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last year



In the last half of the 1950s and into the 60s, Norm O’Neill was up there with Australia’s top sports superstars. He was the most charismatic cricketer of his day and the game’s biggest crowd-puller.

With the sporting public in awe of the all-conquering St George rugby league team’s pace, power and skills, Normie was showing the same characteristics for the St George cricket team. Just as Reg Gasnier had added glamour and class to the St George football team to lift it to a new level, so Norm added those qualities to St George, NSW and Australian cricket.

Billy Watson, Brian Booth and Warren Saunders were all in contention for test spots, but it was Normie who captured the imagination of the sports and general media

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last year



Howzattt presents – Profile of Champions - Lundi Mbane

“Every day may not be good but there is good in every day.”

Name – Lundi Mbane
Age – 40
City / town – East London
Province – Border
Employment – Border U/16 Head coach
School – Eric Mtonga High School
Cricket teams played for – Border Academy, Border Bears A and B teams, Warriors, Sa Invitation and Border Vets
Cricket career highlights – Took 5 for 20 for Border vs Dolphins. Took 7 for 15 for Border vs WP. Scored 88 not out for Border vs Titans.
Brief description of your cricket skills - All-rounder: Prefer to bowl first change and can bat anywhere. Explosive batter and able to clear the ropes. Athletic in the field.
Other sports played – Soccer and boxing
Interests / hobbies – Playing video games and watching movies.
Your sporting hero – Freddie Flintoff
Favourite quote – “Every day may not be good but there is good in every day.”

Your thoughts on Vets Cricket – After retiring from cricket, I thought that was it for me. All I could do now was help the young starts even though I thought I could outplay them. Thanks to Vets crickets I can now play for my province and represent my country. I’m really enjoying the chance to play again.

Link to get your downloadable digital E-Book for only R75 incl VAT. Paperback version only R125 incl VAT -

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last year



We have seen some truly incredible moments in the competitions as well. From Jay Lenton earning the Moniker of the Prince of Manly Manly to watching Brett Lee dismantle the Gordon Top Order at Chatwood Oval, even the heroics of Northern District scraping through this year in an intense Super Over against Western Suburbs. The fierce nature of the competition means that the players are better equipped when they take the step up into the Big Bash League, none-more-so than Grand Final Day, when it was held at the SCG. But one match stood out in terms of sheer star-power and excitement and it all took place at a typically picturesque day at Drummoyne Oval on 10 December 2018.

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last year



Knocking over a back catalogue of my uncle's books, gifted to me after his death, is an exercise in time traveling. Each one is like keeping a connection with the man, who along with my father, shaped me from a child, to a boy, to my own manhood.
This one, written by Greg Chappell following the controversial 1980-81 season, covers the ground he would cover again, with greater honesty, twenty years later. On this pass, he admits regret at the underarm bowling incident but defends it as being within the rules and the result of great pressure he was under, largely from an overcrowded summer and the burgeoning role of the national captain, post Packer. He is unrepentant on the Martin Snedden non-catch but only provided descriptions of the Sunil Gavaskar walk-off.
Of course, two decades later, he revealed that he was suffering heavily from depression when these events took place.
As a time capsule observance of the changing role of the Australian Captain, this book is placed right at the crossroads where the role changed. For that reason alone its interesting.
Elsewhere he muses on the calls for a third TV umpire but his conclusions that it wouldn't work are based on technologies he could not have dreamed off. The personal computer from Apple had only been in the market for four years. His calls for commentators to have less influence on the game are interesting in the light of that becoming a recurrent theme among Australian captains since.
Its a very simple read, as this was one of many Austin Robertson produced books that were pumped into the cricket market post Packer. Others included the Chappelli series, a few by Doug Walters and of course those great adjuncts to literature, the Max Walker books on the topic of hypnotising chooks.
Not great literature but its placement in time makes it interesting.

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last year



Not quite the World Cup, but this is where it all begins in India 🇮🇳. Today at Siri Fort, Delhi, fifty junior cricketers are practicing in 47-degree heat, aiming to represent India and play in the IPL one day. They know that past players from the Madan Lal Cricket Academy, like Simarjeet Singh, are now playing IPL and first-class cricket.

In Australia, junior cricketers wouldn't be training in such severe heat, but the reality is these boys will soon be playing matches in similar conditions. Adapting to all weather conditions is essential for Indian and Australian coaches wishing to work in the subcontinent. The extreme heat may not be comfortable, but it's part of the journey for these aspiring cricketers and coaches. 🏏☀️

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last year



Recently I’ve been doing a number of bowling analyses for some up and coming junior teenage fast bowlers. One thing that struck me was how often these young bowlers had their momentum mis-aligned through the delivery stride.

The most common problem was momentum heading towards fine leg at the beginning of the delivery stride (back foot landing), which often results in some sort of correction later in the delivery stride. Often this ‘correction’ is displayed as an excessive lateral flexion of the upper body to the off-side, to create a resultant ball trajectory at the batters stumps. This creates extra stress for the bowler, usually through their front hip joint, pelvis and/or lower back. Sometimes all three.

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last year



Back Row - Ken Falkenmire, Allan Robinson, Neil Frame, Hugh Munro, Terry Gleeson, Gordon Cross, Peter Davidson, Tim Grosser, John Gleeson, Jim White

Front Row - Dave Rutherford, John Muller, Neville Holstein, Ross Scott, John Hayward, Bill Bucknell, Colin Elliott and Dave Evans.

