Staff Entries
Kingsgrove Sports Centre Staff Entries
Find out more about our staff and their thoughts on our great game
1. Name and current date – Hamish Solomons 4.12.05
2. Date of Birth – 27th August 1972
3. Place of Birth – Colombo, Sri Lanka
4. Current Location - Kingsgrove, Sydney
5. Who do you play cricket for – I play for St George District Cricket Club, same club as the great Sir Donald Bradman played for when he first arrived in Sydney from Bowral.
6. In what capacity – I captain our 3rd Grade side and bowl pace and spin and am getting lower in the batting order each year !
7. Best Cricket feats – Getting up to coach every Sunday Morning !!! Playing wise, just playing for St George outweighs any personal achievement.
8. Greatest Cricket moment / memory – Winning a grade premiership after three straight grand final losses. Winning a premiership or a Club Championship in the Sydney Grade Comp. is quite special as you are competing against 19 other clubs. Winning a few club championships rates highly too.
9. Tell us little about your cricket history – I was born into cricket and was destined to play and live cricket thanks to a cricket mad father who has achieved an amazing status in the cricketing world. I'm quite priveleged and grateful to be apart of the great game from where I am. I started competing in the St George competition at the age of 6 for a club known as Kogarah boys and represented the New South Wales Primary School side as a 12 year old playing the likes of Michael Kasprowicz. I was a leg spinner in those days. I grew tired of the game in my wilder days and made a return to cricket at age 21 as a batsman for a few years before becoming a medium pace bowler. Now many year down the track I'm starting to bowl more and more off spin.
10. Tell us a little about the cricket competitions you play in – The Sydney Grade Competition is the nursery used to pick the NSW Pura Cup Side. It consists of 5 strong grades and is played totally on turf wickets. There's a bit of travelling involved but all in all it's a very well run season (by Cricket NSW) consisting of 2 day games as well as a number of limited over fixtures. Playing in this competition over a long period of time has given me the opportunity to play against some of the games Icons such as Michael Clarke, Michael Slater and Brett Lee.
11. Favorite Teams – St George, NSW, Australia and Sri Lanka
12. Favorite Players – Doug Walters, Allan Border, Steve and Mark Waugh
13. Favorite Commentator – Billy Birmingham (The 12th Man).
14. Favorite Cricketing Publication - Inside Cricket!
15. Favorite Cricketing Website – Cricinfo, CricketNSW and www.stgeorgecricket.com.au
16. Favorite Cricketing Brand – Kookaburra
17. Tell us about the best bat you've ever had – Can you ever go past your first bat, I had a St Peters. I've also had a few superb Symonds bats when my father was working for them. Everyone in NSW used a Symonds at that period (80's). I also had some great kooka's and am now using a big 2.12 English Slaz V200 that Alec Stewart rejected.
18. What is your most treasured cricketing item – My Kookaburra Premier Wheelbag as it gets all my stuff to cricket with much less effort than the old days. Those two little wheels have added a few extra years to my cricketing life !
19. What ideas would you propose to improve the game of cricket – Free physiotherapy and massages for all bowlers !!!
20. Rate the following three -
Test - This is true cricket. I love following Test Matches.
One Dayers – There's too much so I find myself losing interest in it. I love the World Cup though.
Twenty20 – If it pulls in new fans I'll run with it as long they don't get carried away and end up flogging it to death. Played in my first game last season and quite enjoyed the new experience.
21. What are your thoughts on the sledging issue – I'm not much of a sledger. The whole concept makes me feel uncomfortable however I must admit I do enjoy hearing about the wittier stuff!
22. Who do you rate as being the best in the last 20 years -
Batsman – Sachin Tendulkar
Bowler – Pace - Glenn McGrath, Spinner - Shane Warne and Murali
WK – Ian Healy.
Allrounder – Andrew Flintoff
Captain – Allan Border
23. Who do you rate as being the greatest cricketer of all time – Batsman - Don Bradman, Bowler - Shane Warne, Allrounder - Garfield Sobers
23b. That you have played with – At St George - Brad McNamara, Graeme Rummans and Nathan Pilon. I played one U'16's game with Adam Gilchrist so he'd have to get a mention
23c. That you have played against – Michael Slater and Brad Haddin
23d. Was there any player you simply did not like - There are a few international cricketers that brought the game into disrepute in regards to match fixing. Not a big fan of that ungentlemanly stuff.
24. Have you ever had professional cricket coaching - Have been coached by a number of quality coaches such as Barry Davison. Although my father is not a professional coach he was a great influence!
25. What is the best tip you've had or given – The most important reason to play cricket is for enjoyment. The rest works better after that.
26. Is there are song you love that you relate to cricket - There is a great song on the Classic Indian Cricket Movie Lagaan that is great. When I was growing up C'mon Aussie was the only song. We sing Oh When the Saints in the Shed's after a victory.
27. Best Cricket Video you've seen – The Greatest Test Series Ever - Australia vs India from a few years back. It had everything. The video for the recent Ashes Series is bound to be a beauty. It's worthy of a good doco ! There was also a very good doco I saw on Viv Richards.
28. Best Cricket Book you've read – I used to scour Cricket Statistics books like the Who's Who. I love my cricket stats.
29. Best Cricket "After Dinner" speaker you've seen – Bill Lawry. Kerry O'Keefe is a Crack up too.
30. Best / Nicest cricketer you've met - Invincibles Legend Sam Loxton is a wonderful character. Played in a Gray Nicolls game with Ian Healy. He is a pretty good guy to have a few beers with.
31. What other interests do you have outside of cricket – Music and travel photography are two keen passions.
32. What do you like most about working at Kingsgrove Sports Centre - I love being associated with and helping cricketers worldwide. Being able to have a net at work is handy.
