It has been my great privilege to represent Derbyshire for the last 11 years and to be granted a benefit is an amazing honour.
It has been a terrific experience. I grew up in Australia but now Derbyshire has become my home. I have grown very fond of this place and its people. In particular, my lovely girlfriend Claire, the staff at the club, my teammates and our loyal supporters who have always been there and have stuck with us through our difficult times.
First of all I need to thank my Mum! Representative cricket at any level in Australia involves a lot of travel and I am extremely grateful to my mother who basically put her life on hold for several years while she was ferrying me around Victoria to different tryouts and training sessions often three or four times a week. Without her help I certainly would never have come across the opportunities that have led me to this point.
It was always my dream of playing cricket in England. Believe it or not it most young Aussie cricketers can’t wait to finish school and make the pilgrimage to the home of the game and try out the warm beer etc. When the then Derbyshire and Victoria coach Les Stillman asked me whether I would like to get involved, I jumped at the chance.
I first arrived in May 1997. I lived with my Grandparents in Cambridge and, thanks to my Grandfather s recommendation the strong club side Cambridge Granta took me on. I landed on a Friday morning which happened to precede the first league match of the season. That afternoon I attended my first training session.
I didn’t bat too well. I remember overseas player Jason Coleman debating whether or not I should be picked in the first team for their first game. On the flight over I had the good fortune to be upgraded to business class and let’s just say I took full advantage. I blamed my scratchy form on jet lag but I think it was more likely the complimentary champagne!
To cut a long story short, I got picked, scored 88 on the Saturday and a hundred on the Sunday and from that point on, well at least my Grandfather could breathe a sigh of relief.
Shortly after, I got involved with the Derbyshire second XI which was particularly successful at that time. I will never forget the camaraderie and sense of fun we shared while enjoying each other s successes. At that point I knew that I wanted to be a professional cricketer.
We have had our struggles in the past but at Derbyshire now we have developed a talented and hungry
young squad with its best years to come. I have noticed that as I get older, every year I become more
desperate to accomplish certain things. It’s definitely an exciting time to be involved with the club and to be part of the Derbyshire squad that wins promotion or a one day trophy is the biggest goal of mine.
I hope you enjoy reading the contributions to this website as much as I have, you may notice
certain themes (some kinder than others) appearing the articles, particularly those written by the ‘lads’.
Let’s just say I intend to get my own back some day!
Look forward to seeing you during the year.
Stubbo
Matches : 122
Innings : 222
Not Out : 11
Runs : 6755
Highest Score : 151 v Somerset at Taunton, 2005
Average : 32.01
100's : 12
90's : 9
50's : 35
Catches : 55
Matches : 108
Innings : 101
Not Out : 5
Runs : 2417
Highest Score : 110 v Northamptonshire at Northampton, 2006
Average : 25.17
100's : 1
90's : 3
50's : 13
Catches : 17
Matches : 9
Innings : 9
Not Out : 1
Runs : 186
Highest Score : 57 v Leicester at Grace Road, 2006
Average : 23.0
50's : 2
Strike Rate : 96.87
Catches : 4
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