Grant Roden - would happily bowl all day from one end
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney | February 19, 2023
Grant Roden is Western Suburbs first grade player number 612 after making his debut on 24 September 2005 against Balmain (now Sydney Cricket Club).
Grant made his first grade debut back in 1998 for Bankstown at the age of 18 and also played for Sutherland before arriving at the Magpies.
A big strong fast bowler Grant Roden took 236 first grade wickets at an average of 22.68 and took 5 wickets or more in an innings on 10 occasions.
Grant made his first class debut for NSW in a one day game against Tasmania in 2005/06 and it was unfortunately is only game.
Let’s find out more about Grant’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
29/02/1980 (leap year baby)
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Not very well but was 10 years old playing in the under 12’s for Bankstown Sports and probably tried to slog a few and didn’t bowl
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Started out playing in the Bankstown juniors, Green Shield and then grade. Actually, gave it away when I was 20 for work reasons but after 6 months I wanted back in so moved to Sutherland and played the end of that season in 3’s and started the next year in 1’s and didn’t look back. I ended my playing days with Western Suburbs.
I got a brief crack in the NSW squad but never really embraced or understood what it took to play professionally before giving it away and moving into finance at the age of 27.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
5th grade at Bankstown aged 15
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
18 at Bankstown in a pretty star-studded team so was very fortunate, played against Petersham and took 2 for something.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Opening bowler with decent pace and shape, could hit a long ball but just wasn’t consistent enough to bat higher up the order
What were your strengths as a player?
Ultra-competitive who hated to lose and would leave it all on the field, could and would happily bowl all day from one end.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
116 v St George @ Jenson Oval in 3rd grade
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
7 for 54 v Mosman at Rawson Oval in 1st grade
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Cameron Eve – bowled a heavy ball and good shape
Scott Thompson – probably scared me as a young kid bowling off the ridge in the dark at Bankstown Oval at training but someone who I looked up to and rated highly. Always lifted when playing against him after I moved clubs
Grant Lambert – absolute freak and could do anything on the cricket field
Cameron Eve
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Liam Zammit – great bowler and competitive as hell
David Freedman – trying to pick him was a nightmare
Greg Matthews – bomb him for six, next ball was flighted even more and he just knew he would get you eventually and most often did
Liam Zammit bowling for NSW
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Greg Mail – great player, would never give his wicket away and if you could get him out (very rarely) it went a long way to winning
Phil Jaques – professional, valued his wicket and could turn it on at the drop of a hat
Simon Katich – great player, even better person and loved the challenge of bowling to him
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Michael Clarke peeling off 100 on a green top Old Kings, was just a step above
Michael Clarke batting for Western Suburbs
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Mitch Clayton – felt like he would get me out for fun
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
My one and only game for NSW v Tas at Bellerive Oval. I was extremely nervous the morning of the game and just didn’t believe I should be there, ended up getting smashed all over the ground.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Dan Smith – had unbelievable hands
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Scott Thompson and Ben Rhorer
Ben Rohrer
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Toss up between Shane Duff and Colin Barry, both great leaders and great tacticians
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Colin Barry – dry sense of humour and still a great mate today
Grant Roden with his Western Suburbs team mates
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Run out for a diamond duck against North Sydney at North Sydney Oval to complete a pair for the game, didn’t help that it was my old man giving me out at square leg
Who was your childhood hero?
Tiger Woods
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Tiger Woods, Eliud Kipchoge & Roger Federer
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Ricky Ponting
What was your favourite ground to play at?
North Sydney Oval (just because I supported the Bears in the league)
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Bankstown because it was my old club so felt I had a point to prove and Fairfield as their top order was elite and loved the challenge
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning the 2003 first grade limited overs comp with Sutherland
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
2003 One Day Grand Final as above, hit the winning runs and really contributed for the team.
Sutherland One Day Premiers
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Colin Barry, Keegan Luiters and Peter Burkhart
What are your hobbies?
Golf, AFL and keeping fit
What is your occupation?
Business Development Manager in third party banking for Bankwest
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Yes, I still run the preseason fitness for Western Suburbs every year
If you were running Cricket NSW what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Pretty simple and has been said before but state players playing for their club teams, still remember watching a club game at Bankstown when I was 16 with all 4 Waugh brothers, Kevin Roberts, Corey Richards, Wayne Holdsworth, Scott Thompson etc and made me want to play first grade so bad.
I would change 3rd-5th to a 20/20 comp and 14 rounds between November and Feb with all 3 grades playing the one day @ the one ground. This would reduce the requirement for so many facilities and likely keep older players in the game longer as 3 hours is not such a big commitment with family and work taking up so much time these days. Still allows those who want to progress to longer form cricket to play 1st and 2nd grade.
