Who was your first cricket "hero"?
Hmmmmmm. Probably Ryan Harris - I have a thing for the plucky underdog (diBenedetto, Phoenix Suns, QPR if they ever went up again) and he was such a good player when he played. That ball to Cook- just the perfect delivery.
How are things going with SRDCC?
I haven't played in a while. I'd be very open to going back socially, but I decided to stop during Year 8 to concentrate on my studies- and two matches later copped a ball right on the ankle, which wasn't a normal colour for a month after that (was very lucky to avoid breaking it, I think). At this point, because I only have sight in one eye, I can't come back competitively.
What is your favourite playing memory?
Actually playing would be the one time I didn't look like a sub fielder- I took 3/8 off two overs (this was when you could only bowl two overs so that everyone got a bowl). I think there was a correlation between the low amount of wides and the wickets! Special mention to scoring like 2*(25) on a very bad (i.e. actual lawn) wicket in Year 5 school cricket
However, my favourite memory of a cricket match I was involved in would be as a 'coach' (read: helping with the kitbags) in Year 10 school cricket. Our team was nuts- we had like 7 or 8 Year 12s who were just brilliant players. We made the final for our local area where we played a private school- the only team who, in the regular round, we didn't have a blowout win over. Anyway, we put up a decent score, and then we made it look like the aforementioned grass wicket by rolling them for 50.
Where is your favourite city?
I've never been to one not called Brisbane, so I guess there, but if we extend to towns I'd say Agnes Water (on the QLD mid-north coast) as I have fond memories of holidays there as a kid.
Are you for or against West Indian nations playing separately in international cricket? What if it was only in T20 cricket?
Don't really have an opinion on this one. It may weaken them but it also may cause an increase in youth focus.
Who would you pick in your cricketing Harlem Globetrotters?
At least one 160kmh bowler (Mitch Starc?)
At least one death bowler with a million slow balls (AJ Tye/Benny Howell?)
At least one world-class wristspinner (Rashid Khan?)
A couple of big hitting allrounders (Andre Russell etc)
A few unorthodox top order batsmen, including a wicketkeeper (Dilshan, Gayle, Buttler etc)
And Freddie Flintoff, because he's the kind of guy who will do Elvis impersonations fielding at mid on
If you could poach one capped, one uncapped player from other countries for the Australian XI, who would you take?
Assuming Test XI:
Capped would be BJ Watling if he still counts and Kane Williamson if not. Poaching one of the Kiwis' best players, and a clear upgrade on our side.
Uncapped: Does Simon Harmer count?
Are there any players who've played for Australia who you don't think would have made any other Test team?
Not any players who wouldn't have made it when they first played, but Tim Paine wouldn't make any other Top 8 team anymore, and given we have Matt Wade, Alex Carey and Josh Inglis, I don't think he should.
Who would win in a fight, twelve Blackwood sized Rahkeems or one Rahkeem sized Blackwood?
If we're referring to height by size, the Rakheems. If we're referring to the entire body by size, the Blackwood.
What is your ideal World Cup format?
The 14 team one that we appear to be returning to wasn't bad (that said, I don't have memories of another one apart from 2019)
Are you for or against The Hundred format?
Indifferent. I'd lean against if it begins to be just as detrimental to the CC as T20 has been, though.
If you could create a new format of cricket, what would you change?
I've always been fascinated by the concept of an 100-over-a-side game. Basically, bat for a day, then bowl for a day. The strategy would be intriguing.
Do you have an opinion on Darren Stevens?
Hero