Barry McDonald

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | July 28, 2025

Barry McDonald had the rare distinction of setting a club wicket-keeping record in his first full Grade Cricket season with Petersham-Marrickville and establishing another, 19 seasons later in his last. In 1954-55, the 18-year-old dismissed 30 4th Grade batsmen behind the stumps, catching 15 and completing an amazing 15 stumpings. Nineteen years later in 1973-74, the 37-year-old showed he had lost none of his wicket-keeping skill, by effecting a 3rd Grade and equal club record 37 dismissals, catching 23 and stumping 14. These performances were part of a total of 228 wicket-keeping dismissals he completed in a career spanning 22 seasons. And with 6,901 runs in all competitions, including four centuries, he completed his career as one of Petersham-Marrickville’s greatest wicket-keeper/batters.

Barry Donald McDonald was born at Ashfield on 27 October 1936 and developed an interest in cricket at an early age. Through an association with the cricketing Pearce family while attending primary school, he was introduced to the Saturday Morning Coaching Classes conducted by Dudley Seddon at Petersham Oval. It was as a member of those classes he was drafted into the 1952-53 A W Green Shield team where his eight stumpings were described in the annual report of that year, to have been “neatly and swiftly executed”. He also held four catches. The youngster was given a taste of Grade Cricket that season with a couple of games in 4th Grade.

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The following season, Barry played a few games in 4ths, impressing enough to be given a game in 3s. But the next summer, the Fort Street Boys High product played the whole season in 4th Grade, setting two records. His 371 runs were the most scored in 4th Grade in a season, while his 30 dismissals as wicket-keeper were the most in any grade since the merger four years earlier.

Despite his ability with the gloves, McDonald ‘kept on only a few occasions over the following seasons with selectors keen for him to concentrate on his batting. In 1955-56, he was called into 2nd Grade for a couple of games. In one match, he opened the batting against Mosman at Petersham Oval and had the distinction of facing the tearaway fast bowler Gordon Rorkes’ first over in 2nd Grade cricket. Rorke’s inaccuracy was such that Barry didn’t have to play a single delivery in that eight ball over. Rorke took 15 wickets that season before heading the Australian Test attack and becoming one of the world’s most feared fast bowlers.

Back in 4s the next season, McDonald hit a classic 114 playing North Sydney at North Sydney Oval 2, which saw him immediately promoted to 3rd Grade where he became the leading batsman for three successive seasons with totals of 430, 430 and 469. Surprisingly, he failed to score a century in that time, although he came close in 1959-60, when he was bowled for 98 in the first round against Glebe-South Sydney. That was a costly miss, as a club supporter had promised a brand new bat to the first centurion of the season. 1st Grade’s Johnny Martin claimed the prize by knocking up 105 in the next round.

Early in 1960-61, Barry was elevated to 2nd Grade and entrusted with the captaincy, a role he would perform for six successive seasons. And in four of those seasons, he topped the batting with 460 in 1962-63 his best. He scored centuries three seasons in a row. He made 102 against Mosman in 1963-64 in a bit over two hours after taking 26 off the first over with six fours and a two. The following season, he carried his bat for 141* opening against Bankstown at Bankstown Oval and did a similar thing in 1965-66 remaining unconquered on 104* when he declared at 4-290 on the second day at Pratten Park against Wests. And despite the protestations from the Wests skipper about Barry batting into day 2, they ran down the target to win in the last over of the match.

In 1966-67, Barry stood down from the 2nd Grade captaincy with Albert Pearce taking over. And while he remained one of the side’s top bats, he again slipped on the ‘keeping gloves when regular custodian John Reid was promoted to 1st Grade. He made 18 dismissals that season to complement his 408 runs. That led the next summer to the 30-year-old’s long-awaited call to 1st Grade. Regular ‘keeper and captain Peter Anderson was unavailable, giving Barry the opportunity to take the gloves in the top grade. That brief appearance led to a further two matches the next season which was the total extent of Barry’s time in 1st Grade.

Back in 2s in 1968-69, Barry took the unselfish decision to stand down as wicket-keeper in an effort to advance the career of 16 -year-old Martin Bedkober, who was taking all before him in the lower grades. He was also beginning to wind down his cricket commitments and over the following three seasons played just a handful of games.

By 1972-73 however, McDonald was back full-time behind the stumps in 3rd Grade. With 18 dismissals and 214 runs he was a leading player in a team which narrowly missed a place in the semi-finals. And like the good wine, the following 1973-74 season was his best all-round season while also being his swansong. With 37 dismissals, he was the most successful wicket-keeper in the club’s 22 years history. His 23 catches and 14 stumpings broke the previous 3rd Grade record of 32 dismissals and the club record of 34 established in 2nd Grade in 1971-72 by Martin Bedkober. Interestingly, Barry’s new record was equalled that same season by young Martin who by then, was the 1st Grade wicketkeeper.

Lyall Gardner OAM, Randwick Petersham Historian

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