Vale Bob Vidler

Paul Ryan | April 15, 2023

In May 2021, I received a phone call from former Australian and NSW wicket keeper Steve Rixon wondering if it’d be ok if our cricket platform could do a story with Bob Vidler.

I immediately recognised Bob’s name as a former NSW player and that he played grade cricket for Bankstown. I also remembered watching him play indoor cricket on TV when it was televised in the early 80s back home in Armidale.

Steve told me Bob had developed motor neurone and was hoping we could do a story about his cricket.

“Absolutely, we can”, was my answer and we discussed how to go about it and we agreed it would be best for me to visit Bob in his home in Cronulla.

Date and time were set and I remember being quite nervous driving down to Cronulla as I’d never meet Bob and wasn’t quite sure what to expect in terms of the insidious disease that is Motor Neurone.

I was greeted at the door by Bob’s son Aaron and soon met Bob in the lounge room sitting in a recliner with a blanket over his legs. We didn’t shake hands as I wasn’t sure what to do but he welcomed me and I sat on the two-seater to his right.

Bob wasn’t totally sure about the purpose of the catch up and when I told him I wanted to talk to him about his cricket he said “it won't take too long”

I spent 2 very fortunate hours asking questions and listening to Bob talk about his cricket, his experiences, his team mates, the players he enjoyed playing with and against and those who annoyed him. The more he talked the more he remembered and smiled.

It was a Thursday. The reason I remember what day it was is Thursday was the day Bob ventured out to catch up with his cricketing mates at Cronulla Golf Club.

Bob’s brother Peter, Steve Rixon, Kerry Richards, Gary Crowfoot, David Thompson, Steve Small, Dean Magee and others caught up with Bob almost weekly to share a couple of beers and stories.

The cricket community is a special community.

Bob Vidler passed away yesterday, 14 April 2023 at the age of 66.

It was a privilege and honour to meet and spend time with Bob. My sincere condolences to Bob’s children Kristen and Aaron, his family, and his mates.

Thank you, Bob, Rest in Peace.

Here’s Bob Vidler’s cricketing journey.

Bob Vidler 'Bo'

 

For a number of months Bob Vidler was experiencing an involuntary twitch in his thumb. He knew something wasn’t quite right and went to seek help to find out what was up.

At first he was told it was nothing to be worried about. On a subsequent appointment with the doctor Bob put a spoon between his thumb and index finger and poured water into the spoon. His thumb soon twitched, the spoon jumped and water fell on the floor. The doctor took notice.

In April 2017 Bob was diagnosed to have Motor Neurone Disease and was told 3 years. On receiving the news he walked to his car, sat by himself and thought pragmatically “well that’s not good. “

When asked in the interview if it was okay to mention he has MND Bob again pragmatically offered, “sure it is what it is, any publicity about this insidious disease is good publicity.”

He also said proudly, “4 years, 2 months, one day at a time.”

Bob isn’t well, the disease is openly doing its thing but he’s alert, talkative and smiling as recalls some great memories of his time playing cricket with and against great mates.

Thursday is Bob’s day. It’s the day he ventures out and heads to the golf club for a beer or two with a number of cricket mates from the 1970’s and 80s. It’s every Thursday and there’s always a crew, you can only imagine the banter, storytelling and laughter. Good on em all.

 

Mark Waugh message to Bob Vidler

 

Bob Vidler is Bankstown Cricket Club first grade player 118 after making his debut in 1974/75 at the age of 17. In 196 first innings he scored 4,204 runs at an average of 24.90.

In all grades for Bankstown he scored 5,050 runs and took 112 wickets, 67 of them in first grade. He is also a former first grade captain of Bansktown.

He made his first class debut for NSW in 1977/78 at just 20 years of age and played 4 games for the Baggy Blues. He is the proud owner of NSW cap number 586.

Bob was a top order batsman, bowled leg spin and was a first class fielder. Former President of Bankstown Brian Freedman who has seen a lot of cricket over many years including the emergence of Steve and Mark Waugh at the club rates Bob Vidler as one of the best fieldsman he’s ever seen in the world

So let’s find out a little more about the man affectionately known as Bo

What year you were born?

1957

How did you get the nickname Bo?

I was playing in a NSW Colts game and my team mate Jon Jobson who played for St George called me Bo after the American Singer Bo Diddley. Must have been something about the Viddy and Diddley. Anyhow it stuck and I’ve been pretty happy with it.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I played all my junior cricket with Bankstown RSL until I joined Bankstown in Grade when I was 15

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?

15. My first game was in 5th grade and it was the long weekend in October where we used to play on the Saturday and Monday. I played 5th grade on Saturday and scored 80 but I wasn’t picked to play on the Monday. Someone pulled out on the Sunday and they put me straight into 4th Grade

At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?

I was 17 and made my debut against Manly at Manly Oval. Mike Pawley was the Manly captain and I opened with Dion Bourne and scored 11 from memory

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

I was a top order batsman who liked to get on with it. Looking back I probably played too many shots. I also bowled leg spin.

