Still loves the game he first started playing in 1978
First over for Fotios in his opening spell in this LOC5 match against Deepdene Uniting back in February. Photo © Chris Mirabella 2025
How the lad from the 'Greek' team became a champion of community cricket and an inspiration for all players
Fotios Egglezos is a St Andrews Gardiner Cricket Club legend and treasure. He has played for the club since he was a junior back in 1978 - at a time when overs were eight balls and rolling out the coir-hessian mats (and bringing them back in) was as routine as putting out the cones is now.
Earlier this season he took his 800th wicket and a few weeks later booked his 1,000 maiden for the club. When we went to his LOC 5 Match at Hays Paddock last month to catch up with him, his team was batting and he was standing at square-leg doing his umpiring duties.
Despite our arrival at the ground, he was not keen on cutting short his stint and instead we waited our turn to get the chance to speak with him. It was well worth the wait.
We found the least windiest space we could find to record our chat. We covered a lot of ground, injuries, family support, club culture, the highlights and the people and it was interesting to get his very progressive take on the state of junior coaching and development now, compared to when he started. After proudly telling us that he has only been required to bat once this season, the wickets tumbled and he had to get the pads on. Our long chat meant there was no time for throw downs. But it didn't matter, he strode onto the ground and promptly knocked the ball around for 5 not out off 15 - handy runs in a game they won by just 12 runs.
Congratulations Fotios on an amazing career so far. We noticed in his recent Semi Final - a game that St Andrews Gardiner fell just 4 runs short of overhauling the (eventual Premiers) Northcote United's total - Fotios bowling figures were 5-3-7-1. There is plenty of mileage in those legs yet it seems.
Earlier this season he took his 800th wicket and a few weeks later booked his 1,000 maiden for the club. When we went to his LOC 5 Match at Hays Paddock last month to catch up with him, his team was batting and he was standing at square-leg doing his umpiring duties.
Despite our arrival at the ground, he was not keen on cutting short his stint and instead we waited our turn to get the chance to speak with him. It was well worth the wait.
We found the least windiest space we could find to record our chat. We covered a lot of ground, injuries, family support, club culture, the highlights and the people and it was interesting to get his very progressive take on the state of junior coaching and development now, compared to when he started. After proudly telling us that he has only been required to bat once this season, the wickets tumbled and he had to get the pads on. Our long chat meant there was no time for throw downs. But it didn't matter, he strode onto the ground and promptly knocked the ball around for 5 not out off 15 - handy runs in a game they won by just 12 runs.
Congratulations Fotios on an amazing career so far. We noticed in his recent Semi Final - a game that St Andrews Gardiner fell just 4 runs short of overhauling the (eventual Premiers) Northcote United's total - Fotios bowling figures were 5-3-7-1. There is plenty of mileage in those legs yet it seems.
Listen: Fotios talks about his cricket career with St Andrews Gardiner
Breakthrough - Fotios picks up a wicket in the second over of his opening spell in this LOC5 match against Deepdene Uniting back in February. Photo © Chris Mirabella 2025