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5 months ago

CricConnect Stories

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

183 Likes
257 Followers

On September 24, 1978, Pratten Park, the home of Western Suburbs District Cricket Club, became the stage for a truly special event—the Australian Quadriplegic Charity Cricket Match.

Two star-studded teams took the field: the Bob Simpson XI and the Les Johns XI, featuring a unique mix of Australian Test cricketers and top NSWRL rugby league players.

It was a day where sport transcended competition, bringing together legends from cricket and rugby league to support a great cause.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/56/cricconnect-stories/blog/2790/cricket-charity-and-champions-bob-simpson-xi-v-les-johns-xi-at-pratten-park

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5 months ago

Belmont District Cricket Club

Newcastle, Australia

16 Likes
10 Followers

David Wrixon - give it 100% and enjoy yourself.

I played all grades at Belmont, my first game in first grade was at Cahill oval, I was 17 years old, Kerry Thompson was the captain, Gary Gilmour was in the side, 2nd week was washed out, I bowled a couple of overs, not really needed.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1608/belmont-district-cricket-club/blog/2789/david-wrixon-give-it-100-and-enjoy-yourself

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5 months ago

Cricket NSW

71 Likes
102 Followers

Roberto Howard will umpire his 100th men’s premier cricket first grade match this weekend in the Fairfield-Liverpool v Penrith fixture at Rosedale Oval.

Roberto commenced umpiring more than a decade ago when he first officiated in the then Sydney Grade Cricket competition. He made his first grade debut at Chatswood Oval in November 2016 umpiring the match between Gordon and Sydney University. He was elevated to the NSW State Umpire Panel in July 2018. He has become a highly respected umpire in our first grade competition.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/154/cricket-nsw/blog/2788/roberto-howard-to-umpire-his-100th-menrsquos-premier-cricket-first-grade-match

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5 months ago

John Rogers

Melbourne, Australia

23 Likes
7 Followers

With courtesy to Bob Watson – son of Billy Watson who played Test Cricket for Australia and was the St George District cricket Club opening batting partner for many years with Warren Saunders.

This raw film (we’re not sure if it’s been published before) was taken on a Jack Chegwyn Cricket Tour to Quirindi in Northern NSW in 1962. The film contains several of NSW cricketers and their wives.

Warren Saunders affectionally known as Mr St George passed away on 1 March 2023 and can be seen in the film batting and then walking to the camera.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/531/john-rogers/blog/557/raw-footage-of-nsw-cricketers-and-warren-saunders-on-a-jack-chegwyn-tour-in-1962

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5 months ago

Henry Vera

Sydney, New South Wales, Hong Kong

0 Likes
1 Followers

The NSW Under 15 cricket team toured Northern Territory in 1987 to play 3 games in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.

Back Row – Jeff Evans (team manager in blue shirt), Mark Pacey, Justin Gale, Matthew Rudd, Henry Vera. The rest of the players in the back row were from Northern Territory.

Middle Row – Gavan Twining (Captain), Brett Kirk, Oliver Hodges, Brett Kirby, Brad McKay – then the Northern Territory team

Front Row – Bruce Graham, Matthew Cleary – then the Northern Territory team.

I remember Gary Jones being in the team however he doesn’t seem to be in the photo.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1120/henry-vera/blog/2787/nsw-under-15-cricket-team-toured-northern-territory-in-1987

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5 months ago

Newcastle and Hunter Districts Veterans Cricket Club

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

6 Likes
13 Followers

Stephen Leathley is the proud founder of Newcastle & Hunter Districts Veterans Cricket. Lethal has he is affectionately known is full of energy, loyal and a cricketer who likes to compete, always respectfully.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

There has been a few with the SCG XI – every time we played on the SCG, playing in the grounds of Windsor Castle and sitting on the balcony of the Lords dressing room chatting with Stuart McGill and having dinner in the Long Room. Watching my mate Shaun Leary score a century at the Broadhalfpenny Down cricket ground where they invented cricket. Going on tours of India and Hong Kong. Playing with some great people. Seriously, can’t choose one.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/835/newcastle-and-hunter-districts-veterans-cricket-club/blog/774/stephen-leathley-make-the-most-of-it-and-have-a-go

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5 months ago

Lyall Gardner

Sydney, Australia

30 Likes
9 Followers

A memorable moment in cricket.

