Jason Young - you only need to hit it to the fence
Paul Ryan | March 24, 2023
Jason Young played all his junior cricket in Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region of NSW.
A prodigious young batter with enormous talent and a thirst for runs and it wasn’t long before Jason sparked the interest of NSW underage selectors and Sydney talent scouts.
Jason played 3 seasons of Green Shield for Balmain and after leaving school he joined the St George District Cricket Club. He made his Sydney Grade Cricket first grade debut at St George and is the proud owner of first grade cap number 317.
A successful Under 19 National Championships saw Jason moved to Adelaide with the Australian Cricket Academy and he played Adelaide Grade Cricket for Prospect Cricket Club.
On returning to Sydney Jason spent 5 seasons playing for UNSW Cricket Club before moving to Sutherland District Cricket Club at the start of the 1996/97 season.
Jason made his first grade debut for Sutherland on 28 September 1996 to become first grade cap no 177 and he was the captain of the Sutherland District Cricket Club first grade premiership winning team in 1997/98.
In NSW Premier Cricket from 1989 to 2007 Jason Young scored 9,781 runs in first grade at an average of 37.62. he scored 12 centuries, and 64 half centuries and his highest score was 161 not out. Jason scored 50 or more in an innings every 3.89 innings.
Jason made his first-class debut for NSW in 1994/95 and played two games for NSW.
Let’s find out more about Jason Young’s journey in the game.
Wagga Leagues Club First Grade Premiership team at Robertson Oval when they defeated v RSL.
Back Row - Frank Grigg, Jeff Willis, Phil Jenkins, Roger Gorrell, Warwick Long, Jim Dwyer, Dave Taylor (12th Man).
Front Row - Mark Johnson, Jason Young, Darren Young, Mark Grigg, Steve Butt (Captain)
What year you were born?
1971.
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Pretty sure it was a saturday morning school game Harris Park in Wagga, when they used to mow a pitch in the outfield. I used to tag along to my brother Darren’s games hoping that someone didn’t turn up and I could fill in. Only 1 pad back then and it came up to my armpit. I reckon I batted 11 and ran from backstop to backstop. I’d say either Clive Robertson or Graham Dutton would have been the teacher/coach/umpire and scorer back then.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
· Wagga Wagga Leagues Club – from Juniors to 17-year-old
· Balmain DCC – 1985, 86, 87 (Green Shield)
· St George DCC – 1988/89 to 1989/90
· Prospect CC – 1990/91
· Uni of NSW CC – 1991/92 to 1995/96
· Sutherland DCC – 1996 to 2006/07
· Keswick CC (England) - 2000
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
St George 2nd Grade v Manly. I would have been 17. Knicked one early for memory. George Stamatopoulos took me down to Manly Beach at the lunch break to check out the surf, got back late, missed the team meeting – Wayne Turnbull was the captain, and he wasn’t happy.
At what age did you make your first-grade debut in grade cricket, and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I was 18, St George v Petersham at Petersham Oval, one day game. We fielded first and I broke my finger diving for a catch off Patty Farhart. Change of innings Patty taped up my hand, opened the batting, edged one thru gully for 4, couldn’t hold the bat – retired hurt, off to hospital.
Back Row – B. Davison (Coach), A. Gilchrist, T Crosland, L. Harper, W. Adlam, S. Waddington, T. Fraser, M. Cornish, J. Russell (Assistant Manager)
Front Row – A. Quinane, J. Gallian, D. Mann (Captain), G. Errington (Manager), J. Young, G. Davison, S. Smedley
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Batsman – started as an opener gradually slid down the order to finish at No 6.
Loved to field at 2nd slip.
4 first grade wickets, remember them like yesterday! I won’t embarrass the 4.
What were your strengths as a player?
I liked to play straight and, in the V, and valued my wicket. I loved the cut shot but couldn’t hook or pull to save myself. I had decent hands in the slips.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
I think 180 odd in a NSW 2ndXI match v NSW Country at Bankstown Oval.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Sutherland v Nth Sydney, Caringbah Oval. 2/fa not many, under used.
You played 2 first class games for NSW, can you share with us how you found out you’d been selected to play for NSW, who did you play and what do you remember about your first-class debut?
We were playing at the village green and at the tea break Geoff Lawson (who wasn’t a selector) told me that I was in for the trip to Brisbane v QLD.
This was the season QLD won the shield for the first time. We we won the toss and sent them in on an absolute green top. 400 odd runs later it was our turn to bat. I batted at No 5 and went in on a Greg Rowell hat trick. I batted for an hour or so for 16 and in the second dig 17. The game was all over in just over 2 days.
Back Row – Tim Fraser, Simon Waddington, Brett Wheeldon, Richard Chee Quee, Warwick Adlam, Michael Beattie, Jason Gallian, Jack Wilson (Manager)
Front Row – Jason Young, Kevin Roberts, Gavan Twining, Ted Cotton (Coach), Darrell Mann (Captain), Ben Saunders, Mark Pratt
You moved from UNSW Cricket Club to Sutherland District Cricket Club, can you share with us the reason behind the move?
