Shaping smart cricketers - introducing UTS North Sydney Men's Club Coach Simon Keen

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | July 20, 2025

UTS North Sydney is delighted to welcome Simon Keen as Men’s Club Coach. Simon had an illustrious Grade career, scoring 5,709 runs predominantly for Bankstown (but with a few T20s for the Bears thrown in!) and taking 222 wickets, and played professional short-form cricket in NSW and New Zealand as well as representing Australia Under 19s. More recently, he has coached The Entrance, who have won the Central Coast First Grade competition for the last three seasons.

Get to know Simon as he takes the helm at the Bears.

1.  Where did your cricketing journey begin?

My cricket journey began as a frustrated tee-baller watching my older brother, Lance, playing cricket. I told my mum that I just wanted to play cricket like Lance. I wanted to hit the ball lots of times, not just once. So, the next season I started with the mighty St Clair Hawks in the Penrith Association. 

2.  Who is a player you looked up to growing up, and why?

When I was younger, my brother played for Hawkesbury and I would look up to the players there like Peter Forrest and Stephen O’Keefe because they were the guns of the club. Once I started playing at Bankstown, I looked up to Michael Bright, a gun left hander who bowled awesome leggies. 

3. How would you describe your game from your playing days?

With the bat, I was an aggressive lefty. I loved to take the game on and put pressure on the bowlers. I bowled right arm mediums and was a skillful bowler - I was able to get a lot out of what I had. 

4. Tell us about your First Grade debut.

I was 17 playing for Bankstown, it was a one-day game at Bankstown Oval against the top club. Sydney Uni, and I loved every second of it.

5. You played for Australia Under 19s in 2006 - who against, and how was that experience?

It was a World Cup in Sri Lanka and we lost the semi-final against Pakistan. After being in a great position with the ball, we let it slip. We had a star-studded line up and it was a great trip. The next year, we played a home series against Pakistan and Phil Hughes put on a batting masterclass over the five-match series. 

 

6. You've played for NSW, both Sydney BBL franchises and Canterbury in NZ. How different were the teams and competitions? What did you learn from each?

The Big Bash is huge compared to the NZ Super Smash. I played in front of huge crowds in the BBL. Every time you play with high calibre cricketers you learn so much. Both competitions had so many fantastic international cricketers involved. The experiences have shaped my coaching so much. 

7.  Who had the biggest influence on your career?

I was very lucky enough to have played with so many great players over my career. But it was coach Ian Gill from Bankstown who had the biggest influence. He encouraged me to go and play Green Shield with Bankstown and open the batting as an under 14 player. Ian helped me so much with my game, and had a huge amount of belief in me, so I played my best under him. I scored 600 runs in Green Shield that year and it really put my name out there.

I owe it all to my parents and Ian Gill.

8.  You played almost your whole Sydney grade career at Bankstown - what was it about the Bulldogs which was special? 

Bankstown was such a great club to me. So many amazing volunteers make the club a wonderful and easy place to play cricket. There were older guys who took me under their wing all the way through the grades. The club helped me out with whatever was required and I’ll be forever grateful. Then I played First Grade with guys who taught me so much - guys like David Freedman, Corey Richards, Scott Thompson, Dean Magee, James Allsopp and Aaron Bird. 

We won both the one-day competition and the two-day competition in 2006/07. Watching guys stand up in the big games was so memorable. 

9. What got you into coaching and what do you enjoy about it?

I had unfinished business in the game when I gave away playing. I didn’t get the best out of myself as a player. I had some mental demons I had to face throughout my career which I did and I learnt so much about myself. I want to give back and help players reach their potential. The challenges I had helped shape the type of coach I am today. 

I love helping others and watching them enjoy their success, overcome self-doubts and play this great game of cricket. 

10. The Entrance have swept the floor with trophies in the Central Coast comp these last few years under your guidance - what's your secret sauce?

I’ve been blessed with incredible players at The Entrance over the last few years. They never backed down from hard work or tough game situations. We worked hard on our fielding and became one of the best fielding teams in the competition. 

The biggest thing I was able to do with the players was talk about strategies and becoming smart players. 

11.  What's the philosophy you'll be bringing to UTS North Sydney this season and what are you most excited about for the year ahead?

I was lucky enough to play a season in Melbourne and be involved with the Bushrangers state squad. I remember Greg Shipperd saying before a training session about being smart cricketers. Read articles, watch games and be a student of a game. Since then, I have done just that. I believe that is the key to becoming a great cricketer. 

Fitness is a big thing for me. I’ll also be wanting our players to be aggressive fielders. 

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