VSDCA: Veteran Ormond’s Rodney Bird claims seven-wicket haul

Experienced Ormond left-armer Rodney Bird has a simple secret to success when it comes to taking wickets. Here’s how he does it.

Ormond opening bowler Rodney Bird has credited his sustainable success to physio and the single life.

After claiming 7-46 in the Monders’ 138-run Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association win over Moorabbin, Bird – who turns 41 next month – is confident his secret is simple.

“I suppose maybe being a single man and not having anyone to answer to is probably one strong point, with no wife and kids your mind can be put elsewhere in life,” he joked.

“When I left (Victorian) Premier Cricket and came to Subbies, I wanted to make a theme of maintaining and not fading away, not being one of those guys that fade out of the game quickly.

“I put an emphasis on maintaining a good life balance, staying fit and doing little bits here or there, regular physio – which as a fast bowler you really need.”

The seamer has taken 282 VSDCA wickets since leaving Victorian Premier Cricket, but admits the last two years with white-ball have been extremely challenging.

“It’s been refreshing, big time, I think I have been burned out with white-ball cricket – it’s been mentally draining,” he said.

“You’re constantly thinking about run rates and changing the fields, there’s stuff going on all the time.

“Red-ball cricket it’s just one ball after another and getting the next bloke out, you can switch off between balls because it’s played at a much lower intensity.”

Bird is happy to be letting the red ball fly over the white ball. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With the seven-wicket haul being Bird’s first in a number of seasons, the opening bowler revealed the breakthrough performance has squashed some of his doubts.

“The older you get, into your thirties and then hitting the forty mark, it doesn’t get any easier,” he explained.

“You sort of ask yourself: ‘can I still do this?’, but when you can still put a performance out like that… yeah the feeling you gets better every time.

“The initial plan for me was to bowl short and sharp sets of overs to give it 100 per cent and have another burst, those days of bowling longs are probably behind me and be a bit smarter.

“But I suppose as the wickets kept coming, we thought we might as well keep going and make hay while the sun shines.”

The win takes the Monders to 57 points on the North/South ladder, just percentage behind ladder-leaders Kew with four home and away matches left.

Fellow South side Brighton completed its outright victory over Ivanhoe, courtesy of skipper Peter Cassidy finishing with match figures of 11-38.

46 not out from Sam Arthur steered Malvern to a two-wicket win over Strathmore, passing the home side in the 68th over.

Oakleigh, meanwhile, pushed for full points over Port Melbourne but fell just short to eventually come away with first innings points.

A swashbuckling 62 off just 58 balls from Coburg skipper Aaron Shellie wasn’t enough to reel in Caulfield’s monstrous total of 360, landing on 297 at the close of play.

Oliver Hayes was the pick of the bowlers, snaring 5-49 from his 14 overs.