In partnership with Toyota

One statistic amidst a glut of impeccable career cricket numbers typifies Jon Nicoll’s batting prowess.

Of his 252 visits to the crease in a top-grade career yielding 11,339 runs and 22 centuries at an average of 70.86, Nicoll walked off the ground unbeaten on 92 occasions.

More than one in every three knocks, he was not dismissed – an astonishing feat for a man who made his name as either an opening batsman, or a number three.

“The big thing for me was when I was able to master the mental side of the game, in my early 20s, I styled my game in a way that could win club games consistently,” Nicoll said.

“If we were chasing 150 or 250, my view was that if I was there at the end, we win the game. I’m not going to leave it to anyone else, I’m not going to ask anyone to do what I wouldn’t do.

“There’s a deep personal pride on my wicket as well. That came back to a lot of preparation and planning behind the scenes as well.

“I make my runs between Monday and Friday with my preparation and my planning. To get me out you’re going to have to bowl a pretty good ball.”

Nicoll played junior cricket in Wagga, but moved to Canberra as a 17-year-old after being scouted by the Cricket ACT representative Comets program.

It started a seven-year span in the nation’s capital for the top-order strokemaker, which culminated in the ACT winning its maiden, and only, Cricket Australia Second XI title.

That season’s run to the title included a win over the Victoria Second XI, which boasted former Australian Test opener Chris Rogers and future stars Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb.

Nicoll also savoured multiple club success at Weston Creek, under the tutelage of Canberra cricket legend Cade Brown.

It was here he developed that unwavering preservation of his wicket.

“I remember one time we played Tuggeranong in a two-day game. . .I don’t think Creek had beaten Tuggeranong for a couple of years in the two days, me and Christian Hanna put on 200 for the first wicket, but we ended up drawing the game,” Nicoll said.

“I hit a hundred and got out not long after. I remember at the end of the game, Cade Brown gave me an almighty spray in the sheds, he said ‘Mate you cost us the game, don’t ever do that again, you had the game there to win and you didn’t do it’.

“The following year we played Queanbeyan, we were chasing 350 in the second week and I was 140 not out again and he came up to me and said ‘That’s why I gave you a mouthful the year before’.

“You can’t buy that sort of experience from someone like Cade Brown. It was a wonderful learning experience, to play in that era for Weston Creek, I just pinch myself really.”

Now aged 38 years, Nicoll has called time on his top-grade career, the last decade of which was spent at Wagga City, but still plays second grade.

His mantlepiece includes seven Brian Lawrence Medals, Wagga’s top individual cricket honour, sitting alongside the two equivalent DB Robin Medals he won at Weston Creek.

“Making the Australian Country team a couple of times is a huge tick as well, being recognised as one of the best country cricketers in Australia at that time was really fulfilling,” Nicoll said.

“One of the things I am proud of, every level I played at I was able to score a hundred at. To hit a hundred on debut for NSW country in Wollongong was a highlight as well.”

He’s now coaching his two sons, Cooper and Joe.

“I didn’t want to miss the boys playing cricket, they’re at that really good age now,” Nicoll said.