Mike Baird: From Local Cricket Supporter to Chair of Cricket Australia: A Story of Commitment and Influence
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | December 09, 2025
The 2014/15 season is memorable for many, but especially so for the First-Grade team of the club — not only because they were making their push toward a drought-ending premiership, but also because they gained a rather high-profile supporter in Mike Baird.
- At the time, Baird was serving as Premier of New South Wales. That season, he attended both the semi-final at Manly Oval — coincidentally on election day — and the grand final at North Sydney Oval.
- A few weeks after their premiership victory, he hosted the team for a celebratory function at his office. He also attended the end-of-year presentation and delivered a well-received speech, making it clear that his interest in and support for the club went beyond waving the flag.
But Baird’s involvement with cricket didn’t end there. He later joined the board of Cricket NSW — a natural step for a longtime “cricket tragic” and patron of the local club. In 2020 he was appointed a director of Cricket Australia, and by February 2023 he had become its chair — making him one of the most high-profile leaders in the sport’s national governing body.
Baird’s journey — from showing up at local club finals to steering the direction of cricket nationally — demonstrates how deep grassroots support can evolve into meaningful governance and influence at the highest level. It’s a path that underscores the value of dedication, local engagement, and love for the game.
