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

12 Likes
19 Followers

Anu Raj - every opportunity counts

Since joining the club a few seasons ago, Anu has proven herself as a force on and off the pitch. Her weekends are filled with cricket; playing 3rd grade on Saturday and on Sunday, supporting her daughter, also playing for the Bears. We asked her a few questions to hear more about how she rediscovered her love of playing cricket.?

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/3195/anu-raj-every-opportunity-counts

View responses or answer (0)

2 days ago

St George Cricket Club

53 Likes
54 Followers

Keeper / Batsman Harry Scowen played in the 2021-22 Green Shield Premiership and last season moved to the city to resume his cricket career with St George. Starting in 2nds Harry scored a wonderful century against Mosman. This saw him rewarded with his 1st Grade debut where he became St George 1st Grade Player No.485. Let's find out a little more about this promising young cricket as he prepares for his first full season of NSW Premier Cricket.

Let's go in between ball with HARRY SCOWEN

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3192/in-between-balls-with-harry-scowen

View responses or answer (0)

2 days ago

13 Likes
26 Followers

Photo of the Gordon District Cricket Club Poidevin Gray Shield team of season 2020-21.

Having sailed through the competition undefeated, the team finished as Joint Premiers with Parramatta after a couple of washouts in the final.

Key players included:

Callum Bladen: 7 wickets @ 19.4
Josh Claridge 266 runs @ 53.2

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3191/gordon-district-cricket-club-poidevin-gray-shield-2020-21-joint-premiers

View responses or answer (0)

2 days ago

13 Likes
26 Followers

Photo of the Gordon District Cricket Club 1974-75 Poidevin Gray Shield premiership winning team.

View responses or answer (0)

3 days ago

Penrith Cricket Club

Parramatta District Cricket Club

18 Likes
20 Followers

Penrith Cricket Club Tribute to Paul Thomas - 1999-2000

Season 1999/2000 marks the end of the playing career of Penrith's most successful bowler. Paul "Stabba" Thomas has achieved remarkable things during his playing career spanning some 21 seasons. After initially finding it difficult to make the First Grade team due to the presence of the great Ken Hall, Thommo finally got his chance when Ken left the club in 1988. He was never to play Second Grade again. Along the way Thommo became the Club's highest wicket taker (597 wickets which stands to today 2025)

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3189/penrith-cricket-club-tribute-to-paul-thomas-1999-2000

View responses or answer (0)

4 days ago

Graham Mackie

Yamba, NSW, Australia

19 Likes
2 Followers

Bob Simpson RIP: hard but fair, always for the game

I was lucky to be chosen in two Tooheys Cup games in two different regions of NSW state—firstly in the Far West Competition and secondly in the Far North Coast Region.

I don’t have to remind everyone of the enormous contribution Bob Simpson made to Australian cricket but will just dwell on the impact he made on NSW Country Cricket.

Bob and Steve Rixon were pioneers in the cricket coaching of many junior players in NSW country, but one of their greatest attributes was the playing of these matches in the bush involving current Test and Shield cricketers,

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/192/graham-mackie/blog/3188/bob-simpson-rip-hard-but-fair-always-for-the-game

View responses or answer (0)

4 days ago

Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club

6 Likes
10 Followers

Liam Gillies is one of the unsung heroes of the Parramatta District Cricket Club, he loves his cricket, loves his club and loves the vital role he plays in strengthening the club through his captaining and mentoring of the many youngsters filtering into it through Fifth grade.

Over the past five years Parramatta has morphed into one of the most successful clubs in the NSW Premier Cricket competition, it is winning competitions, and the splendid work accomplished by Nick Bertus, Luke Dempsey and Paul Giumelli in the Parramatta Cricket Academy and A.W. Green Shield operations has yielded a multitude talented young players who have further bolstered the club’s ranks.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3187/liam-gillies-ndash-the-mentor-parramatta-district-cricket-club

View responses or answer (0)

4 days ago

Christchurch, New Zealand

0 Likes
1 Followers

Mitchell Hay has established himself as an ever-reliable option behind the stumps at international level.