 

Steve Small

I first came across Bob Vidler in 1970 when as a 13 year old he made the Bankstown-Canterbury Green Shield Team.

An extremely talented as batsman, leg spin Bowler and a brilliant fielder in any position, bigger things awaited Bo

He rose through the grades in breeze and into 1st Grade he made runs at a time when wickets were not covered and Test and Shield Players were regulars in grade cricket. A strong cover drive and pull and hook shot gave Bob a solid foundation to succeed.

Seeing Bob make the state team 1977-78 was an inspiration for all his team mates. Knuckle down and do the hard yards and you never know what can happen.

Bob was every bit the team man enjoying his mate’s success as well as celebrating wins, draws and losses he never left us standing at the bar along.

The standout for me with Bob was his positive influence on teams he was in. I shared the dressing room with a lot of players over my career and Bob Vidler is up there with some of the best!

Bob Vidler (far right) at the SCG training with Jim Love and Chris Cowdrey

Ian Davis

I remember playing cricket with Bob very well. 

He was captain of Bankstown 1st grade at the time and I had only just gone back there to pay after World Series Cricket. 

I found him to be a good leader, positive in his decision making and not scared to say what he thought about any situation. 

As a batsman he was a solid player with good defence and worked for his runs. 

An enjoyable cricketer to play with and a good person

 

You played 4 first class games for NSW, what did it mean to you to play for the Baggy Blues and how do you look back on your first class career?

Interesting question. I was so young when I made my debut, I scored 11 and 3 batting first drop. Obviously I was very excited.

I did play and I thought I did ok averaging 30. We played Western Australia and I got hit on the arm and Ric Charlesworth who played for WA and was also a Doctor stopped play and he said it was just bruised.

I continued batting but my arm was broken. In fact two other players David Johnston and Steve Rixon broke their arms in the same innings.

They put plaster on my arm but forgot the bit that goes underneath and it was so uncomfortable I ripped the plaster off that night.

Not long after my brother was mucking around with the dog and something happened and I broke the arm again. This time I had plaster cast from just under my armpit to the wrist and I was out of cricket for 12 months.

In the meantime players like Dirk Wellham, Steve Small and others had leap frogged me and I never played for NSW again.

I would’ve liked to have another 4 or 5 games to build my confidence but it wasn’t to be.

 

 

 

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

120 odd not out against Sydney University at Sydney Uni

 

Steve Rixon

My first dealing with Bob “Bo" Vidler in regards to the man’s character was in a Sheffield Shield match in Perth, NSW v WA.

Having lost the toss we found ourselves in trouble with 3 of us lined up at the end of the day with plaster casts on our arms, fingers and wrists.

With Bob Vidler, David Johnston and Steve Rixon injured it looked like the game would end quickly but through some rear guard action from Allan Border and Dyson and others we stayed in the contest.

On the 4th day we needed to hang on so the three “plasterers” were comparing who could actually hold the bat.

Bo was first in line and determined if required he’d be the first to give it a go. Bo showed courage, adaptability, leadership and loyalty to the Baggy Blues, and won his team’s admiration.

Each Thursday we catch up for a quick beer and relive these days.

 

 

Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

Terry Alderman – he did things with the ball I’d never seen before as a 20 year old

Andy Roberts – when he played for grade cricket Sutherland for a year. I’d never seen that kind of pace and bowled a real heavy ball

Richard Done – always gave me trouble but a great bloke

Terry Alderman

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

Murray Bennett – Murray and I had played against each other since we were 15, I could never seem to score off him

Steve Whitfield – so tall and bowling left arm around the wicket he was hard to play

Ken Hall – tremendous competitor

Do you think there’s a theme here with 3 left arm spinners!!

 

Murray Bennett

Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

Steve Smith – watched him score a couple of double hundreds, so correct and so much time.

Ian Davis – so much time

Geoff Boycott – he got 100 not out against Len Pascoe on a wet wicket. It was a buzz watching him bat

Steve Smith

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Boycott’s innings of 100 not out playing for Waverley against a Bankstown at Bankstown. We had a good attack led by Len Pascoe was a great innings. On a wet wicket, no covers we bowled them out for around 170 and he was not out 100 odd.

 

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Steve Rixon. Chatty but great hands, so fast, if you missed the ball, you only had to move your foot slightly and he’d get you.

Stumpa was a great athlete as well and he trained harder than anyone. I was fit, he and I along with Gordie McLeod who ended up playing Basketball for Australia, used to run around Centennial Park as part of State squad practice. I could never beat them, always third.

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

Ken Hall – most competitive player I’d ever met and one of the best players

Trevor McDonald – A real competitor. An unsung hero and a really good bloke to have in your team

 

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

I’m going to go back a bit here and say a guy called Ken Hall. He was our 4th grade captain in 1972/73 and he made a huge impression on me as a 15 year old. He was always looking to build your confidence.

It might have been my age but he taught us to play hard but fair.

He was a policeman in the local district and from what I’d heard was a big tough fast bowler earlier in his career and then came back to help out the lower grades.

