349 wickets and counting: Bird is the word at Ormond

The left-arm paceman was moving around like his inswinger.

But it turned out he had found a long-term and happy cricketing home at EE Gunn Reserve.

Success came quickly, with the Monders winning the 2014-15 premiership, the club’s first Victorian Sub-District flag in 40 years.

It set off emotional scenes; many people remember Ian Shields, who had played in the triumphant 1974-75 team, crying a river.

Bird’s role in the grand final was to take 3-46 off 23 overs on a sleepy strip, including the wicket of Oakleigh star Brendan McGuinness. “Hey, can I say something about Rodney Bird? He’s the best finishing bowler I’ve ever seen,’’ former Monders president Mick Williams fizzed during the celebrations on the ground.

With 33 wickets, Bird headed the bowling averages in his first season with Ormond.

At the age of 43, he’s just done it again – for the eighth time. Only the legendary Alan Doble, who played for Victoria, has won it more. He’s one in front of Bird.

“I’m waiting for Bailey Moon and all the other young blokes to pull their fingers out, because they should be winning these awards, not someone my age,’’ Bird says.

Last week Ormond had a reunion of the 2014-15 premiership team. At the same time it awarded life membership of the club to Bird and his great mate and long-time teammate James Wild. Both joined the Monders in 2013-14.

Wild captained Bird for a few seasons and when he took calls from the local media on Sunday mornings, he often remarked how his quickie had “bowled the house down’’.

“He was a captain’s dream,’’ Wild says.

“Whatever you asked him to do, he would do that for you and the team.’’

Bird has been a remarkably reliable and consistent Subbies cricketer; he’s taken at least 20 wickets in each of his 12 seasons.

His aggregates have been 33, 20, 35, 46, 20, 31, 27, 28, 21, 30, 38 and 21 – all this from a bowler who had passed 30 when he arrived at The Gunn.

Dale Christie can take credit for his recruitment.

Christie was in his second year as coach when he put in a call to Bird, with whom he had played Premier club.

In his previous three seasons, Bird had been at Hawthorn-Monash University, Casey South Melbourne and Parkfield.

“Dale and I go back 25 years now. We opened the bowling together at Hawthorn-Monash and we’ve had this connection and partnership that’s lasted a long time,’’ Bird says.

“He was looking to bring in some players into Ormond and make some changes.’’

Christie left the Monders two years after the premiership, his job to return the club to success done.

Bird stayed, presenting season after season. He’s now up to 349 wickets. Only Doble (612), Col Hyland (526) and Colin Allison (446) have taken more for Ormond.

What has made him such an outstanding player?

“More than anything, it’s his attitude and his consistency,’’ McGuinness says.

“With ‘Birdy’, you always knew he was 100 per cent committed to the cause. He was the kind of guy who would run through brick walls for his teammates and always gave 110 per cent effort, and that’s what you want from your strike bowler.

“He always challenged the batsmen. He wouldn’t try to bore you out. He attacked and created opportunities.’’

Former Caulfield and St Kilda great Graeme Rummans saw how Bird prepared, often coming across him doing fitness and recovery at the Glen Eira Sports and Acquatic Centre.

“He was always super-fit,’’ he says.

Rummans saw a bowler with “good skills, swings the ball, hits the seam, has an excellent yorker’’.

Bird says he enjoys his weekends, but looks after himself during the week. He swims every day and watches what he eats.

“You earn the reward of a few beers with what you do Monday to Friday,’’ he says.

*****

Rodney Bird has flourished in Melbourne’s south but his cricketing roots are in the east.

He started playing when he was 14, joining his father, Geoff, at Blackburn North in the Box Hill Reporter competition.

Wanting to play on turf cricket, he transferred to Heathmont, then at 22 decided to have a dash at Premier Cricket.

“That was always the goal, to go to Premier and better yourself and test yourself against the best,’’ he says.

He made his First XI debut for Hawthorn-Monash University in 2005-06 and went on to 47 matches.

There were another 14 games for Casey South Melbourne in 2011-12.

He enjoyed playing alongside cricketers of the calibre of Steven Spoljaric, Simon Dart and Englishman Roger Sillence. But Bird makes no great claims about his Premier career.

“I probably had the same career as 10,000 other blokes,’’ he says. “It was hard work. When you play District ones, they don’t gift you their wicket. You are playing against guys who are playing for Victoria or on the fringe of it or working towards that sort of quality.’’

Following Spoljaric, Bird had one season with Parkfield in the Dandenong association before answering Christie’s call to go to The Gunn.

Monders elders knew they had a good player when in his first season the left-armer tore through Malvern to take 7-42 off 21 overs in a semi-final. Ormond lost the following week, but was premier the following season.

Bird’s golden summer came in 2016-17, when his 46 wickets at 11.67 led the competition.

He’s figured in four VSDCA teams of the year and represented the Sub-District association on three occasions.

But he puts life membership of the Monders above everything.

“You can have all the money in the world but you can’t buy moments like these,’’ he says. “That’s what the game’s all about, sharing these special memories.’’

Still fit, still hungry for wickets and, of course, still wanted by Ormond, Bird will play on next season.

BIRD’S BEST OPPOSITION

Sean Ayres, Plenty Valley: “In my second game for Ormond we played a one-dayer against Plenty Valley. It was a crystal-clear, sunny day, a flat road and he whacked 180. One of the best innings I’ve ever seen.’’

Graeme Rummans, Caulfield: “Super-stylish and he knew how to bat for long periods. I might have got him out a couple of times, but he’d already made a big score.’’

Jacob Thorne, Caulfield: “Pure all-round talent. If he doesn’t deliver with the bat, he’ll deliver with the ball. He bowls about six different balls, mixes his flight and pace brilliantly, and as a batsman he’s solid in defence, has a good range of shots and is aggressive when he needs to be.’’

Tim O’Brien, Werribee: “I found it hard to get him out. In fact, I’m not sure if I ever got him out. He’s a tough and nuggety little character and just super-competitive.’’

Brendan McGuinness, Oakleigh: “Incredibly passionate about his team and his teammates and always had a strong desire to win. Made a lot of runs in a lot of seasons.’’

Ricky Damiano, Brighton/Caulfield: “He can make the game of cricket look easy. Just plays his shots and scores his runs, many of them.’’

Sahan Perera, Noble Park: “He’s only had a couple of seasons in the Subbies but he’s a great player, a super-talented batsman and a very handy spinner.’’

Glen Parker, Malvern/Brighton: “Like Jake Thorne, does it with the bat and the ball.’’

David McKay, Brunswick: “A very good middle-order hitter and very solid with the ball as a left-armer.’’

Michael Splatt, Oakleigh: “A genuine matchwinner. He was very damaging swinging the new ball and if Oakleigh were in trouble in a run chase and needed something, he’d be there for them.’’

Damsara Menuwara, Moorabbin: “He’s a been a real nemesis to us. He knocks over the big guns at the top – he’s a very good new-ball bowler.’’

Andrew King, Caulfield: “One his day he can really let them fly and be a handful. He’s had a lot of success at Caulfield overs the years.’’