In Between Balls with Peter Francis
It was announced towards the backend of pre-season that Peter Francis would be the new Club Captain for St George DCC for the 2025-26 season. Peter enjoyed a wonderful season in 2024-25 that saw him take 61 wickets and score 371 runs at a tidy average of 30.92.
Let's take a moment to learn more about the life and times of the new Club Captain by going "In Between Balls" with Peter Francis
What year were you born and where? 1998, Sydney
Can you remember your first game of cricket? How old and do you remember how you went? 7 years old playing an Under 8s game for Lugarno Sports Cricket Club at Peakhurst Park. Got to bat in a pair for 4 overs, pretty sure I scored 3 runs using an Adam Gilchrist orange Puma that was two sizes too big for me.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey? Where you’ve played, clubs you’ve played for? I haven’t missed a season since I was 7 years old. I played my junior cricket with Lugarno Sports and St George junior reps, and made my grade debut for St George in 2013 and have been here ever since. I’ve also had a couple of stints in Ireland playing for two great clubs Leinster Cricket Club and Merrion Cricket Club.
What other sports do you play? A lot of soccer growing up, now mainly cricket with an occasional bit of golf, tennis or basketball.
Highest levels in other sports played if applicable? Made regionals in the under 10 discuss throw. Also had the 12th highest score in the world in a VR cricket game at one point.
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary? Moneyball
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator? Ricky Ponting
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about? I’m semi decent on the piano
How many years did you play at St George? Made my green shield debut in 2012, so currently in year 14.
St George Nickname? Normally just Pete but have heard Franky, Petey, Poida, PDF and boofy thrown around.
Highest Level Played (St George or Representative including Jnr Level)? Tour match vs the West Indies in 2022
What’s your highest score in senior cricket? ?For which club and where? 100 in 4th grade at Harold Fraser Oval after getting dropped two grades for going to schoolies.
Highest Score for St George? 100 in 4th grade and PGs
What has been your best bowling figures in senior cricket? 7 for 21 in 2nd grade v Mosman 2016
Can you tell us which players in the club we should be looking out for in terms of higher representative honours? Will Taylor should definitely be on the radar for NSW u19 selection, Reiley Mark has had a great start to his time in Sydney after his move from Melbourne, and Steve Wark has to be close to getting a call up for the Australian over 50s side.
Who has been the scariest bowler you have played against so far? My older brother Paul when he had a growth spurt at 14 and bowled 110kmh rockets at me when I was 12. Also recently had a net session against Mitchell Starc off the long run with a new white ball. Hard to split the two.
Who has been the best spinner you have played against so far? Devlin Malone. Still have nightmares about that wrongun.
Who has been the best batsman you’ve played against? Got to play against Steve Smith three times in the year he was playing for Sutherland whilst serving his suspension. Of those three times, we only got him out once, run out.
Who has been your funniest St George team mate? Being a 16 year old in 2nd grade in a change room full of grown men was an eye opening and hilarious experience. I’d never heard people talk to one another the way that Matt Baden and Terrence Howes did with each other.
Who was your childhood hero? As a person, Dad. Seeing as Dad wasn’t much chop as a cricketer, Ricky Ponting and Dale Steyn filled that role.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet? Lebron James, Ricky Ponting, Roger Federer
Name some St George players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit? Have had the privilege of playing a fair bit with Trent Copeland and Kurtis Patterson, and a little bit with Moises Henriques, and they always showed that they were just a different level. As far as competitive, hard to go past Nick Stapleton and Jono Craig-Dobson, two guys who always wanted to be the man to get us out of a tricky situation.
Greatest St George influence? Nick Stapleton.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket? Mateship, putting yourself in challenging environments, learning and developing different skills with bat, ball and fielding
What didn’t you like? Running past one on 99
What did / do you enjoy most about playing at St George? Playing for a prestigious club with a proud history of success, and always striving to uphold and add to the high standards that come with it.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket? Winning the Irish Cup in 2023 with my club Leinster Cricket Club. We were massive underdogs in the final and I had a good game with the bat and took the final wicket to finish the game off. Huge celebrations and the perfect way to finish off my first overseas stint.
Favorite Saints Tradition? Not exclusive to Saints but love seeing a debutant getting presented with their 1st grade cap.
Tell us about the best win you’ve been involved with? Round 15 v Parramatta 2020/21 season. Needed a bonus point and 3 other results to go our way to scrape into the top 6 for the first time in 5 seasons. Had to chase 240 in 30 overs, and after finding out the other results went our way, we chased it with 2 balls to spare. Then it rained all week and we were knocked out via washout. Since then we’ve made the finals every year and that felt like the catalyst for the success we’ve had since then.
“Favorite” worst injury playing cricket? L4 stress fracture ruling me out of the 2023/24 finals was lovely. Obviously wasn’t required.
Favorite Beverage? Do love a fruity cocktail.
Favorite Food? Paella.
Favorite Holiday Destination? Ibiza
What are your hobbies? Away from work and cricket, I love music, travel, tv/film, US sports, and sending outrageous tik toks and instagram reels to my mates
What’s the best advice you’ve received? Can’t always be perfect, but can always be better
What did / do you do for a living? Lawyer at proud sponsor of the club Owen Hodge Lawyers
Greatest achievement outside of cricket? Spending 4 days in Ibiza with Moorsy and living to tell the tale.
If you were down to $10 how would you spend it? Ryanair flight to ibiza
Advise to any youngsters looking to make it in the game? Keep it simple, embrace pressure/being uncomfortable, and always want to be the one to play that innings/bowl the spell/ take the catch our run out that turns the game for your team
At the end of the 2024-25 season Peter sits on 256 wickets at 21.
The art of captaincy with Kevin Roberts. Creating a scenario that challenges the mindset of players – click to unlock the full conversation.