Tim Cox - line and length
RSL Colts Cricket Club Dubbo | February 20, 2023
Tim Cox started his cricket journey in Dubbo with the RSL Colts Cricket Club and with great delight the club has watched his career progress to from first grade cricket in Dubbo to first grade premier cricket in Sydney, NSW Country and to cricket in Newcastle.
What year you were born?
1977 in Dubbo, Western NSW
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I was around 7 years of age, my dad was my coach in Dubbo and we played on Victoria Park No 1’s outfield on mown grassed wickets. Wore equipment and had to retire at 25. Pretty sure I didn’t get the opportunity to retire though!
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I grew up in Dubbo and played all Juniors and Seniors for RSL Colts Cricket Club where Dad was the club president for 35 years. Represented Western Zone, Country Cricket, under age NSW and Schoolboys (when NSW only had one team at national championships). Then moved to Sydney and joined University of NSW Cricket Club to play cricket with my good mates from Dubbo David Carson and Mitchell O’Connor.
I played 3 years in the Yorkshire league UK for Lascelles Hall CC.
After a decade in Sydney I moved back to the family farm and continued to play for RSL Colts which I was privileged to be a part of a wonderful era in Dubbo cricket where the club won 7 first grade titles in a row.
I had the honour of representing NSW Country for a number of years and we won some Australian country titles and was proud to be announced Country player of the year in 2015.
In the twilight of my playing career after moving to Newcastle it was great to have one year with the Toronto Workers District Cricket Club where we won the NDCA 1st grade title in 2018/19 which was the 1st ever first grade title for the club.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I was 12 years old in Dubbo and played 3rd grade with my Dad. I remember my 1st game well as I opened the bowling and got a hat trick with my 1st three balls of the match and they were all bowled.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
In premier cricket in Sydney I was 20 and UNSW played Gordon. I batted number 7 and got 88 not out after a top order collapse on day one. That was my highest score in 1st Grade in Sydney. It was a great initiation to 1st grade spending time in the middle facing Matthew Nicholson. I think we went on to win the game.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I started off as an all-rounder in Western Zone scoring some grade 100’s in Dubbo and opening bowling however finished my career as an opening bowler and wagging the tail in the batting order.
What were your strengths as a player?
A seam bowler who could move the ball both ways and reasonably accurate as an economy bowler. Known by my teammates as the bowler to have at one end trucking up into the wind and bowling long spells. Some tough memories of bowling 10 over spells in one day games to get opposition behind the run rate early in the innings. Team mates would jokingly say “put a 20 cent coin on a pitch length and I would hit it”.
Tim Cox into his delivery stride
Tim Cox hits the top of off
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
Scored 160 for RSL Colts in Dubbo and 88 not out in Premier Cricket Sydney first grade
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Managed to get a few 8 wicket hauls in Country cricket with RSL Colts in Dubbo and Lascelles Hall in Yorkshire UK. Best in Premier Cricket Sydney was 6 wickets against Northern District. Mainly remembered by teammates for my good economy rate in all forms of cricket.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
In Sydney I would have to say Matthew Nicholson for his height and extra bounce
Brett Lee as express pace and it was an honour to play in the same era as Binga.
Even though I grew up with him out in Dubbo and is a great old mate, Don Nash was always hard to face as not many bowlers had the ability to move the ball late in both directions at serious pace. It was a pleasure to see first-hand his career progress from juniors sharing the new ball with him to play against him in premier cricket for Fairfield to be one of the best bowlers in NSW through that period.
A memorable day for me was sharing the new ball with Donny at the National U17 at the WACA and he was bowling down the Fremantle Doctor and I was up in it and taking 8 wickets between us with our opening spell.(He got 5, I got 3).
I always enjoyed watching from the other end when Daniel MacLauchlan who on his day was as quick as anyone, Grant Lambert, Mitch Claydon and Mark Cameron who had a lethal short pitched ball. All could bowl at great pace and take the ball away.