Northern NSW Emu Colts Cricket team – England Tour 1961

The “Emus” as they are affectionately known was founded by Jim White in the 1940s. Each year selected players from NSW North Coast, Hunter Valley, North West, and Northern Tablelands would assemble in Tamworth for the JS White Under 21’s Colts Carnival over 3 days in January.

From the carnival the Northern NSW Emu's cricket team was selected.

In 1961, White decided to take his team on a three-month tour of the world.

The first match was in San Francisco then New York's Staten Island.

Vancouver was the next destination, followed by every major city across Canada,

The team then flew to England, where they played 19 games in 21 days against Minor County and Club sides

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last year



We extend an open invitation to all male cricketers in Northern NSW between the ages of 18 and 26. The Emus are back.

For 65 or more years, representative teams from NSW North Coast, Hunter Valley, North West, and Northern Tablelands would assemble in Tamworth for the JS White Under 21’s Colts Carnival over 3 days in January. From the carnival, players were selected to represent the Emus.

Doug Walters, an Australian cricket legend, is one of Emu's most famous.

In June 2025, a new breed of Emu’s will head off to Scotland for 14 days, from 6 to 20 June.

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last year



VALE PETER FINNEY

It is with sadness that the MPCA Board acknowledge the recent passing of one of the Peninsula’s finest cricketers and umpires, Peter Finney.

Peter made an incredible contribution to MPCA cricket as a player, coach, and umpire. He played for the Karingal Cricket Club for 8 seasons and spent 3 of those as Captain Coach. He then went on to Coach Heatherhill Cricket Club for two seasons and then coached the Heatherhill juniors for over 10 years. His efforts were recognised by Heatherhill when they awarded him Life Membership of the club. In his earlier days Peter also played Victoria Premier Cricket for Prahran as well as 10 seasons of cricket at Carnegie.

Peter spent an incredible 36 years as a cricket umpire, mainly in the MPCA, but he also umpired for two seasons in Premier Cricket. Highly regarded by all that had the pleasure to meet him, Peter will be sadly missed, but will always be remembered as one of the greats of the MPCA.

Our condolences go out to Peter’s children Anitia, Gareth, Jacinta, Karina, Amber and all of his grandchildren.
Peter’s funeral will be held at Tobin Brothers Mt Martha this Friday 31st May @ 2pm and followed by drinks at the Dava Hotel.

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last year



Leigh Burns – Founder and CEO Lacuna Sports

This is a wonderful chat with a woman who is changing the landscape for girls and women’s clothing in the sport of cricket. An American by birth who has lived in London for the past twenty years Leigh actually saw her first game of cricket in Australia but years later when her daughter started playing the game in London, Leigh could see that the players uniforms were totally tailored for boys.

She set about changing the landscape for young girls and women for both their on-field clothing and off field team wear and is succeeding!

This is a wonderful discussion not only about her desire to provide bespoke on and off field uniforms but also how Leigh has developed a portal for female players to access all the information required about girls/women’s cricket and has also engaged the assistance of former England player Lydia Greenway to assist her.

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last year



Marcella Torre – MCC Women’s Cricket Coordinator and former player

Marcella has done it all from a young woman playing the game at club level, representing her State, an administrator for the Victorian Women’s Cricket Association, working for Cricket Victoria and now the Co-ordinator of Women’s Cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Club as well as being the team Manager for Cricket Without Borders on a number of tours.

This is a most enjoyable discussion with someone who has given everything to the sport and continues to do so with a great passion for the game of cricket.

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last year



Richard Chee Quee, often remembered as a trailblazer in Australian cricket, carved a unique career on the field with his distinctive flair and talent. Chee Quee gained recognition playing first-class cricket as an opening batsman for New South Wales from the early 1990s. Celebrated for his vivacious playing style and impressive performances, including a noteworthy century against the West Indies in Newcastle and match winning hundred in the 1993/4 Mercantile Mutual Cup Final against WA at the SCG. Chee Quee has been equally impactful off the field, inspiring many multi cultural kids to play and love the game. His passion for life continues showcasing his artistic side as the frontman of the band ‘Six & Out’, further cementing his reputation as a versatile entertainer.

In this captivating episode of the Cricket Library podcast, host Matt Ellis welcomes the former New South Wales cricketer to reflect upon his unique cricketing journey. The conversation promises an intimate exploration of Chee Quee’s early fondness for the sport, shaped by iconic West Indies teams and rugged backyard matches with his brother Michael.

Delving deep into the narrative of Richard Chee Quee’s foray into cricket, the episode recounts nostalgic tales of his initiation into organised cricket and the eventual progression onto the first-class stage with New South Wales. Discussions resonate with recounting his remarkable performances, key influences that shaped his career, and his present-day passions beyond the field.

The episode unearths the significance of heritage, brotherhood, and personal growth that extended from the green expanses of cricket grounds to the lively setting of music stages. The shared moments with his brother, the identification with the West Indies, and confronting adversity both on the field and through societal biases have shaped a multifaceted life. The insights gained from Chee Quee’s reflections reveal a universal truth: our beginnings often shape our paths, but our choices make the story. Through it all, Richard’s constant has been entertaining and uniting people, whether through sport or music, leaving an indelible mark not only in the archives of cricket but also in the hearts of music enthusiasts.

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