His form for Canterbury and the Black Caps over the past 18 months saw him be rewarded with one of New Zealand Cricket's central contracts for the 2025/26 season, which will increase Hay's resources to develop his craft all year round.

The 24-year-old thought he'd be a chance, but admits the phone call from then-Black Caps' coach, Gary Stead, was very exciting.

"I got a call while I was in Bangladesh for the New Zealand ‘A’ tour from Gary Stead. So that was cool," Hay says.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1832/burnside-west-christchurch-university-cricket-club/blog/3184/mitch-relishing-making-hay-on-the-biggest-stage

View responses or answer (0)

4 days ago

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

12 Likes
19 Followers

At the North Sydney Bears' 2022 AGM, Patrick Lindsay was unanimously elected as the club's 50th Life Member, in recognition of well over a decade of dedication to the club. This has continued since, with Pat serving two more years as President and remaining a tireless Committee member and player, inspiring and guiding the younger members of the club in the lower grades.

We re-print below Rob Lavery's speech recommending Pat for Life Membership (all stats correct as at July 2022 - numbers have increased since then!).

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/3183/patrick-lindsay-north-sydneys-50th-life-member

View responses or answer (0)

5 days ago

Paul Ryan

Founder

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club

503 Likes
513 Followers

Bob Simpson RIP. Tooheys Cup. Legend.

Back then, Cricket NSW and Tooheys Brewery launched the Tooheys Cup, bringing first-class and even Test players to towns like Armidale throughout regional NSW. In games against their neighbouring towns, each side was made up of three NSW players, along with locals from surrounding towns. For young country kids, these games held a magical charm. These games were the pinnacle of our summer.

In our world, it's Armidale vs. Tamworth. Tamworth is 110 kilometres down the road towards Sydney.

Bob Simpson was the leader and the heart of it all. I only remember him playing for Armidale. In my eyes, he belonged to Armidale.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/32/paul-ryan/blog/3186/bob-simpson-rip-tooheys-cup-legend

View responses or answer (0)

6 days ago

Parramatta District Cricket Club

40 Likes
43 Followers

Bob Simpson 1936-2025

One of Australia’s finest opening batsmen and most brilliant slip fielders, Bob Simpson, passed away on Saturday 16 August 2025. He was 89.

Bob was a product of the Marrickville District Cricket Club. Bobby first played in Marrickville’s A W Green Shield under 16 years team as a 13 year old in 1949-50. Two years later in the 3rd Grade team of the newly created Petersham-Marrickville DCC Bobby impressed selectors with the 219 runs he scored after just a few matches and promoted him directly into the 1st XI shortly after his 16th birthday. (Photo: Bobby Simpson aged 16)

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/3185/bob-simpson-1936-2025

View responses or answer (0)

last week

6 Likes
10 Followers

Jack Fitzpatrick was a much-venerated figure in the Central Cumberland club, born and bred in the Bankstown district when it was part of the Cumberland catchment area, he had a happy disposition and a strong fighting spirit that always ‘sat well’ with his teammates. In his book ‘Anything but An Autobiography’ Richie Benaud stated that as a young schoolboy Jack Fitzpatrick was his Cumberland hero.

Of slight stature standing at 175cm and weighing 70kg, the right-handed opening batsman and right-arm off-spin bowler was a prodigious scorer for Cumberland in a career that commenced in 1929/30, as an 18-year-old, and concluded in 1947/48 - excluding military service in World War 2 – he sits amongst the club’s batting elites as one of only six batsmen to have scored over 7,000 runs in 1st grade for the club.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3182/jack-herbert-fitzpatrick-ndash-a-rock-solid-opener

View responses or answer (0)

last week

13 Likes
26 Followers

Gordon District Cricket Club - A.W. Green Shield Report for the 2000-2001 Season

The Green Shield team performed extremely well considering limited preparation and the young age of most of the boys. Only five team members were U/16, six boys are still eligible next season and the remaining three are eligible for the next two seasons.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3181/gordon-district-cricket-club-aw-green-shield-report-for-the-2000-2001-season

View responses or answer (0)

last week

Penrith Cricket Club

Parramatta District Cricket Club

18 Likes
20 Followers

Matthew Halse Life Member #25 - Penrith Cricket Club

We are proud to announce and celebrate the endorsement of Matthew Halse for Life Membership of Penrith Cricket Club — recognising nearly 30 years of dedication, service, and impact. Announced at our AGM – Monday 28 July 2025.

