Michael Nalesnyik - train hard, fight easy
Paul Ryan | August 11, 2023
Michael Nalesnyik is a Mortgage Broker and the Director of Loan Market at Bendigo and Macedon Ranges in Victoria.
Michael played Premier Cricket in Victoria for South Melbourne (3 seasons), Melbourne University (5 seasons) and Footscray (2 seasons).
From 2003-04 to 2014-15, Michael played 87 first grade games across the 3 clubs scoring 967 runs at an average of 13.43 with his highest score 69.
With the ball Michael bowled 1,852 overs taking 61 wickets at 30.36 with best figures of 4 for 8.
Let’s find out more abut Michael journey and passion for the game.
What year you were born?
1983
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I would have played my first game at age 8 in the under 12s. The only thing I remember from that game is stopping the ball with my shin at mid-on. That stuck in the memory bank.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played juniors for Werribee Cricket Club. We lived close to the main oval there and I remember Dad taking me down to the club at a young age. They gave me a full-size County cricket bat and Dad told me it was Merv Hughes’s old one and I believed him. It was slightly too big and heavy for an 8-year-old!
Ivo Havard was my coach throughout those years. He was a very good mentor and is a club legend at Werribee.
I played senior cricket from 1999 to 2015 at premier club level starting in the 4ths and playing in all the grades. I was never good enough to play state representative under age cricket, but I just stuck it out at senior level and kept turning up, and eventually played 80 or so premier first grade games for Footscray, South Melbourne and Melbourne Uni.
In 2012 I played as the overseas player for Widnes Cricket Club in the Cheshire Premier league in the UK which was a great experience.
After premier cricket I played for Wyndhamvale in the VTCA for one season in 2016, and then coached Woodend for a few seasons when we moved to the area from 2017.
Melbourne Uni first XI photo for season 2011-12
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
4ths at Footscray at age 15.
At what age did you make your first-grade debut in grade cricket, and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I made my first-grade debut at age 20 for South Melbourne. Red ink with the bat and 1 wicket with the ball. I had Cameron White dropped too which would have been a handy first wicket!
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I was as an opening batsman throughout juniors and in my early 20s. Then as I got older found it easier to play at a higher level as a bowling allrounder who bowled off spin.
What were your strengths as a player?
I wouldn’t normally go for too many runs with the ball. I was more of a defensive bowler in general. I had a lot of self-belief and was determined with the ball in hand without having a huge amount of weapons. I relished the challenge to bowl to the best opposition batsman in tough situations.
With the bat I definitely gave it a good go and tried hard however bowling was more my strength at the top level I played. I did have the odd decent innings when everything clicked, however that wasn’t as often as I would have liked.
Michael Nalesnyik - batting
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
116 for Footscray in 2nds. 69 for South Melbourne in first grade.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
8-56 for Widnes in the Cheshire premier league. 4 for 8 for Melbourne Uni in premier first grade.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Mathew Inness for his high-class swing bowling.
Dirk Nannes for the pure speed.
Ashley Robertson for how skilful he was. A great medium fast bowler who is a club legend at Melbourne Uni.
Ben Cassell stuck in the memory also. I faced him opening the batting with around 5 overs to go in the dark once. That wasn’t enjoyable.
Matthew Inness
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Michael Beer and Jon Holland. Excellent at their craft and had a lot of guile.
Fawad Ahmed who I mainly played with. Even the top batsman at club level didn’t know what was happening. It was fun to watch.
Michael Beer
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Too many to mention however a few stand out.
Michael Klinger among many dominant top order batter for St Kilda in the 2000s.
Craig Berger. He always seemed to make runs in the games I played against him.
Andrew Kent. Organised as a batsman and was very hard to get out.
Michael Klinger
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Steven Spoljaric made some excellent 100s for South Melbourne in his time and could/should have played first class cricket.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Too many.
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?
Facing Mick Lewis and the ball hitting the inside edge of my bat before I started the downswing. I french cut it down to fine leg. Fair to say he was bowling quite fast that day!
Footscray CC group photo is the beginning of the season 14/15, team photo for round one and premiership flag unveiling
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Paul Percy for Melbourne Uni and Ian Spencer for Widnes in the UK. I was very confident bowling to them behind the stumps.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Dean Russ was a great leader on and off the field. He captained Footscray during their first premiership in over 30 years. I played a few games in the 1s that season but missed out on making the starting eleven for the final unfortunately.
Who was your childhood hero?
Merv Hughes and David Boon. The 93 Ashes!
Merv Hughes
What was your favourite ground to play at? The Albert Ground, Melbourne.
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Melbourne as you were usually coming up against the best team in the comp, or at least the best players.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
I had my best season in the 2010/11 summer. I kept taking wickets for not many runs and was on a roll leading in to Christmas. In January after the break we came up against Melbourne at the Albert. They had Andrew McDonald and Brad Hodge playing in a very strong side.
I dismissed Hodge with an arm ball which he may or may not have nicked, got the next bloke out the following ball and then dismissed Andrew McDonald not long after (he did make a big hundred though!). I took 4 wickets that innings and made a few runs batting down the order. Even though Hodge and McDonald were probably treating it like a warm up match I didn’t care. It was my best game of cricket that I played in during the best season of my career.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Winning the grand final in under 16s for Werribee.
What are your hobbies?
Golf, and family time with my wife Alicia and Fletcher who is 4 and Violet 2.
Throwing the rugby ball up with a Widnes rugby player during my time in the UK in 2012
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Train hard - fight easy
What is your occupation?
Director and mortgage broker at Loan Market Bendigo and Macedon Ranges.
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Playing for White Hills this coming season in Bendigo Victoria (BDCA)
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
1. Bring back the state/country representatives to play at least 1 club game per season. I don’t care how busy their schedule is.
2. More emphasis on the mental side of the game at club level and coaching in general. Having sports psychologists more involved and available. Especially for young players coming through.
Lead image - Michael bowling for Melbourne Uni in 2010/11
