Nick Bateup – A Vigorous Cricketer
Parramatta District Cricket Club | March 30, 2026
Nick Bateup embarked upon a playing career with the Parramatta District Cricket Club in 2017/18, following in the footsteps of his elder sibling Christopher – who played for the club between 2011/12 and 2021/22 (1,125 runs @ 14.61 [H.S. – 91] and 135 wickets @ 23.88 [B.B. – 5/42].
Starting in Fifth grade Nick ‘caught the eye’ making an aggressive 136 runs @ 45.33, highlighted by a heavy-handed 75 against Wests to win elevation to Fourth grade after just three matches, where he again showed solid form to register 285 runs @ 23.75 (H.S. – 61 v. St. George, 51 v. Blacktown, 49* v. Campbelltown).
Players like Nick add enjoyment to the club. A good teammate usually with a smile on his face he brings, 100% effort to both matches and training, along with a competitive character and spirit to his team.
The chunkily built left-handed opening batsman possesses raw power and loves to bring that to the crease, his explosive batting at the onset of each of Parramatta’s innings often pushed the opposition bowlers onto the backfoot from the get-go and often gave Parramatta rousing starts to their matches. Added to his ability with the willow in hand Nick makes handy contributions with the ball – bowling what Club Coach Jason Coleman once described as ‘angry medium-pacers’.
In 2018/19 his forceful batting earned him elevation up the grade ladder. He dominated the early rounds in Third grade with several displays of power-hitting at the head of the order (259 runs @ 37.00), standout efforts were a brilliant maiden century (100*) against Manly and a block-busting 79 against Northern District. These performances brought him advancement into Second grade, where amongst a mixed bag (166 runs @ 20.75) he produced a rousing 81 against Westen Suburbs.
Between seasons 2019/20 and 2021/22 Nick’s progress staggered somewhat, a few injuries disrupted his cricket, and he struggled for consistency with his batting, but he turned in some pretty handy support bowling efforts, particularly, bowling the tough mid-innings overs.
It all ‘clicked into gear’ for Nick in 2022/23, the experience gained over the previous seasons and the hard work put in at training ‘bore fruit’ and the menacing potential of his energetic batting came to the fore, firstly in Fourth grade where he delivered 248 runs @ 31.00 (H.S. – 68) and by Christmas he was back in Third grade.
The remainder of the season represented a career milestone for this popular cricketer, his brutal assaults at the top of the order and handy medium-pace bowling played an instrumental role in the Third grade team, captained by Matt Giumelli, winning the Third grade Premiership (Mitchell Cup). He smashed an imposing 330 runs @ 41.25 and snared 9 wickets @ 27.77 – the standout innings was a massive 171* where he pulverised the Sutherland bowling attack – those who witnessed this dig spoke in glowing terms of its dominance. His full season’s run output stood at a productive 574 runs @ 35.88 [3rd grade – 330, 4th grade – 248).
Nick decided to take a sabbatical from Premier Cricket in the 2023/24 season but returned with a vengeance in 2024/25. He produced his best season with the club; he batted in a vibrant fashion to amass 654 runs @ 38.47 and once more play a key role in helping another Matt Giumelli led Parramatta Third grade team take out the Mitchell Cup.
Just how explosive the nuggety opener was at the commencement of Parramatta’s innings can be gauged by this sample of his efforts:
· 78 (83 balls) v. Randwick-Petersham.
· 97 (83 balls) v. Hawkesbury.
· 54 (55 balls) v. Sydney.
· 75 (70 balls) v. Fairfield [QF].
By by By Tom Wood – Parramatta District Cricket Club Historian
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