In NSW Country Cricket I rated Andrew Maher from Newcastle who was a great competitor, Andrew Zell from Gilgandra and Western Zone bowled with great shape and bounce and very economical and Ian Gregory from North Coast was a tall paceman who hit the deck hard.
Matthew Nicholson
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
In Sydney Premier cricket there are so many great spinners in the 2000’s. Stuart MacGill would be the best and you could hear the spin on the ball as he let it go and gave it a huge rip.
Greg Matthews was very tactful, Anthony Clark was extremely consistent and economical as was Anthony Kershler and very competitive.
I loved the opportunity to play at UNSW with Ian Salisbury, it was a joy to watch his craft in particular bamboozling many batters with his wrong un!
In NSW Country Cricket Nick Foster from Newcastle has been a very consistent high performing off spinner for many years and is current Josh Hazelwood medallist Country Player of the year.
On an emotional note I must mention a rare talent as a youngster as a leg spinner in Ashley Knight from Mudgee who tragically lost his life in a car crash on a remote country road when he was travelling from Mudgee to Dubbo to play a game of night cricket, just after he was selected to play for NSW Colts. He was such a skilful leg spinner who had the potential to go all the way. A sad loss way too soon.
Ian Salisbury
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
In Sydney Premier Cricket playing against Greg Mail, Ed Cowan, Phil Jaques and Benny Roher who were all tremendously technical and patient batsmen and run scoring machines. They were always very hard to bowl to they never gave you their wicket.
Matthew Phelps was great to watch when he got started. Daniel Smith, Steve Philips and Grant Lambert hit the ball very hard and would take the attack to you.
Shane Lee hit me for the biggest 6 I’d ever been hit for at Allan Border Oval in one of my first one day games in first grade.
I enjoyed the challenge bowling against Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer in the early 2000’s over in Yorkshire league. He had all the shots and very strong off his pads. Getting one through him early in a cup semi-final was one of my greatest wicket taking memories.
In NSW Country I can’t go past Simon Moore who is the ultimate professional player and an icon for NSW Country cricket and was always a pleasure to watch him score runs. Mark Littlewood, Nathan Price, Joseph Price, Graham Batty, Randall Star and Jordan Moran are all class players for NSW Country cricket and dominated any country attacks at national level.
Greg Mail
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Great question and one to bring back fond memories Dan Christian played a crucial loan hand innings in a semi-final under pressure against Northern District in 2005.
Dan Christian
Any hundred that Murray Creed scored was a joy to watch from the stands or at the other end. His play straight down the ground was impeccable.
Tom Cooper played a fantastic innings with a massive hundred at Hurstville Oval against St George which was memorable. David Carson, Jimmy Day and Mitch O’Connor on their day could dominate attacks especially in one day games.
One particular innings in opposition that stands out was from Nathan Pilon at the Village Green when he almost scored a 100 in a session and hit us to all parts of the ground.
Putting on a partnership (minimal contribution from myself) with Michael Slater v Sydney Uni when he got 192 was a great highlight to witness.
In NSW Country I have fond memories of two crucial double hundred opening partnership stands. They were in NSW Country Championship grand finals for Western Zone 15 years apart which were extra special in big games.
In 2000 for Western Zone v Newcastle Jason Green from Dubbo and Nick Berry from Cowra set the platform with a huge opening partnership chasing down Newcastle’s 306 to win the final for Western with Green scoring 147 and Berry 98 at No.1 Sportsground in Newcastle.
This was in almost identical fashion 15 years later again, Western v Newcastle at Wade Park in Orange in the Country final with Western Zone chasing down Newcastle’s 277 and another remarkable double hundred opening partnership from Jordan Moran (140) from Dubbo and Anthony Heraghty (96) from Parkes to win Western Zones 3rd ever Country championship.
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason seemed to always cause you a few problems?
There were many but in the early days in Dubbo Chris Killen, Andrew Grant and Cameron Humphries were very skilful and hard competitors. Great sledgers to a young fella at the time!
