My Flickit Teams
A key element of Flickit Cricket is that you (the player) are the captain of your team. You get to choose your own team mates and these players could be anyone. They might be international cricket greats, your friends, your all time heroes, or even fictional characters. You must include yourself in the team because you are the captain.
It got me thinking about who my ultimate Flickit Cricket team would be? I decided to draw up a team list of my cricketing heroes. I have watched and loved cricket for more than 40 years, and I’ve seen so many great players come and go, from all cricketing nations. I admit that this list focuses heavily on Australian cricketers from the 1970’s and 80’s, but what can I say - childhood heroes stay with you a long time! There are many more players that could have made this list but I managed to narrow it down to my first XI. I call my team Scott’s Superstars.
Scott’s Superstars
1. David Boon – He was just so cool. Everyone in Australia loved Booney! He epitomizes the Aussie battler spirit. He was also the first Tasmanian of note to play test cricket for Australia. I will always remember his square cut which was majestic and the catch he took at the MCG to give Warney his hat trick.
2. Jonny Dyson- Won the channel nine Classic Catches competition with the best catch I had ever seen (at the time). He was on the boundary and hung in the air for ages to take a brilliant catch. I will never forget Bill Lawry saying ‘What a catch! What a catch! One of the greatest catches you will ever see!’ and it still is. If you haven’t seen it watch this!
3. David Hookes- David was a South Australian left handed batsman who I loved to watch. He didn’t play many tests for Australia but he was always scoring runs for South Australia in Shield Cricket. I was always hoping the Aussie selectors would pick him but they rarely did. I remember a famous sign that a witty member of the crowd put up at the Adelaide Oval, when Victoria were trying to entice David to their team. It said, “Keep Vic bait off our Hooks”. They loved him in South Australia and he should have played more for Australia.
4. Steve Smith- I am in awe of this guy. Amazing record for Australia. He reminds me of me when I was 9 years old, I just lived and breathed cricket then. I couldn’t get enough of it. Steve Smith is the adult version of a 9 year old kid with the batting ability of a Tendulkar. Even more amazing is that he started out playing for Australia as a leg spinner. I still think he has ability as a leg spinner and if I had the chance I would coach him tomorrow.
5. Kim Hughes- My all time cricketing hero. His record actually wasn’t that good compared to the greats, but he was my idol. I loved watching him bat and I wouldn’t leave the television whilst he was batting. I used to cry when he got out. I got to meet him when I played at Subiaco Floreat Cricket Club in Perth. His advice to me was “watch the ball and hit it”. Looking back I wish I had been brave enough to talk to him more.
6. Sir Vivian Richards- The coolest guy ever to play cricket, and one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He was awesome to watch when he was at the crease, and I loved his strut. I too used to chew gum on the cricket field until I got fed up with biting my tongue. I obviously wasn’t as cool as Viv.
7. Adam Gilchrist- I got to know Adam when he attended the Cricket Academy the year after me. We would play pool and have a few beers at the pub in Port Adelaide where he was staying. He is such a good guy and his ability as a wicket keeper batsman is up there with the best of all time.
8. Abdul Qadir- He was the reason I took up bowling leg spin. I loved his action, energy and ability. I used to be a quick bowler until I saw Abdul Qadir bowl. I changed to leg spin, copied his action and without a single lesson from anyone, made it to the Australian Cricket Academy. Not bad looking back!
9. Scott Moody- With so many heroes, it was hard to include myself, but since I’m the captain, I’d better be in the team!
10. Sir Richard Hadlee- I remember Sir Richard and Martin Crowe carrying New Zealand cricket right through the 1980’s. They were a two man team. A brilliant bowler and lower order batsman who had to endure the cruel Aussie chant of “Hadlee’s a wanker” when he ran into bowl. Respect!
11. Terry Jenner- He was my leg spin bowling coach and mentor. I was lucky enough to work alongside him in Australia and later in England and get to know him well. I respected him so much and was devastated when he passed away.
12th Man - Bruce Springsteen- OK, he is not a cricketer but I have grown up idolizing the music from this genius. My parents bought me his Born in the USA album and since then I have bought every album he ever released. So many great songs, so it is impossible to pick a favourite. If I Should Fall Behind was my wedding song so I guess that is pretty special. If you haven’t listened to Bruce then you are missing out. The Boss rules and always will in my eyes.
Just for fun, I have come up with another team (it would be an insult to some great cricketers to call them my ‘second team’!) The criteria for this one is that I must have played with them as teammates. For those who don’t know my background, you will already have gathered that I grew up in Australia. I was a self-taught leg spinner, and played for Queensland junior, U19 and U21 teams. I was fortunate enough to be selected to attend the Australian Institute of Sport Cricket Academy, where I trained and played alongside several young men who went on to become legends of the game.
Ok, I admit it - there is a lot of name dropping going on here, but I am proud to say that I have played with these greats of the game. I hope you don’t mind me showing off a bit.
Moody’s Teammates
1. Justin Langer- I played with Justin against England in 1990 and he was also a team mate when we toured Sri Lanka with the Australian Academy Team.
2. Matthew Hayden- Matthew was a team mate of mine in the Queensland under 19 and 21 teams.
3. Michael Slater- I played with Michael when I toured Sri Lanka in 1990 with the Aussie Academy team. I first met him in hospital when he had fallen off his bike. A story for another time.
4. Damien Martyn- Damien was a team mate when we played the England Test touring team in 1990. (Damien took the catch off my bowling to dismiss Michael Atherton - very happy about that!)
5. Greg Blewett- I played with Greg against England in 1990 and he was a team mate when we toured Sri Lanka. Greg was an awesome golfer. A very very talented sportsman.
6. Wayne Phillips- ‘Flipper’ was my captain when I played for Sturt Cricket Club in Adelaide. He loved to remind me of how many tests and one day internationals he played for Australia. I still remember today: 27 Tests and 48 One Day Internationals.
7. Scott Moody- Captain of Flickit Cricket Team- batting 7 (I can bat where I want, I am the captain!)
8. Shane Warne- Never heard of him, have you? I played with Shane against England in 1990. He is part of my three pronged leg Spin Bowling attack.
9. Colin Miller- I played with ‘funky’ at Sturt Cricket Club in Adelaide. He was our opening bowler then, he swung the ball for fun. Colin turned to off spin in his late twenties and played for Australia. He had Courtney Walsh in hysterics when he came on to bowl with blue hair.
10. Michael Kasprowicz- Kasper was a team mate of mine in the Queensland under 19 and 21 teams. He was quick at 18, I used to hate facing him in the nets.
11. Stuart McGill- Stuart was a team mate of mine when we toured Sri Lanka in 1990. He is the third spinner in my leg spin bowlers attack.
12th Man- Murray Goodwin- I played with Murray at Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club in Perth. I won two premierships with Murray, great memories of those times. “Subi once, Subi twice, Holy… (better not sing the rest!)” Muzza gets it!
So there you have it - my all time Heroes and my Teammates Flickit Cricket Teams! Order your copy of Flickit Cricket now and you could soon be captain of your own team of heroes!