Howzat? Nev pads up for Palmwoods Cricket Club at 79 years of age

Nev Kratzmann: “I hit Thommo for two fours, but he also got me on the shoulder with a bouncer.”

At 79 Woombye’s Nev Kratzmann is still at the crease. He’s padding up for Palmwoods Cricket Club this weekend. The club games are in addition to his commitments to the Queensland over 70s side.

“I still enjoy the game. I’m going to play for Palmwoods this year in the fixtures on Saturdays. I open the batting and bowl a bit of slow stuff (off spin),” he said. 

“I’ll probably play sixth grade or something like that. I don’t know. They haven’t picked the team yet. I’m a bit slower in the field than I used to be but they often put me in the slips.”

Nev practices and exercises every day at his Woombye home in addition to regular training sessions with Palmwoods and Queensland.

“I do an hour or so every day. My wife, Anne, comes down. We’ve got the table tennis table down there and she’s a pretty handy player. So she comes down and we have a half-an-hour of table tennis, which is pretty good. You get a good workout with that. Then I get on the treadmill, I do stretches and stuff and then I hit balls with the board.  It’s better than sitting and watching TV or whatever.” 

Clearly, sporting prowess runs in the family.

Nev’s son, Andrew Kratzmann, 50, played first grade on the Coast and scored a century in a game just before Christmas. 

“And they said he was the oldest player to get 100 in a first grade in the Sunshine Coast comp ever,” said Nev.

Nev’s son, Mark, who was Junior Wimbledon, Junior US and Junior Australian champion back in the day, took up cricket again recently and captained the Sunshine Coast over 50s  the season before last. 

“He ended up winning player of the year for the comp.  And Andrew, who played on the tennis tour as well, now plays in the over 50s cricket and has been pretty successful.”

His granddaughter, Courtney Sippel, 21, plays for Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat and  made the Australia A side last year.

Nev’s grandson, Jacob Dennien, 31, is captain of Tewantin-Noosa first grade and led the team to an unbeaten run last season. 

Meanwhile, Nev’s other two grandsons, Samuel Dennien and Jared Sippel, played A-Grade Cricket for Wests Premier Grade in Brisbane. “Wests went through and won the two-day final.”  

Nev said the secret to his family’s sporting success came down to time spent practicing. “I think the main thing is work ethic. My daughter (Leanne Sippel) who’s a bowen therapist, she’s run every morning for the last two years. Hasn’t missed a morning in that time, rain, hail or shine.

“We’ve all got ability. A lot of kids have got ability, but you’ve also got to have the ability to work. Watching people on the tennis tour, it was so competitive. And you’ve got people who come from pretty low economic backgrounds and they’re out there working. So, to keep up with those guys, we’ve got to work.” 

Nev said the most memorable game he played was for South Queensland Country in a two-day game against the Sheffield Shield side in Bundaberg. “They batted first and got 550 and gave us Sunday after lunch to get the runs. Greg Chappell got 150. It was worth being on the field just to watch that innings. But it was one time I was glad I wasn’t in the team as a bowler! 

“I batted number three and was in, in the first over, with two balls to face. Jeff Thompson was bowling and the only fielder in front of square on either side was Sam Trimble at silly mid-on. The first ball I was at least a metre behind it, and Sam laughed, and I laughed too. I ended up being 14 not out when it rained and I got the trophy – a bottle of Bundaberg rum – for the highest score in our team. I hit Thommo for two fours, but he also got me on the shoulder with a bouncer.”

Looking ahead, Nev is looking forward to a trip to Launceston in November for the Australian Over 70s tournament and has no plans to hang up the whites just yet. 

“Travelling to England, New Zealand and South Africa with these teams and my brother, Brian, and wife Anne has been a highlight of my sporting life. I have no plans to stop anytime soon, and while I am still able, I will continue playing and enjoying this great game of cricket.”