33. Your Final say - See my cricket pages
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Find out more about our staff and their thoughts on our great game
1. Name and current date – Hamish Solomons 4.12.05
2. Date of Birth – 27th August 1972
3. Place of Birth – Colombo, Sri Lanka
4. Current Location - Kingsgrove, Sydney
5. Who do you play cricket for – I play for St George District Cricket Club, same club as the great Sir Donald Bradman played for when he first arrived in Sydney from Bowral.
6. In what capacity – I captain our 3rd Grade side and bowl pace and spin and am getting lower in the batting order each year !
7. Best Cricket feats – Getting up to coach every Sunday Morning !!! Playing wise, just playing for St George outweighs any personal achievement.
8. Greatest Cricket moment / memory – Winning a grade premiership after three straight grand final losses. Winning a premiership or a Club Championship in the Sydney Grade Comp. is quite special as you are competing against 19 other clubs. Winning a few club championships rates highly too.
9. Tell us little about your cricket history – I was born into cricket and was destined to play and live cricket thanks to a cricket mad father who has achieved an amazing status in the cricketing world. I'm quite priveleged and grateful to be apart of the great game from where I am. I started competing in the St George competition at the age of 6 for a club known as Kogarah boys and represented the New South Wales Primary School side as a 12 year old playing the likes of Michael Kasprowicz. I was a leg spinner in those days. I grew tired of the game in my wilder days and made a return to cricket at age 21 as a batsman for a few years before becoming a medium pace bowler. Now many year down the track I'm starting to bowl more and more off spin.
10. Tell us a little about the cricket competitions you play in – The Sydney Grade Competition is the nursery used to pick the NSW Pura Cup Side. It consists of 5 strong grades and is played totally on turf wickets. There's a bit of travelling involved but all in all it's a very well run season (by Cricket NSW) consisting of 2 day games as well as a number of limited over fixtures. Playing in this competition over a long period of time has given me the opportunity to play against some of the games Icons such as Michael Clarke, Michael Slater and Brett Lee.
11. Favorite Teams – St George, NSW, Australia and Sri Lanka
12. Favorite Players – Doug Walters, Allan Border, Steve and Mark Waugh
13. Favorite Commentator – Billy Birmingham (The 12th Man).
14. Favorite Cricketing Publication - Inside Cricket!
15. Favorite Cricketing Website – Cricinfo, CricketNSW and www.stgeorgecricket.com.au
16. Favorite Cricketing Brand – Kookaburra
17. Tell us about the best bat you've ever had – Can you ever go past your first bat, I had a St Peters. I've also had a few superb Symonds bats when my father was working for them. Everyone in NSW used a Symonds at that period (80's). I also had some great kooka's and am now using a big 2.12 English Slaz V200 that Alec Stewart rejected.
18. What is your most treasured cricketing item – My Kookaburra Premier Wheelbag as it gets all my stuff to cricket with much less effort than the old days. Those two little wheels have added a few extra years to my cricketing life !
19. What ideas would you propose to improve the game of cricket – Free physiotherapy and massages for all bowlers !!!
20. Rate the following three -
Test - This is true cricket. I love following Test Matches.
One Dayers – There's too much so I find myself losing interest in it. I love the World Cup though.
Twenty20 – If it pulls in new fans I'll run with it as long they don't get carried away and end up flogging it to death. Played in my first game last season and quite enjoyed the new experience.
21. What are your thoughts on the sledging issue – I'm not much of a sledger. The whole concept makes me feel uncomfortable however I must admit I do enjoy hearing about the wittier stuff!
22. Who do you rate as being the best in the last 20 years -
Batsman – Sachin Tendulkar
Bowler – Pace - Glenn McGrath, Spinner - Shane Warne and Murali
WK – Ian Healy.
Allrounder – Andrew Flintoff
Captain – Allan Border
23. Who do you rate as being the greatest cricketer of all time – Batsman - Don Bradman, Bowler - Shane Warne, Allrounder - Garfield Sobers
23b. That you have played with – At St George - Brad McNamara, Graeme Rummans and Nathan Pilon. I played one U'16's game with Adam Gilchrist so he'd have to get a mention
23c. That you have played against – Michael Slater and Brad Haddin
23d. Was there any player you simply did not like - There are a few international cricketers that brought the game into disrepute in regards to match fixing. Not a big fan of that ungentlemanly stuff.
24. Have you ever had professional cricket coaching - Have been coached by a number of quality coaches such as Barry Davison. Although my father is not a professional coach he was a great influence!
25. What is the best tip you've had or given – The most important reason to play cricket is for enjoyment. The rest works better after that.
26. Is there are song you love that you relate to cricket - There is a great song on the Classic Indian Cricket Movie Lagaan that is great. When I was growing up C'mon Aussie was the only song. We sing Oh When the Saints in the Shed's after a victory.
27. Best Cricket Video you've seen – The Greatest Test Series Ever - Australia vs India from a few years back. It had everything. The video for the recent Ashes Series is bound to be a beauty. It's worthy of a good doco ! There was also a very good doco I saw on Viv Richards.
28. Best Cricket Book you've read – I used to scour Cricket Statistics books like the Who's Who. I love my cricket stats.
29. Best Cricket "After Dinner" speaker you've seen – Bill Lawry. Kerry O'Keefe is a Crack up too.
30. Best / Nicest cricketer you've met - Invincibles Legend Sam Loxton is a wonderful character. Played in a Gray Nicolls game with Ian Healy. He is a pretty good guy to have a few beers with.
31. What other interests do you have outside of cricket – Music and travel photography are two keen passions.
32. What do you like most about working at Kingsgrove Sports Centre - I love being associated with and helping cricketers worldwide. Being able to have a net at work is handy.
33. Your Final say - See my cricket pages
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