I had a conversation with my former state coach Steve Rixon, who was coaching Sutherland at the time. I wasn’t in the State squad then, living at Caringbah and had just started working with Claude and Darrell Mann @ Mann’s Earthworks at the Kurnell Oil Refinery. It made sense to play close to home and work.
With so much batting talent in NSW during the 1990s was there ever a temptation to move interstate?
No, I backed myself to get a game for NSW. I remember Whitney, Matthews and Lawson always saying NSW is the best State, Provence and County you can play for.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Brett Lee – Scary speed. Remember one day at Rawson Oval he bowled one just short of a length and it went over the keepers head and one bounce in to the sightscreen.
Simon Cook – Great action, super consistent. He bowled a very scary spell at Drummoyne Oval late in day down the hill on a greenish wicket.
Wayne Holdsworth – Serious pace since schoolboys days, great outswinger that you had to play at.
(Respect to Warwick Adlam, Scott Thompson, Steve Cottrell and Shane George)
Brett Lee
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
The 3 obvious standouts, Warne, Matthews and MacGill.
Apart from them:
Gavin Robertson, great flight and turn.
Anthony Kershler – always a solid battle against Kersh, no freebies.
Adrian Tucker – only played against Tuck a couple of time, had all the tricks.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
David Hookes – Took total control of the game and played it on his terms. Had no weaknesses.
Darren Lehmann – Class, made it look easy when it wasn’t.
Ricky Ponting – Played against him in a 2nd X1 game when he was 16, luckily, we run him out. There was no other way, serious player at that age.
David Hookes
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Phil Jaques 300+ at Nth Sydney Oval – “pure class”
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always used to cause you a few problems?
Geoff Lawson bowling off 15 yards at training
Shane Lee was difficult to pick up and gave you nothing.
Brad McNamara’s bouncer always seem to be a bit quicker for some reason.
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?
Bradman X1 game v England. Opened the batting against Devon Malcolm storming in and looking around the ground with guys I’d only seen on TV. Gower, Lamb, Atherton, Stewart and co. Then being captained by the great Doug Walters.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Darren Berry – great hands to both quicks and up at the stumps
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Michael Bevan – as a 16–17-year-old Bevo was a fast left arm quick from the ACT. He had a shoulder/back injury and turned into the best ODI batsman in the world and more than handy leggie.
Justin Langer – JL worked harder than everyone else, total commitment to everything he does.
Michael Bevan
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Andrew Zesers – Prospect Cricket Club in Adelaide. I was a young lad from the bush in my first full season of 1st Grade. He welcomed me to the club from day one, great people person and I learned a lot from Zes in that year.
Jon Jobson – St George District Cricket Club in Sydney. He taught me how to play the game fair and hard to the end.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
The Jackal - Justin Kenny.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Prospect v West Torrens – Adelaide Oval No 2 Semi Final.
West Torrens were in trouble. I think they were 4 for not many and David Hookes arrived at the crease and took total control.
Our spinner Glenn Hoffman was having warm up bowls on the wicket next to the one we were playing on (you could do that back then) and Hookes wasn’t happy and walked over and put one of Hoffers practice balls into the golf course across the road. He said “if you’re going to have a f..king practice bowl I’ll have a f..king practice hit”.
Who was your childhood hero?
Viv Richards
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Leigh Matthews
Cyril Rioli
Luke Hodge
Cyril Rioli
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Bankstown Oval
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Hawkesbury at Benson’s Lane – I had the theory if I’m going all that way, I better make it worthwhile!!
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Touring the West Indies as 19-year-olds in the Australian Youth squad and playing on test grounds and experiencing a whole different world and culture.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
My 2 Premierships.
Wagga Leagues Club 1st Grade when I was a kid at Robertson Oval v RSL.
Captaining Sutherland in 1997/8. We weren’t the best team through the season but we were in the finals when it counted.
Jason Young with the Belvidere Cup along with long term Sutherland DCC sponsor Harry Peters.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Can I have 3 sets of 3?
· Justin Kenny, Kevin Tuite, Darrell Mann.
· Nathan Fitzgerald, Tim Freeburn, Luke Dudman.
· Linton Ball, Matt Hughston, Matt Probert.
What are your hobbies?
Playing golf with Adam Fleming, Mitch Brown, Jason Packer, Matt O’Brien and Justin Kenny (a lot of theories there) and trying to master smoked meat.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
The 6 P’s – Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
The “great man” Teddy Cotton regularly said “you only need to hit it to the fence, not drill a hole thru it” – usually when I was out…
What is your occupation?
I’ve been the Licensed Product Manager at ASICS for the past 12 years, producing our Licensed apparel and accessories ranges for our sponsored team such as Cricket Australia, Rugby Australia, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Bronco’s
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Only through work with CA and the players
A fine player and good bloke 👏