Sillence does it his way

By Marc McGowan
CASEY-SOUTH Melbourne’s English captain-coach Roger Sillence is certainly in no danger of going unnoticed on the cricket field.
With his ferocious right-arm seam bowling and vast array of strokes, the Worcestershire all-rounder is always in the action.
In recent weeks Sillence, 29, has partaken in push-up and sit-up sessions out on the field between balls and on Saturday he was involved in a heated argument with Hawthorn-Monash University’s off-field players as he was walking back to the top of his bowling mark.
He does it his way and he does it well.
“I’m not too bothered with what people think of me as a person or a cricketer,” Sillence said.
“I just want success and I want to win games.”
Sillence has been making the sojourn to our shores for the Swans for the past four seasons and has established himself as a well-liked and well-respected player.
He won player of the year at the club last season and would be one of the favourites to win again this year.
He has cracked 551 runs off just 684 balls, at an average of 32.41, while claiming 33 wickets at a 22.3 clip.
“I’ve done okay this year, but I haven’t batted well in the second half,” Sillence said.
“I should have been looking at 700 or 800 runs, but I ended up with 550, so it was not a great season but an okay season as an all-rounder.”
This is a completely different role to the one he fills in County Cricket for Worcestershire, where rather than being the player relied on in all situations, he is used as an impact player.
“When I go home, I bat seven or eight and am expected to come in and score, especially in one-day cricket, at a run a ball while bowling my 10 overs for as little as possible,” Sillence said.
He has been around County circles for several years, but it was not until last season that he really established himself as a regular at the elite level.
Sillence had toiled for minor County sides in previous years, with the odd appearance in the top competition, but was handed a chance at Worcestershire and grabbed it with both hands.
“Last year I was given a really big opportunity at Worcester,” he said.
“I didn’t set any records. I got a couple of 50s and bowled relatively well with a couple of five-fors, but I would never say I’m a guaranteed pick – that’s when you take the finger off the button.
“I always knew I could play first-class cricket standard, but had never really been given an opportunity.”
Sillence was also handed a big opportunity with Casey-South Melbourne this season when he was named captain-coach.
“It’s my first year doing it and I’m a believer that when I played in the past, the captain shouldn’t be a bowler, they should always be a batsman. But I think I’ve gone okay,” he said.
“I’ve sometimes been a bit selfish and probably made a few decisions because I thought I was the right bloke for the job.
“The boys seem to like how I go about it. I’m open and honest and it’s not a one-way street.”
There is one more opportunity Sillence hopes will come in the next few years – an England cap.
“If I have a good season, I can put my name in front of the selectors. It’s every schoolboys dream,” Sillence said.
“I’m 30 this year, and most guys who play cricket for England are in their mid-20s or have at least played some sort of cricket at that level by the time they’re 30.
“If I can put my name in lights, as they say, who knows?”
All it takes is an opportunity.