This week “Did You Know” Flashback: Kevin had been invited to go down to the Australian Cricket Academy based in South Australia at the time due to his association with NSW cricket, and some of the Australian players back in the 90’s and early 2000’s. At that time, the academy was headed up by Rod Marsh, and Dennis Lillee was involved with “Pace Australia”, in the breeding and development of future young Australian cricketers. Not long after this, Kev was doing some regular work out at the SCG with NSW cricket with head coach Geoff Lawson. On this one occasion, Kev was approached by cricket NSW head of coaching Alan Campbell, who said to Kev “Dennis Lillee wants to meet you, ask some questions and learn about your methods. You see, Dennis Lillee had heard of Kev and how much influence he had on the development of strength, condition and injury free, Glenn McGrath. There were other NSW players also training both directly under Kev and/or following his methods, and were echoing the sentiment. This moment was so memorable for Kev, as he’d always been a great admirer of Dennis Lillee since his own days as a junior cricketer. I mean, who wasn’t? This was the great Dennis Lillee asking to meet privately with Kev. Wow! What a compliment! They were introduced that day, and then left to talk all things cricket. And Dennis seemed to like everything Kev had to say about his views especially how to get strong, stay strong, bowl fast all day long, back up the next day, keep going. And how to stay so strong that the wear and tear of year-in year-out bowling need not necessarily lead you to be sidelined by injury. Dennis told Kev that everything he said and how he explained it, all made perfect sense. And then Dennis asked Kev to perform his complete range of stretches upon Dennis himself out on the playing field of the SCG. After Kev completed his routine, Dennis told Kev that they were the best range of stretching techniques he had ever done and been shown, and that with some of them he was indeed familiar with, and then he said he wished he’d known Kev during his playing days, as he was absolutely convinced that Kev’s approach would have confidently prevented the bad back injury and subsequent operation he undertook to extend his playing career. Of course Kev felt very honoured by this request and the compliment that followed. A few short years later, Kev bumped into Dennis Lillee at Lords cricket ground in London at the Ashes in 2005. The greeting Kev received from Dennis Lillee was as if it was the next day after their time together back at the SCG, the place of their first meeting. Also, whilst in London we had arranged to meet up with retired Australian skipper Mark Taylor, together with his manager John Fordham at a beautiful old English pub not far down the road from Harrod’s. (My favourite place while I was there!) Well. There we were having a quiet beer with Mark and John, and in comes another retired Australian cricket great Bob Cowper. Then an hour or so later, who should walk in, none other than Bob Simpson. Now for all you crickets fans out there, you should immediately know the significance of all this. I only found out once I met them. These three players – Mark Taylor, Bob Cowper, Bob Simpson formed three of the only four players in Australian cricket history to have scored a Test Triple Century. Yes, 300 runs in an innings in a Test match. The other was the great, late Sir Don Bradman. What a day! Since that day, two other Australians have also become members of this exclusive “300 Club”, Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke. Amazing, I myself not even having played cricket, felt the aura and Mark introduced Kevin as an integral part in his success. Kevin was very humbled by this compliment. A few “Stella” beers were poured, many a story was told, laughter and friendships grew. It seems that true acknowledgment for someone’s success comes when it is least expected. Cheers Vee :-)
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 03:43:32 +0000
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