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 Nickname(s):
When I first came to the Reds I was called Rick. I have no idea why. No one had ever called me that before, and the Reds is the only environment in which I am known by that form of abbreviation. This has since been converted to 'Rickster'.
Years at Reds:
I have played with the Reds for about 30 years or so. Bat:
Right hand bat. For many years I opened, but I also have batted from about number 5 to about number 8. When the captain doesn't like me very much (which is quite often) I sometimes bat at number 11. My approach to batting is, to say the least, fairly cautious. My favourite activity is to bat through with the tail and ponder on the incompetence of it all. Bowl:
Right arm bowler. My approach to bowling is essentially to try as hard as possible to get the bloody thing up the other end of the pitch. My deliveries are so slow that if I don't like the look of it out of the hand I can chase it, interrupt it in flight, and bring it back for another go. Preferred fielding spot:
Mid-off. Far away from the bat, but not around any corners so I can get a clear view of it. Your most memorable cricketing feat:
My most memorable cricketing feat involved a great catch. I was standing under a huge skier on the mid-wicket boundary in Royal Park, the biggest hit I have ever seen. The ball came down, went through my hands, hit me on the side of the head and was brilliantly caught by the diving cover fieldsman who had run round beside me. The celebrations were loud. I had to be taken off and laid to one side. The match continued... Most admired Reds cricketer:
Surely Alec Kahn. This man has endured outrageous criticism and insult for more than 30 years, and only about half of it is deserved. Most admired non-Reds Mercantile cricketer:
The person I have liked playing against most has always been Pat Wickham. He doesn't seem to feel the need to treat every person in the opposition team as an enemy (unlike some others, both near and far). Most admired international cricketer:
Anyone who can get up the nose of the Australian test team...surely, since the 1970s, the most unsporting team in the world. Funniest Reds moment:
Peter Tilley was once padding up at practice. He was sliding into his protector, just discarded by a previous practicing Red. Previous practicing Red casually mentioned to Tilley that he should be careful as previously practicing Red had been infected with a dose of pubic lice during the week... Best sledge heard/given/experienced:
Best sledge clearly is one of Wim Vanden Hil's frequent loud utterances 'Come on Reds, as my wife always says, while there is a bit of moisture there we might as well use it'. Not so much for its novelty, but because Wim's wife was usually at the match. Political views:
I used to think that Alec Kahn was a socialist until he told me that circumcision of males was not the same in principle as the circumcision of females. Six people you would invite to dinner:
This is a problem for me as I don't really admire celebrities. Probably my wife, Scotty for conversation, Brad and Trots for fun, Gideon Haigh who is an absolutely brilliant cricket and business jounalist, and (my one concession to the famous) Elaine from Seinfeld. Now, work all that out! Six people you'd never invite to dinner:
This one's easy. In no particular order: God, Jesus, Mohammed, The Pope, Bhudda,and the Dalai Lhama. Favourite Youtube video:
No idea what a Youtube video is and I don't intend to learn. Career statistics (to end of 2007/8) Game | Inns | NO | Runs | Avge | HS | 100s | 50s | Wkts | Avge | BB | 5wi | 174 | 194 | 48 | 2288 | 15.67 | 78* | 0 | 5 | 115 | 16.68 | 6/35 | 3 |
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