It was on the tour of the West Indies in 1973 by a team known as “The Cliffhangers”—named after the leader Joe Cliffe who had befriended many top West Indians when on earlier Old Collegian tours. Champion NSW spinner David Hourn and the Queensland and Tasmanian wicket-keeper batsman, John Bell, also made the tour. The tour coincided with the Australian Test team tour and we played many of the island sides after the Aussies had passed through.

One game we played was a two day match in Antigua on a ground next to the local jail. The relevance of that reference was that the scoreboard attendant was a prisoner anchored by a large ball and chain while an armed guard sat by his side.

The captain of the Antiguan team was a 21 year old who we hadn’t heard of, although we were told he could play a bit. His name was Vivian Richards. We were also advised that another young player would join the side although he was injured and would bowl off a short run. His name was Andy Roberts.

Needless to say, Roberts cleaned us up pretty quickly and we were in the field by mid-afternoon.

Late in the day, Richards strode to the wicket. Soon after, I was re-introduced to the attack despite having not taken a wicket with the new ball. But bowling what were the last two balls of the day, Richards launched into both and they disappeared by some distance over the square-leg boundary fence. I was told that the second one ended up in the local shopping market.

And while that moment had little significance at the time, just a few years down the track it became one of monumental proportion when Viv Richards became an International super-star. For being twice belted out of the park by the great man, I was able to take some (tongue-in-cheek) credit for launching his illustrious career!

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5 months ago

Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

69 Likes
93 Followers

The Western Suburbs side of 1905-06 (pictured above) dominated its rivals in the Sydney First Grade competition and provided the New South Wales side with no fewer than five players in one match.

Back row (left to right): Aub Johnston, George Garnsey, Jim Mackay, William Gregg, J Benn (scorer)

Seated: Laurie Deane, Austin Diamond, George Barbour (captain), Harry Donnan, Jack O'Connor

Front: Ward Prentice, Philip Wallace

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5 months ago

Sutherland District Cricket Club

Sylvania, Australia

29 Likes
22 Followers

Nic Maddinson was the best of the bowlers with 5-95 to become the youngest player in Sydney first grade history to score a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same match, aged 18 years 96 days. The previous record-holder was Shane Lee, who was 19 years 46 days.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/2785/nic-maddinsons-outstanding-all-round-performance-in-1st-grade-semi-final

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5 months ago

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

12 Likes
19 Followers

UTS North Sydney won a thriller against Easts in this year's Albert Cup.

Winning by five runs late on day two it was Harry Gardner who took the wicket, brilliantly caught by Finn Nixon Tomko on the fence. Here is a HOTSHOT of the moment. Images courtesy of Tony Johnston.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/2780/hotshot-norths-win-second-grade-thriller-vs-easts

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5 months ago

Penrith Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

18 Likes
20 Followers

In the 1982/83 season, Penrith's First Grade were able to bring home the First Grade Premiership back to the club for the second time in the club's history. Penrith would take on Bankstown in the Final at Hurstville Oval, winning the toss and batting first.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/2782/first-grade-premiers-1982-83-penrith-cricket-club

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5 months ago

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

53 Likes
54 Followers

One of the great “quiet achievers” of St George DCC, Keith Francis, was awarded a Life Membership recently. He becomes Life Member No.57 in the clubs 108 year history.

Keith was a mainstay of the St George First Grade bowling attack for the best part of 16 seasons taking a jaw dropping 508 wickets. This is the 3rd most behind Australian legend Bill O’Reilly and Ross Longbottom.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/2784/st-george-dcc-first-grade-player-no165-keith-francis

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5 months ago

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

53 Likes
54 Followers

It was a dry hot summer. Few games were lost to inclement weather, but a hurricane came across Hurstville Oval during that season. The hurricane was in the form of Trevor Michael Osborne, born 1948, a 6ft 2½ inch tall, 13½ stone fast bowler who took all before him that summer. For captain Warren Saunders there was a dilemma. How do I fit in the former Sydney CC and Sydney University law student wearing size 12½ cricket boots into the team ? Already in the powerful St George side were state bowlers Peter Leslie and John Martin. There was also Kerry O’Keeffe and Ray Davies to ply their trade as leg spin bowlers.

