OTGs Around the World - Hugh Krantz
/in conversation with Seb Nicolosi
As the OTG community continues to battle its way through the coronavirus pandemic, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to catch up with OTGCC’s exalted former dictator/president, Hugh Krantz (OTG 2009), who is currently studying abroad in France.
SN: Thanks for joining me Hugh - how are things going over there?
HK: All things considered, everything is going quite well over here. Unfortunately, I caught COVID back in March this year which made for quite an unpleasant experience. Thankfully, I’ve made a full recovery and will be ready to send down some of my venomous 90 km/h outswingers.
SN: Very glad to hear you have made a full recovery. Speaking to a few of the boys it is clear that the upcoming cricket season is acting as a bit of a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, so to speak. Are you worried that you’re going to struggle without a summer of cricket to look forward to?
HK: No.
SN: Okay…well surely you’ve at least been thinking about the game? I know that COVID has given me a lot more time to reflect on my past trials and tribulations on the cricket field – has there been a specific moment keeping you awake over these recent months?
HK: Funny you should ask. I’ve had nightmares about the perfect outswinger I bowled to a Premier 1sts player who was called in by Scotch to open their batting as a ring-in last season. It was the first ball of the innings. It shaped beautifully and drew the nick (it was the delivery that every slow-medium pace bowler like me dreams about) only for the regulation waist high catch to be dropped by one S. Nicolosi. I think Bradman Junior who I was bowling to went on to score 20 off the remaining 5 balls in the over.
SN: That moment has been certainly occupied a significant portion of my frontal lobe too. It’s a cruel game we play, isn’t it?
HK: Only when you’re bowling with an incompetent wicket-keeper.
SN: Right. Well moving on, word on the Champs-Élysées is that you have started a cricket team of your own over there. What are some of the biggest differences between the French and the OTGCC when it comes to their approach to the game?
HK: We do pride ourselves on the quality of our lunches at OTGCC, but over here they’re really quite something else. Instead of the ever-reliable chicken sandwich, the lunch break staple here is the croque madame which would be much too heavy for consumption during an Australian summer. That said, I’m sure that wouldn’t stop some of our more recognised eating specialists from mowing a few before the resumption of play.
SN: Sounds exotic. Before I let you go could you please finish this sentence for me: “The thing I miss most about the OTGCC is….”
HK: Undoubtedly, those hot summer days at Bulleen. My happy place is Bulleen on a 35-degree day – the sound of leather on willow, the smell of fresh cut grass, the feeling of utter despair when another catch goes down off my bowling and, of course, the company of my clubmates – there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
SN: Thanks for your time Hugh. If this interview hasn’t captured the essence of what makes the OTGCC a great club to be involved with, then frankly I don’t know what does.
HK: Au revoir.
Although the status of the upcoming season is somewhat in limbo, please don’t let that stop you from getting in touch with me if you’re thinking about donning the baggy green and gold in the near future. I will be able to provide more updates on what the 2020/21 season will look like as they come to hand.
Seb Nicolosi – President OTGCC
0430 783 099
