MPCA champion Nick Christides to play 400th First XI game in grand final

Nick Christides talks about becoming the MPCA’s first 400-game First XI player, his trademark dashing approach to batting and the hurt behind his move from Delacombe Park to Pines.

Nick Christides on the attack for Pines. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Nick Christides has never worn a helmet and doesn’t plan to start now.

Stand and deliver, take ‘em on, fearless...the dashing opener is Mornington Peninsula cricket’s version of Billy the Kid.

On the eve of becoming the MPCA’s first player to reach 400 First XI games, Christides reflects on his brilliant career — and a close shave.

The 51-year-old has faced the fastest, angriest and best pacemen the MPCA has had over the past 38 years.

He remembers facing a fired-up Rodney Hogg, who was playing for Red Hill.

The sight of a cap-wearing Christides walking out to bat was like a red rag to a bull for ex-Test quickie Hogg.

“Doc Vose was captain (of Red Hill) and he put a deep mid-on, a deep mid-wicket, like, before I’d faced a ball,” he said.

“And Hoggy cracked the shits, said, ‘what the f...? He hasn’t even faced a ball’.

“And, no shit, it zinged past my face and my hat came off. It was pretty quick.”

Nick Christides blasts off for Delacombe Park. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Christides will reach 400 in the biggest game of the season, the MPCA Provincial grand final, on Saturday.

He will face the first ball for Pines in the flag decider against Simon Dart’s Red Hill.

And there’s every chance “Chico” will give it a whack.

That’s the way he’s always approached batting, a style that has brought him almost 13,000 runs and thrilled teammates and onlookers alike across four decades.

“It’s always been, see the ball hit the ball,” he said.

“Like, keep it simple. If it’s there to hit, back your own ability. And I’ve done that pretty much the whole way through.

“It took me quite a number of years before I had the strength to hit over the top because I was a skinny little kid.”

Christides was only 14 when he made his First XI debut at Delacombe Park in 1986-87, under the late, great Colin Bowes.

“He was trying to get me to play the year before,” Christides said.

“He’d spoken to my mum — I didn’t even know, my mum told me later — and she said ‘no, he’s not playing First XI cricket’.

“So it was squashed. I could have played more games.

“It’s funny how the wheel turns and now I’m playing with Bowesy’s grand kids (the Jackson brothers).”

Nick Christides waits to bat for Mornington Peninsula at Country Week at the Junction Oval.

Christides was a rusted-on Delacombe Park champion for over 30 years, until four years ago he surprised many by moving to Pines.

Club politics was behind the shock switch.

“Honestly, I didn’t even want to do it,” he said.

“We just had a bit of a falling out, and I didn’t appreciate the way I was spoken to.

“I thought, ‘well, if you don’t care if I’m here or there, I’ll go.

“I was pretty pissed off and hurt. It still lingers to this day. But I’m a lot more settled with everything and happy.”

And the move to Pines?

“It’s been great,” he said.

Ricky Ramsdale played alongside Christides at Delacombe, and got him over to the Piners. He regards Christides as one of his closest friends and a champion.

“He’s probably my favourite person to watch bat because he’s an entertainer,’’ he said.

“And he’s got to be one of the GOATS of the competition because of longevity.

“I give him credit because people at Delacombe Park probably wrote him off. I told him, ‘you’ve got plenty left’.

“He’s scored another 360 runs this year. He’s been an absolute champion.’’