Nov

Railway Union's Sam Farthing - Profile and Interview

Name: Sam Farthing

Date of Birth: 2 December 1972

Place of Birth: Canberra, Australia

Height: 5’10’’

Weight: A problem

Occupation: Stockbroker

Speciality: Wicketkeeper

Bat: Right-hand, started the season in the top order, slowly progressed towards the bottom as the season progressed (still finished above Carlo “Bunny” Rendell though!)

Previous Clubs: Richmond, Victoria, Mosman, NSW (both a long time ago)

Playing with Railway Union since: 2009 was my first season

Why in the News: In his first season in Leinster Senior cricket, 36-year-old Farthing the Railway stumper won the Hopkins Cup. In 13 matches Farthing claimed 21 'victims' with 16 catches and 5 stumpings.

CP: Congratulations on winning the Hopkins Cup. What does it mean to you?

SF: I returned to cricket after a long time (13 years) away from the game with the hope that I still had some skills and that I could contribute as part of a team. Given that, I never dreamed of winning any prizes or awards, so I am delighted with how things have progressed.

Of course, as a keeper, you only get the chances that are made by your bowlers and (despite what Stu Daultrey says) I am happy to have held on to some of them.

CP: How was the season at Railway - it started and finished well but the piece in the middle wasn't great, with injuries and the pro going back?

SF: I think you are right; we started well but were probably a little over-reliant on key players and individual performances, which carried us through some of the early matches.

I think the poorer results in the middle of the season were a result of the team not quite coming together at that stage. In the last third we really played as a united team, and this led to our improved results.

As for losing our pro Magnum, it was not necessarily a bad thing for the team but for me I was sad to see him leave. It was a nice challenge keeping to him, and, in my view, he has the potential to be a class spin-bowler.

CP: How was the season for you personally?

SF: Beyond expectations. As I mentioned I hadn’t played for a number of years and never before in Ireland (despite having lived here for 9 years or so).

I was impressed by the standard of cricket generally, although it took me a while to get used to the pitches, which I must say were generally much better than I expected them to be.

It also took a while for my reflexes to be retuned. I was happy with how my keeping developed through the season (bar from a couple of games in the middle).

I also felt my batting was returning by the end of the season (although this was clearly not a view widely held within the club).

CP: Were Railway disappointed to lose out on the League after pushing Clontarf all the way?

SF: With about 6 games to go we knew that we had a chance if we all lifted our performances a little. It was a real team effort, that final run of games, with everyone contributing in different games.

I was delighted with how the team performed and it was a real buzz to be involved with the guys and to be in with a chance at the end.

Unfortunately, we let ourselves down batting against Clontarf in the crucial match and after that the league was in their hands.

In fairness, Clontarf is/was a very good side at this level, they beat us twice in the league and rightfully deserved to be winners.

CP: What was your highlight of the season?

SF: Probably the series of games in the run up to the end of the season and being on top of the league at the end of our games (for about 18 hours).

CP: What has been the highlight of your cricket career to date?

SF: They were so long ago.

CP: And your biggest disappointment?

SF: Getting demoted in the RUCC batting line up below Greg Lambert who’s in his fifties.

CP: What are your remaining ambitions in the game?

SF: I am hoping to play for a few more seasons yet before devoting my efforts on developing my kids into cricketers (against the wishes of their West of Ireland mother).

I think I have a level or two of performance higher than what I produced this year in me and will need to work on sharpening up both physically and mentally.

I think we have a good set up at Railway, it is an inclusive club with a lot of committed people involved, and I’d like to stay involved and try to help the club win a few more trophies over the next few years.

There are some good young keepers at the club so I will need to work hard to keep to my position. I also hope I can help in developing them.

I still hope to unleash my leggies sometime soon.

CP: Favourite cricketer and why?

SF: Dennis Lillee was my hero when I was a kid, it was amazing what he could do with a ball and the way he thought batsmen out.

This was the era of World Series Cricket and the players had suddenly become megastars. I remember having a vinyl record of “C’mon Aussie C’mon” as a really young kid (I must have been 5). I think I can still remember all the words to that song (there were verses, it wasn’t just C’mon Aussie C’mon repeated over and over).

After that, I used to love watching the elegance of Greenidge and Haynes open batting for the West Indies and the effortless arrogance of Viv Richards. As I got a bit older I used to love watching Mark Waugh bat when he was in his prime (again the effortlessness appealed to me).

I guess as I have got even older I appreciate more the mental grittiness of Steve Waugh.

CP: Biggest influence on your career?

SF: As I guess with most people – my dad, who has a great passion for the game.

CP: What will you be doing during the close season instead of playing cricket?

SF: Looking after my ever-increasing army of young children. Maybe getting a game of golf in every now and then.

CP: What else are you passionate about besides cricket?

SF: My family. Good food (cooking and eating) and wine (hence the weight problem)...