In Between Balls with Jonathon Craig-Dobson
We recently caught up with 2023-24 Grand Final hero and John Benaud Medal winner purely because we knew it would turn out to be a great read. Let's go in between balls with St George First Grade player No.452.... Jonathon Craig Dobson
What year you were born and where?
Taree Base Hospital November 1995
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
First official game of cricket I remember was under 10’s for Wingham out at the Wingham Sporting Complex. You’d bat in pairs for 4 overs.I think I got out 3 times, nearly threw my bat the third time I was that annoyed. I remember using a Kookaburra Kahuna from the team kit and I swore never to use a Kookaburra again. Still haven’t.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I grew up in the town of Wingham on the NSW Mid North Coast. I played for Wingham and the junior rep teams when I was based there – Manning, Mid North Coast, North Coast. I moved to Sydney at 18 and played four years for Sydney University and six years for St George.
What other sports do you play?
I played a lot of sports growing up, in particular soccer and tennis. I stopped playing soccer around 14 as I’d only have two months off cricket. I kept playing tennis competitively until I was 18-19. Nowadays I play golf and do a bit of running.
Highest levels in other sports played if applicable?
NSW Combined Catholic Schools tennis
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary?
Sports Movie – Warrior, Documentary – The Last Dance
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Growing up Richie Benaud and Ian Chappell. Today I’d say Ricky Ponting. Although I do have a soft spot for Michael Holding.
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about?
Long time watcher of anime and read manga.
How many years did you play at St George?
6 years
St George Nickname?
Dobbo, Birdman or Birdsh*t and very later on Richie
Highest Level Played (St George or Representative including Jnr Level)?
First Grade St George No. 452
What’s your highest score in senior cricket? For which club and where?
109 in First Grade St George against Fairfield-Liverpool
Highest Score for St George?
As above
What has been your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
6/13 in third grade against Northern Districts for Sydney Uni
Best day out with the ball for St George?
2nd Innings of the 1st Grade Grand Final against Manly in 2023-24 with 6-51 to go with 3-31 in the first innings
Can you tell us which players in the club we should be looking out for in terms of higher representative honours?
I haven’t played the last season and a half, but I would say the two Blakes – Blake MacDonald and Blake Nikitaris. Raf MacMillian is the best spin bowler I’ve had the chance to play with and for how young he is I think he has a chance to go a long way.
Who has been the scariest bowler you have played against so far?
Henry Thorton downhill with a 40km/h wind behind his back at Waverley Oval wasn’t fun to witness.
Who has been the best spinner you have played against so far?
Devlin Malone – the first game I played against Uni since moving to St George I think I played and missed 15 times to his wrong-un. The one time I thought I picked it I left a leg break, and it smashed into my front pad, plumb.
Who has been the best batsman you’ve played against?
Again, a game against Uni, it was a One Day Quarter Final we posted 218 on a tricky, tacky wicket. Trent Copeland had them 3/10, Nick Larkin proceeded to play the one of the best innings I’ve seen. He was playing solely on the T20 circuit at the time and his ball striking was ridiculous. He scored over half their runs that day and single-handily won them the game.
Who has been your funniest St George team mate?
Kaleb ‘Lips’ Phillips and Dave ‘Two Step’ Williams would have to be two of the funniest blokes I know around cricket, for vastly different reasons. Lips was a man of few words, but his one-liners were almost catchphrases. Two Step would have just some of the most outrageous commentary and experiences which he was more than happy to share.
Who was your childhood hero?
My Dad was a big influence for me and when I was younger someone I idolised. As I grew up he became the closest person I could talk to about cricket and until the age of 15 had the biggest impact on me as a person and a cricketer. In the international sporting scene, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath were two heroes of mine as was Roger Federer.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Roger Federer, David Goggins, Michael Jordan
Name some St George players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit?
Being at St George I’ve had the luxury of playing with a number of great cricketers. However, some of the innings I’ve seen Blake MacDonald play, 360 degree player have been freakish. Blake Nikitaris’ 100 in the T20 grand final I’d have to throw in there as well. In terms of competitive spirit, although not St George players, I’d have shoutout Tom Kierath and Ben Joy at Sydney Uni. They were two of the most competitive people I’ve met. There’s a reason they won four 2nd Grade comps in a row. At St George, Nick Stapleton is the first to come to mind. Andrew Walsh never stopped giving 100% and low key has one some of the best career stats/moments you’ll ever see. Also playing most of my final season with Kurtis Patterson, I saw how competitive and passionate that man is about cricket.
Greatest St George influence?
Nick Stapleton, as much as it hurts me to say, but he knew how to get the best out of me. Nick Warren was a massive help for both my bowling and batting.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?
The mateship and the competition between bat and bowl. Yes, it is a team sport, but the contest between batsman and bowler is something that I’ve always loved.
What didn’t you like?
Losing and listening to the opponent's team song. Second would be doing the covers after 96 overs in the field
What did / do you enjoy most about playing at St George?
Again, the mateship and relationship you develop that last outside and after cricket. I was very fortunate that we had a very tight knit squad when I was playing. We were also successful which meant we spent a lot of our weekends together. These are long-standing memories and relationships I’ll never forget.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Winning the Belvidere Cup in 2023/24 season and player of the match in the Grand Final. Happily, my last game of cricket
Favorite Saints Tradition?
Singing the team song after a win.
Tell us about the best win you’ve been involved with?
That grand final in 2023/24 against Manly is top of the list. Each team had 4-5 state cricketers in their team, it lasted two and a half days and it was the tensest game I’ve been a part of. I was glad I could spend a chunk of time in the middle, because it was painstakingly slow watching from the sidelines. It was also sweet revenge as I had lost a second-grade grand final to Manly 4 years earlier and was the last player dismissed in that game.
“Favorite” worst injury playing cricket?
Quadriceps rupture, was running to field a ball at Glenn McGrath oval, ruptured my quad in front of Steve Waugh who was watching his son play. I felt slightly embarrassed, but he did ask if I was alright.
Favorite Beverage?
A good Coffee – specifically Long Black.
Favorite Food?
I’m very lucky that my wife’s an amazing cook, so any home cooked meal from her.
Favorite Holiday Destination?
Overseas – Croatia
In Australia - Noosa
What are your hobbies?
Running and golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Only worry about what you can control.
Hard work always beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard.
Good, better, best never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best
What do you do for a living?
I’m a Physiotherapist for the North Sydney Bears and AXIS Physiotherapy
Greatest achievement outside of cricket?
Completing my physiotherapy degree and running 100km
If you were down to $10 how would you spend it?
Jeez, that doesn’t get you much now days, I’ve got a sweet tooth so probably go to one of those weigh it yourself lolly shops and buy $10 worth of lollies.
Advise to any youngsters looking to make it in the game?
You learn best from your failings than your successes, and cricket is a game designed for those that deal with failure the best. Make sure to have a couple of people you can trust and rely on in your corner for coaching and advice. Always set goals, whether it's for a season or a career and work your arse off to achieve them. You’ll be surprised how far just hard work can get you. But when you put the bat and ball away for the day make sure you can switch off and relax. It’s a passion, a hobby or even a job but at the end of the day it's just that, don’t let it consume you.
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