Endorsement speech by Josh Lalor

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3179/matthew-halse-life-member-25-penrith-cricket-club

View responses or answer (0)

last week

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs)

6 Likes
10 Followers

Harold Cranney was unquestionably one of the paramount figures in the history of the Parramatta (Cumberland) District Cricket Club – for 26 years he held sway as a champion batsman and a committed administrator, and he remained a devoted member of the club for seventy years (he was still viewing 1st grade games at Parramatta Oval into the late 1960s). Born at North Parramatta in 1886, he passed away in 1971 aged 84 years a lifetime bachelor, apart from seven years spent as a Hotelier in Tamworth, he resided in the town his entire life.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3180/harold-cranney-lsquomudgeersquo-ndash-a-parramatta-cricket-giant

View responses or answer (0)

last week

Founder

Armidale, Australia

4 Likes
8 Followers

The Tahs - formerly Waratahs CC of Armidale - announced their inaugural recipients of the Ian Campbell Scholarship, at Cricket House at the Armidale Sportsground. A program to support the skills and understanding of the game, the funds for the scholarships have been raised entirely from donations among its 60 plus membership.
No longer a playing club, The Tahs was reformed two years ago as a social club with the twin aims of supporting connections between past players, families and foes on the field and friends off AND raising funds to support young cricketers in Armidale.
The awards have been possible thanks to a high level of collaboration with the Armidale District Cricket Association and the support of Paul Ryan.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3178/award-of-inaugural-waratahs-ian-campbell-scholarship

View responses or answer (0)

2 weeks ago

13 Likes
26 Followers

It is a daunting task to give tribute to a true legend, Life Member and Club Historian who played 32 seasons with Gordon but when it comes to his statistics I am relieved because he is the one who compiled them over the years. A total of 5645 runs and 1122 wickets an outstanding record.

Graham was born 9th August, 1932 the eldest of four boys, Warren, Brian (1st Grade rugby for Gordon & NSW who died 2006) and Ross, who also played cricket and rugby for Gordon. Graham attended Artarmon Public School then SHS, as did his father and famous uncle rugby centre Syd King who played for Western Suburbs, NSW and 14 Tests for Australia, including the trail blazing 1927-28 Waratahs tour of Great Britain, partnering Cyril Towers as a classic pair – King the defender and Towers the attacker. Graham’s father Frank also played 1st Grade rugby for Western Suburbs RC and Syd 1st Grade for Petersham CC. Graham was in 1st XI 3 years and 1st XV his final year at SHS despite contracting polio in his first year.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3177/a-second-tribute-to-graham-king-jim-cattlin

View responses or answer (0)

2 weeks ago

Penrith Cricket Club

18 Likes
20 Followers

Samantha Arnold Life Member #24 - Penrith Cricket Club

Penrith Cricket Club is proud to acknowledge and celebrate the endorsement of Samantha Arnold for Life Membership – a historic moment as the first female player put forward for this honour in our Club’s history. Announced at our AGM – Monday 28 July 2025.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3175/samantha-arnold-life-member-24-penrith-cricket-club

View responses or answer (0)

2 weeks ago

CricConnect Stories

191 Likes
257 Followers

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been watching closely, and with great admiration, as the Century Champions League brought together some of the best emerging cricket talent from around Australia for two standout tournaments.

First up was The NextXI U23 tournament in Brisbane, where young players seized their opportunity to compete, impress, and put their names forward as future stars. The final saw the Comets deliver a dominant performance, bowling out the Marlins for 102 in 18.3 overs.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/56/cricconnect-stories/blog/3176/century-champions-league-shines-in-brisbane-and-mackay

View responses or answer (0)

2 weeks ago

Paul Ryan

Founder