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Tim Bateman - always train like it’s a game

Mt Martha Cricket Club | May 08, 2024

Tim Bateman is a tremendously loyal servant with Mt Martha Cricket Club. A one club premiership winning player who has also represented Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association at Victorian Cricket Country Week.

Tim was also named in the best 12 players to have represented Mt Martha in club in the 25th anniversary 1979 to 2005.

Let’s find out more about Tim’s journey in the game

What year you were born?

1978

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

Under 12 s for Mt Martha at Citation Oval. I think I was 10 and tried cutting the first ball off middle stump and got bowled. Quite symbolic of my batting career.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Played my entire career at Mt Martha Cricket Club. Juniors from Under 12 to Under 16s. Then left cricket to play tennis and golf. I came back to cricket when I was 19 after growing about a foot. The only other club I played for was Pool Cricket Club for one season in the United Kingdon just outside of Leeds.

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?

19 in the thirds at Mt Martha.

What was the highest grade you played and can you remember what you were feeling when you were selected and how did you perform on debut?

Provincial 1sts first game was against Robbie Bedford who I’m sure made 100. I was thinking golf looks a lot better right now. Country week was a great experience as well.

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

Opening bowler who loved bowling downhill with the wind. Unfortunately when I first started I was the mule pushing up into it thanks to having Darryn Abblitt in the same team. I thought I was an all-rounder but the stats wouldn’t indicate that.

Tim Bateman playing tennis

What were your strengths as a player?

Consistent line and length and loyal clubman.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

Choked 84 against Somerville. Never made a senior 100.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

8 for 40 against Langwarrin in a reverse outright win.

Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

Simon Burriss from Mornington, I couldn’t believe how far back the keeper was. I’m sure I ran myself out deliberately.

Mark Grenville West Indian from Seaford. I came out to bat after Darren Hammill was walking off with his arm bent the wrong way and broken.

Adam Jones from Peninsula old boys always seemed to hurry onto you.

Who were the best three spinners you have played against?

Didn’t really rate spinners to be honest and I always tried to hit them on the full. Maybe that’s why I got stumped a lot.

Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

Anthony Blackwell. Had some great battles but it seemed like he always made plenty of runs against us.

Dan Warwick. If we didn’t get him early it was going to be a long afternoon and maybe some smashed windscreens.

Ben Clements always looked to be cruising.

?Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Andrew Brown 140 in District Grand Final Mt Martha vs Mt Eliza. He basically won us the game in the first session.

Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?

Lots of them but Glen Barclay from Crib Point seemed to always get me lbw.

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?

Playing against Hastings early on in my career. In their innings I hit their opening batsman flush on the forehead with the new ball (no helmet) and it put a bit of a hole in him. Next week I spent a good amount of time ducking and weaving against Ben Claypole.

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Andrew West was pretty clean and he did come up to the stumps sometimes which was pretty disrespectful!!

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

Anthony Blackwell and Scotty Phillips

Anthon Blackwell

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

Andrew Brown was a great leader and we had some awesome success as a club when he was there.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Chris Holcombe

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

Anything to do with David Sands batting or bowling or fielding as he always made us laugh. Best one was at Baxter when he tried to stop a four, he ran into the fence and it went down.

Who was your childhood hero?

Brett Lee