In Sydney Grant Lambert, Mitch Claydon were always at you and never gave much away.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
Every finals series or Grand Final was a step up and clear increase in intensity when big moments at crucial times decided the result.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Been so fortunate to have some great ones keep wicket to me.
It was great to grow up playing for Western Zone with Nathan Pilon who had the best hands in the business and a class act. At UNSW Andrew Neilan was a natural behind the stumps, so consistent and I can’t remember him ever dropping a catch.
In the Country Tom Groth is a work horse, great skills very technical and a wonderful team man and Jason Ryan from Western Zone/Dubbo has the fastest hands and brilliant up to the stumps. I’ve seen him take some amazing stumping’s.
Nathan Pilon
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
I loved being on the same team as Tim Lang and Murray Creed at UNSW through the mid 2000’s. They had a never say die attitude and always looked for opportunities to get on top of opposition. It was great to open the bowling with Langy for many years and we complimented each other in a solid bowling partnership and enjoyed watching his skills and intensity levels.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
In Sydney premier cricket, I would have to say David Carson who was a great game manager, tactician of the game and tremendous people’s person who knew how to get the best out of his team.
In the Country, Patrick Rosser was a great leader in a successful era for Western Zone who had wonderful mannerisms and knew when to switch off but when it was the time to rock and roll he made sure his team was right behind him. Jeff Cook and Simon Moore had the ability to lead by example and the aura about them and the team lifted as a result which was a great trait and positive results followed.
Who was the umpire you admired most in the way they managed a game?
Always had the upmost respect for any umpire that could manage a great game of cricket and obviously enjoy themselves and officiating the contest at the same time. Darren Goodger is the best at this in Premier cricket and has wonderful people’s skills and is a wonderful person.
In the country Greg Jones from Bathurst and Kim Norris from Newcastle are also great match managers and amazing servants to the game.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
There has been many but some standouts would be Dan Christian, Mitch O’Connor and Jimmy Day from UNSW in premier cricket all for dressing shed antics and games.
In the country I couldn’t go past Pat Rosser, Andrew Zell and Greg Buckley for similar reasons as they all had special talents.
These are the reasons we play our great game. The lifelong friendships it creates and for me, the fondest memories are the off-field moments (dressing shed/club sponsor/watering hole) sharing great experiences with great mates.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
There were many but two stand out.
The first was a robust exchange at Petersham Oval against Randwick Petersham and there was build up over a number of overs of verbal sledging between our wicket keeper and a Randwick Petersham batsmen.
It came to a hilarious physical exchange which was captivating viewing from square leg when our wicket keeper took a return throw whilst running towards the stumps only to knock into the batsman.
The batsman didn’t like it at all and what followed was a face to face stand off and then out of the blue, the batsman head butted our wicket keeper right on the nose. The funny part was the batsman executed the head butt with his helmet on and when we all suggested he had an unfair advantage and told him to take the helmet off and have another go. He didn’t oblige!
The second was a tactical sledge and one I still admire to this day.
It was in the Grand Final of 2015 against Sydney Uni and I was bowling to Ed Cowan. It was a tense moment in the match and I was bowling tightly to Ed who was watchful waiting for a break to strike.
At the end of an over I said to Ed “come on mate play a shot, make something happen or get a nick”.
He quite rightfully replied to which he was 100% on the mark “Coxy I know I can bat all day and I know you can’t bowl all day”!
I did my best, but he was right. He played a great patient innings and one that young players today should aspire to.
Ed Cowan
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
When I was playing in the twilight of my career with Toronto in the Newcastle first grade competition as an experienced player (I was by far the oldest player on the field that my Toronto teammates called me ‘Dad’).
We were defending a moderate total against Charlestown in a two day game and I was into a lengthy 2nd spell of the day (12 over spell, 18 for the day) and it came down to us needing one wicket to win.