We made the grand final that season but didn’t win and even more sadly Ken passed away with cancer just months after the final

 

David Thompson

Bob was my first 1st Grade Skipper, great leader who led from the front, excellent fielder, great batsmen and underutilised leg spin bowler.

He moulded a young team of locals and built them into a grand final team, we were fortunate to all call him our captain and our friend.

Not many grade skippers, in fact only Bob Vidler can claim to have given the legendary Waugh twins the wonderful start to their careers in the top grade.

 

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

Yeah I have two.

We played Randwick at Coogee and Ron Crippin was a really good bat and he played the hook shot better than most. Ron also had a stutter and this day Pascoe bowled bouncer after bouncer and on one occasion Ronnie hooked him for 4 and then gave Lenny some lip.

Lenny walked down towards Ronnie and Ronnie lifted up his bat and said “if you come anywhere near me I’ll wrap this bat around your arse.” (Expletives and stuttering included) – The slip cordon was in hysterics.

The 2nd one. We played Petersham and Marrickville Oval and they were loaded with their big guns, Hughes, Chardon, Hartshorne and their captain Brian Riley.

Riley fielded in the covers, he was a Baseball player. Anyhow I was 17 and walked out to bat and had the feeling I was being feed to the lions. I took guard and Riley walked in from cover to about a foot from my face and said, “What’s this, fucking Green Shield?”

I just shrugged my shoulders

 

Who was your childhood hero?

Doug Walters – playing test matches in the backyard I was always Doug.

I also had the great fortune of playing against and with Doug. Years ago they used to have a Sunday competition where players from clubs North, south east and West would play each other.

I was in the West team made up of payers from Bankstown, Penrith, Parramatta and Northern District. Doug was the captain of the West team

We batted together in a couple of games and I remember one in particular where we batted together for 2 or so hours.

 

What was your favourite ground to play at?

Waitara – I always enjoyed batting at Waitara

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Obviously playing for NSW is a highlight but also scoring a couple of hundreds playing for NSW Colts were great memories.

We played a 2 games series against Victoria. The team for the first game was picked and it was clear whoever was 12th man in the first game would play the 2nd game. Unfortunately everyone scored runs in the first game except me so I was missing the 2nd game

We had a guy out from England Phil Slocombe playing and overnight he was bitten by a spider and pulled out.

I was back in and then in the warm up our opener Andrew Hilditch split his webbing.

Word went around the dressing room about who was going to open, I immediately put my hand up “I’ll do it.” – 126 runs later

 

What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?

I can’t remember the season but we finished 4th and had to play Balmain who were minor premiers. Waverley had finished 2nd with Tony Greig as captain and Wests finished 3rd with Bob Simpson as captain.

In a low scoring game, I think Bankstown got about 160 and we bowled Balmain out for around 110 – it was a great win.

Was there a team you always looked forward to playing against?

Northern District. I really enjoyed batting at Waitara and seemed to always score runs against them. It was good because they had a good attack with Steve Bernard, Mark Clews, Kerry Mackay and Steve Whitfield, pretty much a State attack.

Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?

Graeme Pitty, Dion Bourne and Bobby Lamara

You owned an Indoor Cricket Centre for many years and captained the Australian Indoor Cricket team, can you share with a little from that experience?

Indoor cricket was very good to me professionally and as a player.

I bought the Bankstown Indoor Centre in 1984 and had it for 30 years. I’d left school when I was 15 and was 27 when I started my own business.

It is the reason why I retired from cricket at the age of 29. I’d be running it for a couple of year and my form in grade cricket wasn’t great.

One day I was not out at lunch at Bankstown Oval and raced off the field, got in the car and drove to the indoor centre about 3 minutes away to vacuum the courts for the games that night.

After the days play I sat back and had a look in the mirror and thought “what’s my priority?”

I didn’t want to fail in this business.

What about as a player?

I was very lucky. I was NSW Indoor and Australia Indoor captain for about 4 or 5 years. The NSW team played England and the Australian team toured New Zealand.

They used to fly Steve Smith and I around in little 4 seater planes to do coaching clinics.

The Australian Indoor team played a game of Indoor cricket against the outdoor team which included – Gary Gilmour, Max Walker, Kerry O’Keeffe, Mick Malone and I think Walters played. We beat them easily.

From memory you had a few interesting members of staff?

Yes let’s just say I’m glad Steve and Mark Waugh were great cricketers… at a young age they were not great indoor umpires.

Also today’s Steve Smith. He used to train at the centre with his Illawong team when he was about 14. His father asked him if we could give him a job. He was always very polite and very quiet.

Who had the best nicknames?

As I said, I was pretty happy with Bo. There’s also my great mate Graeme Pitty, his nickname is “Wadda”

Also we used to travel up to Maitland to play in a 10 over competition. A number of Sydney clubs used to.

This particular day my brother Peter was playing. Late in the day when the local had a belly full of beer Peter took a catch in the outfield and one of the locals yelled out “what’s your name?”

Peter replied, “Full name” – the guy in the crowd yelled back “that’ll do” and he’s been known as fullname ever since

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Work hard and try to be a good person

To Bob and family, our best wishes are with you.