Chris Williams made Life Member of Sutherland DCC - July 2022

Sutherland District Cricket Club | April 30, 2025

NOMINATION OF CHRIS WILLIAMS FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Chris Williams first played for Sutherland in 5th Grade and AW Green Shield in 2001-02. The team reports said “Chris Williams from Green Shield exhibited huge talent” (5ths) and “Chris Williams, a first year boy, showed himself to be a fine all-round cricketer, topping off some fine performances with a hat-trick against North Sydney” (AWG). The following season, the AWG report said he scored “a fine ton against Parramatta” and he “will have benefited from a full season of grade cricket and can look forward to a bright future with the Club”. He steadily worked his way through the grades over the next three seasons before, on 14 October 2006, he became 1st Grade player #219. A highlight for him that season was sharing an opening partnership of 72 with Phil Jaques at North Sydney Oval the day that Phil scored 321!

After a good first season in 1sts, he lost form the following season and ended up captaining 3rd Grade to the semi-finals after we had used 6 captains in a disjointed season. He also captained PGs that season after Steve Smith became a first class player. Over the next four seasons, he fluctuated between 1sts and 2nds without establishing a regular 1st Grade spot. He had a break in 2012-13 and returned in 2013-14 with 559 runs in 2nds and a couple of matches in 1sts. Chris then fulfilled the predictions from his AWG seasons as he became a dominant 1st Grade player. Over 8 seasons from 2014-15 to the season just ended, he played 150 1st Grade matches and scored 5370 runs at an average of 39.78, with 7 centuries (highest score 183 not out).

Chris became 1st Grade captain in 2016-17 when he filled in for Ben Dwarshuis when Ben was on representative duty. He became the full-time captain the following season and led the team with distinction over the next 5 seasons. During that time, 1st Grade played finals series in all three competitions – the highlight from Chris’ captaincy perspective being 2017-18 when we played finals in all three comps in the one season.

Chris has played 370 matches in all grades for the Club to date (3rd all-time), scoring 10903 runs (4th all-time) and taking 164 catches (3rd all-time). In 1st Grade, he has played 185 matches (9th all-time), scored 6189 runs (5th all-time) and taken 84 catches (equal 7th all-time). In 2nd Grade, he has played 82 matches, scoring 2875 runs (7th all-time). He scored over 500 runs in a season on 9 occasions. He has played in 18 finals series (equal 2nd all-time with Matthew Hughston, behind Daniel Rixon), involving 26 finals matches (6th all-time). He was a member of the 1st Grade T20 premiership winning squad in 2018-19. He also played in the 2nd Grade final in 2009-10.

Whilst his use at the bowling crease was spasmodic after his early seasons with the Club, Chris does have 39 wickets to his credit. The hat-trick from his AWG days makes him one of only 12 players in the Club’s history who has scored a century and taken a hat-trick for the Club.

Chris has captained the Club in 113 matches in all grades (3rd all-time). He has captained 1st Grade in 94 matches – the most for the Club. He has developed into one of the most respected captains in 1st Grade. At the end of the season, he announced his retirement as captain.

Chris served as Poidevin-Gray Shield manager for one season in 2013-14. He has also been involved in AW Green Shield selections over the last couple of seasons.

Chris’ contribution to SDCC as a player and captain over 20 seasons has been outstanding. He is a most worthy candidate for life membership of the Club and I am pleased to nominate him. He deserves your unanimous support.

 

DAVID CUSH

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