CricConnect – the place for cricket fans to ask questions and learn more about cricket

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10 Followers

At start of the 2021/22 season Ryan Hackney, then a young NSW contracted player, transferred his allegiance from the Penrith District Cricket Club to Parramatta, in search of a new challenge and to enhance his prospects of NSW first-class selection – in both these pursuits he was ultimately successful.

Ryan is the consummate opening batsman – in many ways the old style opener who blunts the attack – at the crease the left-hander is quiet in demeanour, fully switched on to the job ahead, unruffled, possesses loads of concentration and loves batting for long periods.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3228/ryan-hackney-ndash-the-consummate-opener

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1 days ago

33 Likes
21 Followers

Nine-Wicket Hauls for Bradstreet and O'Keefe

Taking a five-wicket haul in any form of cricket is a significant achievement — even more so at First Grade level. To claim nine wickets in a single innings, however, is something truly exceptional.

Over the past 30 years, Manly has been fortunate enough to witness two such performances at First Grade level - both by club legends who also captained their state: Shawn Bradstreet and Stephen O’Keefe.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3222/nine-wicket-hauls-for-bradstreet-and-okeefe

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2 days ago

Penrith Cricket Club

Victorian Premier Cricket

18 Likes
20 Followers

Goodbye to a friend.... A Tribute to Bill Ball

Following World War II, Bill went to school at Hurlstone Agricultural College at Glenfield, where he played rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer.

After school, his first cricket “Club” was the Bungarribee Cricket Club, based on the Church of England Church that was located on the Great Western Highway at Blacktown. The land of that Church was adjacent to what is now known as the H.E. Laybutt Fields of the Blacktown Workers Club.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3227/goodbye-to-a-friend-a-tribute-to-bill-ball

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3 days ago

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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5 Followers

Victoria Men's Premier Cricket Clubs - player movements, gains and losses for 2025-26

As the 18 Victoria Premier Cricket Clubs start their preseason preparations for the 2025-26 season the rumour mill is in full swing in terms of player movements and clubs gains and losses.

We’ve been in touch with the representatives of each club and here’s what we’ve been able to establish so far.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1249/victorian-premier-cricket/blog/3226/victoria-mens-premier-cricket-clubs-player-movements-gains-and-losses-for-2025-26

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3 days ago

Parramatta District Cricket Club

33 Likes
21 Followers

Manly PGs 2006/07

The Manly Poidevin-Gray team delivered a commendable performance during the 2006/07 season, finishing 7th and narrowly missing out on a finals berth.

Under the captaincy of Mitchell Cleary, the squad featured seven players who would go on to represent Manly in First Grade, including future South Australian Sheffield Shield player James Munting and future Australian Test cricketer Jackson Bird.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3220/manly-pgs-200607

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3 days ago

Gordon District Cricket Club

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10 Followers

Arthur Howell was the ‘black sheep’ of the Howell clan that played so successfully for Cumberland, his father Test player W.P. Howell and two brothers, State player W.H. Howell and Norman were all off-spinners, he broke the mould being a fast-medium bowler.

Arthur crafted a magnificent playing career with Central Cumberland as a bowling all-rounder and across all grades he plundered a remarkable 706 wickets @ 18.97 to reign as the Club’s second highest wicket-taker (Bob Aitken holds the top slot)

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3225/arthur-howell-ndash-a-bowling-allrounder

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3 days ago

13 Likes
26 Followers

Phil Emery

Sport was in the Emery family’s veins. Father Neville had played rugby union for Australia and Grade cricket. His mother Helen was a representative and extremely competitive squash and tennis player. It was only going to be a matter of time until the Sydney Church of England Grammar school student turned to sport. The question was, which sport – cricket or rugby union? Whilst enjoying rugby he chose cricket and it was his prep school cricket coach Mal Howard who, according to Emery, said at a practice, “‘You’re going to keep’ and pushed me straight into it.”

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3224/phil-emery

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4 days ago

33 Likes
21 Followers

The incredible rise of Pete Jacka

During the 2002/03 season, left-arm orthodox spinner Pete Jacka - widely regarded as one of the most genuine and well-respected individuals to represent the Manly club - achieved the extraordinary feat of progressing from 5th Grade to 1st Grade within a single season.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3219/the-incredible-rise-of-pete-jacka

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5 days ago

St George Cricket Club

53 Likes
54 Followers

In Between Balls with Paul Francis

Fell in love with the game after watching the 2006/07 Ashes. I was 10 and immediately wanted to start hitting balls in the backyard. I wasn’t the superstar I thought I was going to be and was immediately brought back to earth in my first game at Gannons, bowled first ball by Luke Bartier. A humbling experience.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3218/in-between-balls-with-paul-francis

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6 days ago

CricConnect Stories

191 Likes
257 Followers

Business Opportunity - CricConnect Queensland

Are you passionate about cricket, well-connected in the Queensland cricket community, and eager to build something of your own?

CricConnect, the digital cricket club, is looking for a Queensland Licensee to lead and grow our presence in the Sunshine State. Think of it like running your own digital business — with multi-layered opportunities to create, curate, and monetise content across clubs, players, coaches, fans, and the broader business community.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/56/cricconnect-stories/blog/3217/business-opportunity-cricconnect-queensland

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last week

Gordon District Cricket Club

33 Likes
21 Followers

One of the most entertaining aspects of playing for Manly during the 2000s was the fierce and often fiery rivalry with Sydney University. This competitive relationship was marked by high-stakes encounters, strategic recruiting moves, and a fair share of drama - both on and off the field.

