Tim Reynolds - never stop backing yourself
UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | March 14, 2026
Tim Reynolds has scored over 3,000 First Grade runs in a one-club career which began in 2017/18 - and he's still only 25. He's a mainstay of the Bears top order, our PGs and Green Shield head coach, and a relentless trainer and fierce competitor. We sat down with Tim to hear about his favourite Bears memories, how he adapts across formats, and what it means to play First Grade alongside his brother, as well as the advice he'd give his 12-year-old self.
When did your cricketing journey begin and where did you play your junior cricket?
My dad got me into cricket as soon as I was old enough to hold a bat. He was, and still is, a cricket tragic [and a Bears superstar, multi-year Green Shield Manager and our 2022 Clubperson of the Year – Ed]! I played my junior cricket at the mighty Thornleigh Thunder, and because we only had two junior teams, I often had to play up a couple of age groups.
Who is a player you looked up to growing up, and why?
Matthew Hayden - do I need to say more? His aggressive batting style and fearless attitude were things I always admired as a kid.
You've been with the Bears since Green Shield in 2014/15 and started working your way up the grades the following season. What do you enjoy the most about the club which has kept you coming back for more?
Thanks to Travis McKenna, North Sydney has been my home since I was 13. What I love most is the people - we’re an odd bunch in the best way - and I keep coming back because I’m a Bear and always will be.
You made your First Grade debut as an opening batter against Randwick Petersham aged 16, being in and out of the side for a couple of years before making a spot your own. How was that experience, and when did you know for sure that you belonged at the top grade?
Making my First Grade debut at 16 was a huge honour. I probably wasn’t as ready as I should have been, but it was a great experience, and I always believed I could belong at that level once I better understood my role and backed myself.
Tim in First Grade action in 2019/20
What's your favourite memory in the red and black or what team you've been in has had the best camaraderie?
One of my favourite memories was taking the catch for Robbie Aitken’s 600th First Grade wicket at North Sydney in 2020. He came over and hugged me, and it was a really wholesome moment. The team with the best camaraderie was a Second Grade side captained by Glenn Aitken — it was a season full of learning, laughs, and wins.
You've become a very versatile batter, with this season featuring a 228-ball epic against Wests as well 86* off 51 balls in a T20. What’s your favourite format and how do you go about adapting your game to be effective in all three?
My favourite format is the long format because I love digging in, outlasting the opposition, and winning all those little moments across a day’s play. It’s incredibly satisfying. That said, the freedom of T20 cricket is always in the back of my mind, and I adapt across formats with small setup changes and by tailoring my training to what I need for that week.
You play for the Bears First Grade side alongside your brother, Hamish - and indeed you took the catch for his maiden wicket at the top grade a couple of seasons ago (see video, although Tim is unfortunately out of shot). What does it mean to you to represent the Bears together?
Playing First Grade cricket with my brother Hamish means everything to me. He’s my little brother (even if he’s taller than me), best mate, business partner and training partner — and representing the club our great-grandfather supported means the world to our family.
Speaking of Hamish, you and he also run a coaching business, Cricket Insight, and coach the Bears Green Shield side and our junior club. What should we be excited about in the next generation of Bears and how do you enjoy those roles?
Running Cricket Insight with Hamish has been a real pleasure, and we’ve got some exciting things coming for the Bears. We’re expanding our academies, running more tours, and launching the Bears Pathway this off-season to support and nurture local grassroots players all the way through to senior level.
Tim (right) with John Saint (left) and Hamish (centre), and the 2023/24 Poidevin-Gray Shield, won by the Bears
What's your review of the 2026/26 First Grade season and what are your hopes for 2026/27?
I was left wanting more from this season — I felt like we fell short of what we could have achieved as a First Grade group. But I’m very excited for what next season holds, and I genuinely believe we’ll play plenty of finals cricket and bring home trophies for the Bears.
A big appeal from Tim, Justin Avendano and Jordan Netto earlier this season
What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is: “Be present and enjoy it.” For someone like me who just wants to win, learning to step back and appreciate the work I’ve done and the moments I’m part of on the field has been massive. Thanks, Dan Smith!
What would you tell a 12-year-old Tim Reynolds?
I’d tell 12-year-old Tim Reynolds: “Don’t ever stop backing yourself.”
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? Winning — and hopefully helping the Bears and Cricket Insight build something really special.
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