Tom Shiner - Penrith Cricket Club

Penrith Cricket Club | February 08, 2026

Picture: Tom Shiner (left) shaking the hand of Bill Ball

Arriving at Penrith for the 1980/81 season, Tom Shiner appeared rather Chaplin-esque. He had an easily recognisable gait and was generally attired in gear more crumpled than creased. He maintained a moustache, more pencil than plumage. He didn’t mind a beer, liked a cigarette. Quirky was his sense of humour, and that rounded out the ‘package’—leg-spinner with attitude.

Tom made an immediate mark in Seconds at Penrith, but quickly and smoothly fitted into Penrith’s First Grade after Kerry O’Keeffe’s departure. Until he moved on in 1984/85, he only played Firsts.

Tom hailed from Macquarie Fields and was a tough competitor. He had an unusually bouncy gait and a high arm action, and he tended to be more front-on than the traditional leggie. That might have affected the strength of his body swing and restricted the width of his leggie, but his wrong‘un and toppie could be extremely effective, often getting excellent bounce. He was quite quick through the air, possibly not generous enough with his ‘air’ to succeed at the higher levels.

The State selectors did, however, offer Tom opportunity in the Colts and 2nd XI over five seasons from 1984, during which time he took 14 wickets @ 28.0, his best being 5/40 in the last innings against Victoria in 1987 to inspire outright victory. He played with the Waugh twins, as well as his Penrith team-mates Trevor Bayliss and Steve Small.

In 1985, Tom played for a Sydney Metropolitan XI against England in a 50-over match at the Village Green, claiming the scalps of David Gower, Mike Gatting and Chris Cowdrey, for 29 runs.

In his career with Penrith, Tom took 150 wickets @ 21.30.

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