (there were strict residential limits then) so I continued playing grade cricket there.
I began playing 1st grade for Manly in the 1985/86 season.
What are your memories of the club during the period you played both on and off the field?
Manly had great success in the late 1980’s winning 3rd grade in 1987/88 and the Club Championship in 1988/89 with all 5 grades making the semi-finals and 1st grade premiers. Alan Campbell was the coach and was a great influence in bringing professional standards to the Club with attendance at training of high importance.
Near the end of the 1988/89 season 52 of the selected players in the 5 grades attended training and the other 3 contacted Alan with valid reasons they could not attend (that was unique in my grade cricket career spanning 24 years).
Contributing to the success on the field was the camaraderie of the players of all grades off the field. Trivia nights and talent quests were held at the Room at the Top and players convened Thursday to Saturday nights at the Manly Pacific Round Bar then later on Saturday nights at Groucho’s in the Manly Union Club or occasionally Dalleys nightclub.
Even in those days Frase was the “Emcee” for the events- he does love a microphone!
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?
Sam Mesite and Greg Hill who were an age group below me were the most prominent players who progressed to Manly grade ranks.
You scored 8 centuries for Manly in 1st grade. What are some of your memories of those innings?
My favourite century with Manly was 125 against North Sydney sharing a 271opening partnership with Richard Fry.
My equal top score was 128 not out at Bankstown Oval in 40 degree heat- I batted all day and into the 2nd day.
After declaring we bowled a strong Bankstown batting team out which ultimately meant we finished higher than them on the table and meant we became premiers when the final was washed out. This was my favourite win at Manly.
Coincidentally I also scored 128 not out against Parramatta at Manly Oval.
What do you consider the best innings from yourself?
I scored 105 at Mosman Oval in a run chase which was probably my most fluent innings for Manly.
What do you think your strength was as a cricketer?
Definitely my concentration, game management and valuing my wicket. Keeping up my fitness contributed to being able to concentrate and bat for long periods.
I prided myself on taking up the challenge in difficult conditions and relying on my defensive technique to succeed.
Who was the best player at Manly that you played with?
Michael Bevan was the stand out player.
Phil Marks, Graeme Beard, Kerry Mackay, and Steve Whitfield were elite 1st grade cricketers who all played 1st class cricket.
What is the best innings/bowling spell you saw at Manly from a fellow player?
Michael Bevan scored 99 at Waitara Oval on a rain affected wicket in 1993 which propelled Manly into the semi finals. Wherever they put the field on the boundary Bevo clinically found the gaps.
Who were the greatest characters you played with at Manly and why? Do you have any clean stories you could share with us?
Brod Lovett was an opening bowler who ran by the beat of his own drum.
Batting against the spinners at Waitara with fieldsman around the bat he shouted out “Watch the birdie” as he shaped to defend (the birdie being the Kookaburra on the 2nd new ball).
Bowling to the tail at Manly Oval he wanted to bowl around the wicket. Captain Phil Marks overruled Brod who insisted the mid off move the sightscreen. Skid ordered the fieldsman to stay put.
So Brod moved the sightscreen himself and bowled. He moved the sightscreen the next 2 balls as well as he bowled over then around the wicket.
On the last ball he found a half smoked cigar in the gutter on the boundary and bowled the last ball with the cigar in his mouth.
Unsurprisingly he played 2nd grade the next week.
Glen Evans is renowned as a character of the Manly. As a spin bowler and lower order bat he worked on the theory that he would not be required in the first session on each day so there was no filter on his Friday nights. Despite this his reflexes in the gully were amazing.
Finally Nick Johnson was probably the funniest- he loved his Eddie Murphy impersonations. Richard Fry giggled at anything Johnno said.
Who drove the standards at the club during your playing time?
Definitely Alan Campbell (see above). He improved the Club’s fielding throughout the grades and guided the lower grade captains to achieve success.
Kerry Mackay although quietly spoken influenced the standards of the first grade team with his professionalism, controlled swing bowling, slips fielding and important innings at number 8 all in his late thirties.
If we played poorly Kerry’s quiet disdain would resonate in the dressing room which sent an effective message to improve.
Who was someone that you loved to captain/or played with that you loved seeing succeed?
I was fortunate to captain an attack with Kerry Mackay, Gavin Fletcher and Steve Whitfield who knew their craft so you could rely on them to control the opposition batsmen.
I enjoyed watching the development of Richard Fry and Warren Evans who both had long careers at Manly and made NSW 2nd XI teams.
Best Nickname?
Skid Marks is the obvious.
The evolution of Glen Evans being nicknamed Trunk by Frase is very clever but too cruel to repeat.
Again John Borzi’s nickname cannot be published these days.
What does your life involve now, and do you keep abreast of how the Waratahs are faring?
Still do some legal work, play golf and travel. I follow all the grade scores and watch the Sunday games and finals at Manly Oval.
I have been present at the last three 1st grade winning finals in 1973/74, 1988/89 and 2014/15 so I am keen to see the current team win another premiership (after 2 recent finals appearances).
