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D.O.B: 08/06/69
The arrival of Ben Harrison at Blackmans Bay District Cricket Club was rumoured a season or two before he took the field for the first time with the Sharks. Joining us to assist the senior coach in 2004/2005, Ben bought many years of coaching experience from the TCA, particularly with the University Cricket Club, and added a professional edge to the sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Although the club struggled on field during that season, a number of young players made consistent appearances in A grade and under the wise tutelage of the assistant coach progressed to become regular contributors for the first XI. Ben took the reigns as senior coach in 2005/2006 and immediately set about changing the club’s fortunes. With an aggressive recruitment policy and well structured pre season program the club attracted a number of talented cricketers to “top up” our list and lead us onto finals appearances in A and B grade in Ben’s first year as coach. The performance of the A grade side in 05/06 was a great credit to Ben and it was only a handful of runs that prevented him from recording an A grade premiership in his first year as coach. On the field, Ben has taken over the reigns of the B grade side, becoming known as a masterful tactician, more than handy bowler and an aggressive middle order bat. His individual highlights include the decimation of the Southern Tigers batting line up in recording 6 for 31 and notching up two half centuries in cavalier style during 05/06 that helped him win the Dick Goodwin Medal for the B grade Best and Fairest player in that season. On a lighter note, Ben and his wife Cathryn have hosted many an evening at the “Brightwater Café” after the facilities at Sherburd have closed and are now going through an extensive “refurbishment” of the facilities for the coming season. Wearing his distinctive “double zero” shirt, there is little doubt about Ben’s popularity amongst the opposition clubs, with players always keen for a chat with him during the game, a request that he is often happy to oblige. More than a few players have questioned their mental health when, at home, the voice of the coach has boomed from the television instructing them to see some bloke called Simon or to shop at IGA. Concepts such as “hot 5’s”, “poles with noses”, and “the compressor” have also been successfully introduced to the club culture by Ben. |
