 As the laneway meant that the playing area was long and narrow , the young boys also had to learn to play the ball straight in accordance with orthodox cricket technique . The Harveys played another form of cricket in their concreted backyard ( using a marble instead of a ball ) that sharpened their reflexes , and a miniature bat . All were right @-@ handed batsmen with the exception of Neil . All the siblings attended the nearby George Street State School and , one by one , the brothers joined the Fitzroy Cricket Club as they reached their early teens . The club had a program whereby they gave a medal to local schools to award to their best cricketer in their ranks , who would then be given access to all of the club 's facilities . The Harvey brothers were all recipients of the medal . At Fitzroy , they came under the influence of former Victorian all @-@ rounder Arthur Liddicut and the club 's veteran captain Joe Plant . The Harveys had no formal coaching , and their father , a regular presence at the club , chose to stay in the background as their respective careers developed . Horace did not advise his sons on how to bat , allowing them to formulate their own style and technique , something Neil later regarded as beneficial . According to the Harvey brothers , it was their mother who was vocal and extroverted , in contrast to their reserved father . The boys who failed to score runs were given kitchen duty , and according to them , their parents never showed favouritism . 
