Lead on, prodigious son
With his father, Graeme, a life member and lower-grade legend, GEORGE CHISHOLM was born into the very fabric of the Newtown & Chilwell Cricket Club. Anointed Shane Franklin’s successor as Two Blues’ skipper, the 25-year-old wasted no time making his mark with a crucial all-round performance of 86 not out and 2-26 in his side’s exciting opening-round win over Lara. On the eve of his 100th game for the club, Chisholm spoke with GCA1 reporter WES CUSWORTH WES CUSWORTH: Well last week made a great way to start your tenure as captain.
GEORGE CHISHOLM: I couldn’t have planned it any better to be honest. We went in intending to bowl first, even though it looked like a really flat wicket and a great day to have a hit. We went in with a plan, came out with a win. I thought Cooper Bingham and Will Simson batted really well in the chase to get us over the line. It was a really great way to start and comforting the way the boys helped me.
WC: You had a front-row seat to the Cooper Bingham show, with his 90 not out from 69 balls with 12 fours and four sixes.
GC: It was the perfect time for him to come to the crease. I’d done some damage to the score, but after 50 overs in the field, first game of the season on a sunny day, I was pretty tired. To know that we needed 100-130 runs to get in 20 to 25 overs and then to see Cooper come in and bat the way that he batted, it was pressure off my back. But it also shows what he can do and what he might be able to do in the future for the club. To do it in the first round should give him a lot of confidence.
WC: Having said that, you’re still chasing your maiden First XI century. Did the speed with which he scored rob you of an opportunity?
GC: I wasn’t thinking about it too much because I never really know what I’m on when it comes to those kinds of scores. My run rate had definitely slowed down, so I was very happy to see him hitting fours and sixes. I was just really happy to get the win, in my first game as captain, although, yes, I am very keen to score my first 100 in firsts.
WC: It seems you were always destined to play at Newtown & Chilwell.
GC: Yeah, even though Dad didn’t play at the highest standard he’s still certainly provided plenty of runs, wickets and premierships at the club. I’m actually named after George Briggs, another legend at the club who was Dad’s best mate. He passed away before I was born, so I never got to meet the man. I played under-13s and 15s with my twin brother Tom in the Chisholm team. I can tell you I’m always going to be at Newtown.
WC: I believe you initially played in the First XI as a wicketkeeper.
GC: I did. I came back from overseas when I was 19 in 2012-13 and snuck into the seconds’ premiership as a wicketkeeper. I did it a little bit in junior cricket and then focused on my off-spin bowling at 17. When I realised they needed a keeper I put my hand up and played my first seasons in the ones as a keeper. As time went on I once again focused on my batting and bowling.
WC: The story of your transitioning into the captaincy wouldn’t be complete without recognising the mentoring role of Shane Franklin over the past few years.
GC: Yeah for sure. Shane’s influence has been huge. I didn’t even know Shane before he came to the club, but straight away he became friends with everyone. He was one of those guys that you could look up to and you just knew his history in cricket and how much he knew about the game. I had a little bit of captaining in juniors, but it was nothing like playing senior cricket and especially ones. There was a time where I thought I would love to do it one day, but I just didn’t know when or where. I spoke to Dev Royce (director of cricket), and he said to me, that with Shane giving up the captaincy, he wanted me to do it. I said I wanted to do it, there wasn’t any hesitation in saying yes. I’ve made it clear to the guys that any help from anyone will be appreciated, that’s how I want the team to be run. I don’t want them thinking that I’m to be the only one making all the calls, it’s about sharing the load around and seeing how we go from there.
St Kilda v Geelong Bell Post Hill v East Belmont; Newtown & Chilwell v St Joseph’s; Geelong City v Lara; North Geelong v South Barwon; Grovedale v Leopold
St Peter’s v Murgheboluc; Highton v Marshall; Thomson v Man. Heights; Torquay v Bell Park
Newcomb & District v Teesdale; Guild-Saints v St Albans Breakwater; Modewarre v Geelong West; Corio v Alexander Thomson; Waurn Ponds-Deakin v Bannockburn
Anglesea v Ocean Grove; Barrabool v Barwon Heads; Jan Juc v Portarlington; Drysdale v Collendina
Winchelsea v Inverleigh; Ocean Grove v St Leonards; Wallington v Newcomb; L/River v Queenscliff