It was an embarrassment of riches for the captain. Osborne had arrived with a solid reputation.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/2783/the-summer-of-1969-70-trevor-osborne

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5 months ago

Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

69 Likes
93 Followers

Martis Johri is a top-order batsman and off-spinning all-rounder who joined Western Suburbs Districts cricket club at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

Martis has made a name for himself as a cricketer who has great skill in all facets of the game and has demonstrated great patience and temperament whether batting or bowling.

This season, Martis has been a valuable member of the Western Suburbs AW Green Shield side which made it to the semi-finals. Notably, he recently captained the Green Shield side in a convincing win against UNSW in the quarterfinals taking 5 for 28 off 10 overs.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/2781/pocket-profile-martis-johri-western-suburbs-district-cricket-club

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5 months ago

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

12 Likes
19 Followers

Sydney Premier cricket headed to the country with the closing rounds of 2024. With UTS North Sydney taking on Sydney Uni on the Sunday following a tough loss to a classy West's outfit in Dubbo.

Due to injuries and travel, there was a rare dispensation passed to allow the four sides to select two overseas players in their XI, meaning Surrey's Harry Gardner played his second game in Sydney's top flight, taking 4-54 in North's loss.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/2779/magic-moment-harry-gardners-first-grade-4fa-in-dubbo

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5 months ago

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

12 Likes
19 Followers

Imagine making a first grade grand final and coming up against a team that contained six current first class players. The North Sydney team from the 1994-95 season did just that when they arrived at Bankstown Oval for the three day match commencing April 7th.

Norths themselves had three first class players in Phil Marks, Scott Hookey and Warwick Adlam but this opposition, on their home ground would prove to be a supreme test. Bankstown players to wear the state cap were current CA chief Kevin Roberts, Scott Thompson, Dean Waugh, Steve Small, David Freedman and Wayne Holdsworth.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/2777/from-the-vault-199495-first-grade-final

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5 months ago

Sutherland District Cricket Club

Sylvania, Australia

29 Likes
22 Followers

Steve Smith became the 4th Australian and 15th player overall to reach 10000 Test runs. He did it in his 115th Test, behind only Brian Lara (111 Tests) and equal with Kumar Sangakkara (115 Tests). He was the fifth fastest in terms of innings taken to reach the milestone in his 205th innings, behind Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara & Sachin Tendulkar (all 195 innings) and Ricky Ponting (196 innings).

Steve Smith batting average on day 1 of Tests is now 89.59.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/2778/steve-smith-reaches-10000-test-runs-and-scores-his-35th-test-century

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5 months ago

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

40 Likes
43 Followers

Oswald Colin Blackman was born on 9 March 1942 in Griffith, NSW. A keen cricketer and left-hand bat, he moved to Sydney to pursue university studies shortly after completing his schooling at Griffith High. Having met State selector Dudley Seddon at a rep. cricket match in the Murrumbidgee area, he followed his advice and joined Petersham-Marrickville DCC prior to the start of the 1960-61 season. The 18-year-old impressed good judges and was immediately selected in 1st Grade for the opening match against Gordon at Marrickville. Batting no.7, he made a rather inauspicious start being stumped by future Australian wicketkeeper, Brian Taber, off future NSW leg-spinner, Dick Guy, for 4.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/2776/col-blackman

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5 months ago

CricConnect Quizzes

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

4 Likes
31 Followers

Since 1980, 29 Australian men's Test batters have scored centuries. Listed are their names and total centuries as of 28 January 2025.

Can you name all 29 players?

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1500/cricconnect-quizzes/blog/2775/can-you-name-the-australian-left-hand-batters-who-have-scored-test-centuries-since-1980

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5 months ago

Sutherland District Cricket Club

Sylvania, Australia

29 Likes
22 Followers

Chad Gilmour was, it’s fair to say, a rabbit with the bat. At the end of the 2009-10 season, his career stats for SDCC stood at 190 runs (average 4.75) scored and 192 wickets taken (average 22.99). In the space of six rounds in the 2010-11 season, he was part of two record-breaking 10th wicket partnerships, in 2nd Grade and then 1st Grade.

In Round 6 in 2nd Grade vs Bankstown at Bankstown Oval, Chad joined Grant Davies with the score on 9/172. Grant was not out on 47. The other nine members of the team started getting dressed in their creams, anticipating that they would soon be in the field.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/2774/chad-gilmour-the-10th-wicket-specialist

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