Stories

Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club

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54 Followers

St George DCC In Between Balls with Tom Forrester

Tom Forrester will perhaps be famously remembered by some as the guy that stood at the other end for the majority of Sam Konstas' monumental 795 runs on the way to a Green Shield premiership in the season of 2021-22. Some perhaps don't know that it was actually Tom that took out the player of the match in the hard fought final against Northern District.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3300/st-george-dcc-in-between-balls-with-tom-forrester

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last week

Christchurch, New Zealand

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2 Followers

BWCUCC History Series: Amalgamation and War Years

In the early decades of the 20th century, world events shaped Christchurch cricket as much as local rivalries. The two World Wars and the Great Depression took a heavy toll on clubs at Hagley Park, but they also forged a determination to endure.

Club historians note that in the 1900s, merging teams in the wake of “depressions and World Wars” was considered “paramount to maintaining the standard of local cricket”. In practice, this meant smaller clubs had to combine resources if they wanted to field full teams and keep competition alive at Hagley.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1832/burnside-west-christchurch-university-cricket-club/blog/3299/bwcucc-history-series-amalgamation-and-war-years

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last week

Armidale Waratahs (The Tahs)

Founder

Armidale, Australia

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8 Followers

Tom Cooke is a Waratahs legend. His debut in October 1965 was remarkable.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3297/on-this-day-23rd-october

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last week

Peter Langston

Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia

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4 Followers

The very sad news of the passing of Peter Wayte, at only 73, grounds one in the reason why we play this great game. It’s not the individual achievements or even the team successes that remain with clarity, it’s the people you experience and with great luck, get to know.
Waytie was one of the seminal characters of Armidale cricket and one of the original White Knights. A fierce competitor, he had a dry, laconic wit that could cut through any situation and when he got on that bloody guitar on Sunday bus trips … well the results were legendary.
He started playing in the top grade, barely in double figures and batting at 11, with the strongest of the Ex Services sides of the early seventies and would be the mainstay of the club for the next twenty years. There are probably as main yarns about him as there are any bush cricketer.
Often the larrikin behaves so to cover a shortness in skill. Not Waytie. He could play.
Well I remember, early in my years playing in Armidale, a mate with ambitions to build a 1st grade career, coming on to bowl at Lambert Park with PJ Wayte new to the crease. He slid one through his defences, hitting him on the inside of the back knee and flooring Waytie.
“Ooooo mate,” says the batsmen with a grimace, “you shouldn’t have done that!”
My mate’s confusion at the reason for the warning was clarified in his next over when he was dispatched for three fours and one monstrous six which hit the very top of the towering silky oaks which rimmed the boundary.
“Can’t run,” Pete explained.
Recent years haven’t treated him well but regardless of him slipping away from knowing who we were, we’ll never forget him. A terrific bloke. An icon.

A LEGEND’S FIRE
Another legend leaves.
Another hole opens up in the sky.
Another flame in the fire of who I am,
flickers as if in farewell
and then just stops,
running to hide unnoticed
among the embers.

but … on the embers will glow
every time we draw breath across them
to tell his stories.
Existence runs to a short schedule
but life’s legends need only a curious breath
to reach the incandescence of their glory.

Smile as you tell his stories
Laugh with friends
Cry when you need
Be grateful you were there
Warmed your cold moments at his fire
Watch no coals wither
blow those embers with each tale.

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2 weeks ago

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21 Followers

The 2017/18 season marked a significant milestone for the Manly Cricket Club, as it fielded an underage women’s team for the first time. Entering the Under 17 Brewer Shield competition, the team was young and largely inexperienced yet showed tremendous promise throughout the season.

Despite securing only one victory, the team remained competitive in every match, laying a strong foundation for what has since become a highly successful women’s program within the NSW Premier Cricket competition.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3281/201718-return-to-the-brewers

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2 weeks ago

Penrith Cricket Club

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20 Followers

Penrith 1978/79 - The Bankstown Connection

Because Steve Small went on to play Sheffield Shield Cricket with Tasmania and NSW, and to coach NSW, his name resonates with cricket followers more than three other players who joined Penrith from the Bankstown club in 1978/79.

Les Andrews was an outstanding wicket-keeper, either up or back, a perfectionist whose diligent practice ethic was infectious and whose sensible, aggressive batting at No.7 often rescued the team when under pressure

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3293/penrith-197879-the-bankstown-connection

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2 weeks ago

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

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27 Followers

Reflections on Playing at Chatswood Oval - Jim Cattlin

Jim Cattlin – First Grade opening bat in the 1960s and 1970s.

Ian Davis joined Gordon in the 1973-74 season. In his first match he and Marshall Rosen had an opening partnership of 193. The next week Ian and I opened and partnered for 261 – Davis 170, Cattlin 88. Ian timed the ball so well and hit it so hard the umpire and I at the bowler’s end took several steps back to avoid being hit by his drives. I was happy for him to have the strike.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3292/reflections-on-playing-at-chatswood-oval-jim-cattlin

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2 weeks ago

Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney

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19 Followers

North Sydney - First Grade Premiers 1931/32

It is over 93 years since North Sydney won the most recent of its five First Grade premierships. The side included Bill O'Reilly, as well as the club's all-time leading First Grade run-scorer, Austin Punch.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/3291/north-sydney-first-grade-premiers-193132

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2 weeks ago

69 Likes
93 Followers

What happened to Jack Pratten?