In my follow through I dived forward for a return catch. As I dived and hit the ground my body just locked up and I couldn’t lift myself off the ground. Thankfully I took the catch and that was the end of the match and ended up with 5 wickets however my teammates had to lift me up and help me off the field to shake hands with opposition. It was a source of comedy in the sheds after the match and I think it was a realisation that retirement for me wasn’t too far away!
Who was your childhood hero?
Growing up it was Richard Hadlee (NZ). I loved the way he moved the ball. It was then Glenn McGrath who’s from my neck of the woods in Narromine. I loved his story about how he got into the game and his skill to execute so consistently.
Richard Hadlee
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Tiger Woods, Rodger Federer, David Beckham
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Simon Katich and Michael Slater
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Enjoyed playing on UNSW home ground ‘Village Green’, (not a cricket ground anymore which is a real shame). It was a great place to play cricket surrounded by the architectural designed Uni buildings and students sitting on the hill basking in the sunshine. The coastal afternoon breeze was great asset to move the ball although spent most of my career bowling into it.
I enjoyed bowling at Pratten Park as well. Coogee Oval is a great place to play, always enjoyed fielding down at fine leg or on the boundary at that ground!
In the Country would definitely be Wade Park at Orange, a wonderful sports field, full digital replay scoreboard and a wicket that always produced both for bat and ball.
Was there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Even though I wasn’t a student at UNSW I did enjoy the battle of the Uni’s rivalry games against Sydney Uni. In particular when we had our successful period through mid-2000. I also enjoyed playing against Manly who are a great well-run club.
In NSW Country any game against Newcastle was a great contest because as a Country Zone, Newcastle is the pinnacle, so it was a great measurer to see where we were at as a Zone team. Also enjoyed playing against Queensland at Country Championships as always great rivalry.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
There has been so many. Any moment when you’re in a successful contest with your teammates are the reasons we play this great game and to share them with your mates and the comradeship creates lifelong friendships and memories.
Being a part of any Grand Final is very memorable whether you win or lose they are always the games you think and talk about the most. I’ve been lucky to be involved in Grand Finals across a broad range of competitions across NSW with Sydney Premier Cricket with UNSW, NSW Country Cricket with Western Zone, Newcastle District Cricket with Toronto CC and Dubbo District with RSL Colts CC.
Personally, being awarded the NSW Country player of the year in 2015 was a great honour.
Western Zone NSW Country Champions 2015
UNSW First Grade team
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The one day 2015 grand final v Sydney Uni was a great win especially as it was at Sydney University No1 Oval.
The two day semi-final win in same year against Campbelltown when we chased down their total with only one wicket spare was a great fight back and we made it through to the grand final.
In NSW Country being a part of Western Zone’s two grand final Country Championships over Newcastle were the most amazing games of cricket to be involved in chasing down huge totals in both games.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
I can’t narrow it down so happy to buy an extra slab of sausage’s and beer so all UNSW mid 2000s and Western Zone 2015 teams could join in.
Some opposition players I’d be keen to share a BBQ with would be Anthony Clark, Ben Rohrer and Tim Cruikshank, all champion fellas.
What are your hobbies?
Landscape gardening, coaching junior cricket players, nice dinner with the wife, having a beer with mates and now days taking the kids to the beach,
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
From Stuart Webster as a youngster- ‘if you’re on top as a bowler, you don’t have to change anything, building pressure will bring wickets for you and your team.”
If you were running a State Cricket Association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Investing in ways to keep the experienced 30 plus year old’s players connected to the game.
These experienced players have so much intellectual knowledge and are important assets of our great game. Their experience and crucial game knowledge can naturally be passed through to the next generation of players at all levels from Country, Regional Clubs and Associations and Premier cricket.
Keeping players connected via player/coaches/ mentors/welfare officers to share their knowledge/ experiences of the game will have tremendous benefits for the sustainability of the games future.
There is so much potential for female cricket as a product offering and sport of choice for all girls.
