Juggling cricket passion

With a passion for cricket that has never wavered, Brett Armitage has spent a lifetime batting and bowling his way to the pinnacle of his beloved sport.
The ingredients for his success were simple passion, desire and a supportive family who were behind every one of Brett’s powerful drives.
Though the best of his playing days are back in the proverbial shed, the 46yearold Narre Warren South resident has turned his attention to coaching and is dedicated to pioneering a breeding ground where local cricketers are given the chance to reach their full potential.
Juggling sport, family and his working life has become a challenging task on its own.
He is the senior coach of the Merinda Park Cricket Club, senior cricket coordinator of the West Gippsland Cricket Association, father of four, husband and general manager.
As a junior, Brett’s first crack at sport was playing football, but he soon discovered he was much more compelled by the wonderful world of cricket.
“I think most kids start off with football and it was my first love but I suffered some knee injuries.
“Then cricket came along.
“I remember hitting 47 in the under14s for Bulleen Cricket Club, that’s my earliest memory,” Brett said.
Brett’s career extends from both the rigours of outdoor cricket, to the confines of indoor cricket, where he played the highest level of the game.
A former member of the Australian Indoor Cricket team, Brett had the chance to play alongside one of Australia’s greatest outdoor cricketers.
“I was lucky enough to partner with an 18yearold Mark Waugh.
“That was pretty special,” he said.
Brett played in the 1983 Australian Championships and still stars in the Victorian state side.
“I’ve played over 100 games for Victoria and was fortunate enough to be inducted into the indoor cricket hall of fame last year.
“That absolutely blew me away,” Brett said.
Normally described as the ‘other’ form of cricket, Brett said indoor cricket had many benefits that could adapted to outdoor cricket.
“The game encourages more touch when batting and developing the ability to hit between fielders.
“Some say it teaches players to play across the line but I don’t believe that,” Brett said.
Brett is the senior cricket coordinator of West Gippsland Cricket Association and coach of the association’s recently successful representative side, the Warriors.
At the Melbourne Country Week tournament, the Warriors won through to the division three grand finals, but fell 17 agonising runs short of the 173 run target set by Hamilton.
In his second year as coach of the Warriors, Brett was aiming for backtoback championships, having steered the side to victory in division four at the previous year’s tournament.
It is clear to see that in just two seasons, Brett has rekindled the enthusiasm of West Gippsland players who now aspire to play in the Melbourne Country Week tournament.
Brett said when he accepted the position at the beginning of the 2004 season, he wanted to improve the way things were being done.
“I didn’t like what I was hearing, that’s why I got involved. A lot of people were saying the job needs to be done properly.
“Communication was breaking down, someone had to stand up and do something,” Brett said.
“The preparation process for country week needed improvement, I worked very hard on raising communication levels between the players and the association,” he said.
“It’s a big commitment for a player to play Country Week cricket and fortunately I don’t do things halfheartedly.
“The players’ job is to play cricket, my job is to prepare them for that as best I can.
“I’ve made the players realise they are representing themselves, their club and their association.
“Talent means nothing without strength, courage and selfbelief,” Brett said.
Brett’s first goal as the association’s senior cricket coordinator was to secure sponsorship for the association and he went far and beyond any expectations by signing long deals with Willow Wizard and Kookaburra, worth about $40,000.
“It was a matter of getting out they’re, ringing and calling on these organisations and doing some work.
“We’ve now got players fully sponsored by Kookaburra, the money definitely filters down to the players wanting to be the best they can and play for the Warriors,” Brett said.
As a member of the Merinda Park A grade side, Brett said prospective representative players give him a hard time in the middle of the field.
“They definitely don’t do me any favours,” he laughed.
“I think they try a little harder to get me out, it’s good fun.”
With four children, Brett, 22, Daniel, 19, James, 15, and Jarred, 14, wife Bernice and work located in Footscray, Brett said the recent Melbourne Country Week tournament was his last hurrah, and that he is ready to draw the curtain on an epic cricketing career.
“It’s been a fair innings with indoor and outdoor cricket and representing the association, the kids are growing up and I want to spend more time with my lovely wife (Bernice),” he said.
Brett said the only thing he enjoyed more than scoring a cracking century was eating out and spending countless hours with Bernice. “We love dining out and are lucky enough to be able to talk to each other for hours on end. It’s great,” he said.