When 20 year old left hander Harjas Singh recently scored an extraordinary 314 from 141 balls in a 1st Grade limited overs game, he hit 35 sixes, many of them out of the ground at Western Suburbs' home ground, Pratten Park. I knew the name, "Pratten." I also had a feeling that JE Pratten, another left hander, had played just one season for Sydney University Cricket Club. So, I went in search of JE Pratten. What happened to him?

Why was Grade Cricket played on a Monday in 1921?

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/3290/what-happened-to-jack-pratten

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2 weeks ago

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21 Followers

Justin Cox was an outstanding contributor to the Manly Cricket Club, known for his talent, versatility, and unwavering commitment. In many ways, "Coxy" was a victim of his own ability during his early years, as his all-round skill set made him an invaluable utility player across multiple roles.

Making his debut in the 2000/01 season, Coxy quickly became a captain’s dream — capable of batting anywhere from positions 1 to 7, delivering heavy medium-pace bowling, and serving as a highly reliable wicketkeeper. He truly was a man for all seasons.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3278/justin-cox-a-true-manly-cricketer

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2 weeks ago

St George Cricket Club

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54 Followers

St George DCC In Between Balls with Peter Francis

It was announced towards the backend of pre-season that Peter Francis would be the new Club Captain for St George DCC for the 2025-26 season. Peter enjoyed a wonderful season in 2024-25 that saw him take 61 wickets and score 371 runs at a tidy average of 30.92.

Let's take a moment to learn more about the life and times of the new Club Captain by going "In Between Balls" with Peter Francis

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3289/st-george-dcc-in-between-balls-with-peter-francis

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2 weeks ago

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21 Followers

The 2005/06 season was a landmark year for the Manly Cricket Club. Not only did the club enjoy significant on-field success, but it also witnessed the early rise of a generational talent in Steve Smith - albeit in Sutherland colours.

The season began with an impressive run of form, as Manly secured four wins from five matches against Sutherland. Highlights included Merchant’s maiden first-grade century for Manly, and a young Steve Smith scoring 97 for Sutherland in a third-grade clash. Despite Smith’s efforts, Manly, the reigning champions, emerged victorious.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3279/season-200506-and-the-emergence-of-steve-smith

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2 weeks ago

Penrith Cricket Club

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20 Followers

The Cumberland Connection - Volume 1 History of Penrith Cricket Club

Geographically, it was always a given that there would be some movement of players between the western Sydney ‘counties’ of Nepean and Cumberland, especially in view of the early Howell family history.

In a later era, the Benaud family had links with the Nepean District. In 1922/23, a young Lou Benaud (father of Richie and John) was playing in a B Grade match, Penrith Waratahs v St Marys, and took all 20 wickets to fall

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3285/the-cumberland-connection-volume-1-history-of-penrith-cricket-club

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3 weeks ago

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27 Followers

The start of play on October 12 in the First Test Match between Pakistan and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore saw Rod Tucker standing in his 96th Test, going past Daryl Harper for the most test matches officiated by an Australian umpire.

A left-handed batsman and right-arm medium pacer, Rod was a fine cricketer before he began his umpiring career. He debuted (Cap #499) for Gordon on 22/9/2001 at Killara Oval vs UNSW

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3284/rod-tucker-quotbudgie

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3 weeks ago

33 Likes
21 Followers

Legacy of 1st Grade Wicketkeepers 1999-2014

Over the years, the Manly Warringah District Cricket Club has been home to numerous players with first-class experience. However, a particularly unique statistic stands out: between 1999 and 2014, the club had five first-class wicketkeepers don the gloves at various stages.

The first in this distinguished line was club legend Craig Glassock, who served as both captain and wicketkeeper throughout the 1990s and was a cornerstone of Manly’s first-grade side

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3280/legacy-of-1st-grade-wicketkeepers-1999-2014

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3 weeks ago

Penrith Cricket Club

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20 Followers

My Darling Penrith Cricket Club - Michael Wholohan

As we look back on our 50th anniversary, we look at the poem created by Michael Wholohan for our 50th anniversary.
My Darling
Penrith Cricket Club

The mighty Penrith Cricket Club has made it to 50 years.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3282/my-darling-penrith-cricket-club-michael-wholohan

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3 weeks ago

33 Likes
21 Followers

Matthew Phelps Runs Record

In the 1999/2000 season, Matthew Phelps set a new benchmark in Manly first-grade cricket history by scoring an unbeaten 233 - the highest individual score ever recorded at that level for the club.

The innings took place at Manly Oval during an early-season match against local rivals North Sydney, who were captained at the time by former Waratahs legend and future Manly coach, Phil Marks.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3276/matthew-phelps-runs-record

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3 weeks ago

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21 Followers

Between the 1996/97 and 2005/06 seasons, the Manly 1st Grade team—one of the strongest on paper in the club’s history—epitomised the adage that premierships are hard to win.

Over that 10-year period, the team secured the minor premiership three times and reached the finals on three other occasions. However, despite consistently strong performances, they were unable to capture the ultimate prize, with a number of heartbreaking finals losses marking the era.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3275/manly-in-the-90s

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last month

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27 Followers

Lloyd Wilson: Reflections on Playing for Gordon

My best memories of Chatswood Oval and Trumper Pavilion were many renditions of the Gordon song in the dressing-room, with the opposition and sometimes even umpire Fred Tilley – he loved it! Also, many nights at committee and selection meetings in the pavilion.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3273/lloyd-wilson-reflections-on-playing-for-gordon

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