The first real flashpoint came ahead of the 2003/04 season when Manly’s prolific opening batsman, Matt Phelps, was recruited by Sydney Uni. His move helped form a formidable top order alongside Greg Mail, Ed Cowan, and Ian Moran, setting the stage for several intense battles in the years to follow.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3216/the-manly-vs-sydney-university-rivalry-of-the-2000s

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last week

Brad Murphy

Cricket Coach

Brisbane, Australia

20 Likes
5 Followers

Rod Kirkaldie shares his treasured memories playing Warehouse Cricket in Brisbane.

Rod Kirkaldie played top-grade cricket and Australian Rules football in Brisbane in the '80s. He also moved around a bit after that, having stints playing at Nambour, Coomera-Hope Island on the Gold Coast and Pine Rivers in Warehouse cricket.

He also lived and played cricket in Vanuatu for a period. He writes a little story for us.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/173/brad-murphy/blog/3215/rod-kirkaldie-shares-his-treasured-memories-playing-warehouse-cricket-in-brisbane

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last week

13 Likes
26 Followers

Brian Taber arrived at the club for the 1956-57 season. At the age of 16 years and 160 days he was selected in First Grade. Daunting you might say but at that time in his cricket development he had, according to Sid Carroll, “what it takes to be a quality keeper”. Bert Oldfield, an interested observer, said to Brian’s father Charles, “He moves well, and I can organise some gloves for him from my store.” He did organise the gloves following a visit with Brian and his father, at a price. Bert was the consummate businessman.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3212/brian-taber

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last week

NSW Premier Cricket

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56 Followers

NSW Men's Premier Cricket Clubs - player movements, gains and losses for 2025-26

As the 20 NSW Premier Cricket clubs move through preseason, and with just two weeks until the season begins, here’s the feedback we’ve received from club representatives on player movements, gains, and losses.

Bankstown

Gains – Tyran Liddiard (Penrith), Sam Grant (Penrith)

Losses - Ethan Deal (Sutherland)

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1191/nsw-premier-cricket/blog/3214/nsw-mens-premier-cricket-clubs-player-movements-gains-and-losses-for-2025-26

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last week

Penrith Cricket Club

Parramatta District Cricket Club

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20 Followers

Penrith Cricket Club thanks Marilyn Poulter: 2009-2010

Clubs are built on the unselfish devotion of their volunteers. The end of this past season saw the retirement of one of the Summer Panthers' great servants in Marilyn Poulter.

Marilyn came forward in a time of great need for our club, and while she intended to take on the role of First Grade scorer for just a short time to help out, she remained one of the constants in a period of great personnel change.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3211/penrith-cricket-club-thanks-marilyn-poulter-2009-2010

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last week

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10 Followers

Andrew Calvert, the sturdily built and powerful stroke-making young Parramatta Left handed top-order batsman took centre stage at the NSW Cricket Central Oval in the 2024/25 Belvidere Cup Grand Final. He structured a superb innings of real class that underpinned the Parramatta club’s securing of its third premiership title since 2017/18 – his brilliant 161 (1 x6s, 23 x4s) was compiled in 346 balls and was a treat to watch, it was a realisation of the rich potential he possesses and should put him on the radar for higher honours.

It also earned him the prestigious Benaud Medal – man of the match in the First Grade Grand Final.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3210/andrew-calvert-ndash-a-batsman-on-the-rise

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last week

CricConnect Stories

191 Likes
257 Followers

Horticulturist Job Opportunity – Canterbury Bankstown Council

The Role
Enjoy working outdoors and leading a team? We’re looking for a Crew Leader to guide and support our outdoor team in maintaining and improving Council’s parks, sports fields, ovals and turf wicket areas.
You’ll be hands-on, working shoulder-to-shoulder with your crew to maintain and elevate beloved community hubs alongside Belmore Sportsground, Waterworth Park (home of NSW Touch), Memorial Oval, Sefton Golf Course and other high-profile parks, ovals and turf wicket areas.
Full-time permanent role, working a 9-day fortnight. Allowance included.

http://bit.ly/4oVO1Df

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last week

John Rogers

Melbourne, Australia

23 Likes
7 Followers

RIP Ian Fisher

I first noticed it when my all-powerful St George team was winning a hat-trick of Sydney 1st Grade Premierships. We’d unearthed a young spinner who before he was aged 20 had taken more wickets in Sydney grade than anyone of that age had ever done before. Kerry O’Keeffe. The same Kerry O’Keeffe used to say he had nightmares about bowling to Ian Fisher. He’d have a couple of wickets up his sleeve and in would come Fish. A few balls later there’d be a little skip down the pitch, the beautiful sound of the middle of a cricket bat hitting a cricket ball, and very soon afterwards the sound of a cricket ball crashing into a picket fence wide of wide of long-on. In mid-pitch, the head of I Fisher would swing around, eyes a-gleam, chin out, eyeballing everyone, as if to say: "bring it on!"

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/531/john-rogers/blog/3209/rip-ian-fisher

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last week

Greg Bush

Lawyer

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

7 Likes
0 Followers

My best grade team - Greg Bush 1972 to 1996

Over 24 full seasons I was privileged to play with many outstanding cricketers. This team comprises the “best” cricketers in terms of quality/talent. Nine played Test cricket and the other 2 played Shield cricket.

For context I played grade cricket for Mosman from 1972 to 1982, North Sydney 1982 to 1985, Manly Warringah to 1985 to1993 then Petersham 1993 to 1996.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/767/greg-bush/blog/3208/my-best-grade-team-greg-bush-1972-to-1996

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last week