Stories

2 years ago

Shane Duff

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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My Best Grade team - Shane Duff 1989 to 2002

I have selected the best grade team of players I played with. I did not consider my first 6 games at Sutherland in 1989/90 which included players such as Glenn McGrath, John Dyson, Rod Davison, Justin Kenny or players that I played a handful of games with later such as Steve Waugh, Stuart McGill, Stuart Clark, Daniel McLauchlan and Daryl Tuffey.

I also left out my 5th grade game with a 15-year-old kid named Steve Smith that yielded a 280 run partnership!

In batting order:

1. Phil Jaques (Sutherland)....

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1151/shane-duff/blog/1340/my-best-grade-team-shane-duff-1989-to-2002

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1151/shane-duff/blog/1340/my-best-grade-team-shane-duff-1989-to-2002

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2 years ago

Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club Sydney

Sydney, Australia

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25 Followers

Josh Holt made his first grade debut for Eastern Suburbs as a wicket keeper batter on 26 October 2002.

Josh is Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club first grade player number 597.

Who was the best spinner you had the good fortune to keep to?

Without a doubt Adrian Tucker. He was a freak. Tucks had an incredible ability to not only have wicket taking deliveries but also had the skill to tie down and frustrate batsmen for long periods. He was incredibly accurate.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/319/eastern-suburbs-cricket-club-sydney/blog/1339/josh-holt-donrsquot-get-struck-by-lightning

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2 years ago

Armidale District Cricket Association

10 Likes
8 Followers

Armidale City Public School – 10As Premiers 1981 Term 3

Back Row - Andrew Tambyraja, Alastair Piper, Ben Callcott, Milton Watts, James Ley, Darrel Brock, Nick Pearce
Front Row - Anthony (Joe) Campbell, Michael Handes, Albie Hempel, John Maclean, Renos Rologas

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2 years ago

Cameron Vellacott

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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0 Followers

Brendan Nash - the road less travelled

You played for Jamaica and then the West Indies, what prompted the move and how did you adapt to living north of the equator?

Most people don’t know this, but I had virtually given up playing cricket when I moved there. After being told by the then chairman of selectors for QLD that my career was over, I moved to Jamaica to experience part of my heritage. Both my parents and sister were very proud Jamaicans and had talked about what it was like to live there. I guess I wanted to experience this for myself. Cricket was a way to help ease me into my life there.

To live there and to be accepted into the cricketing world was difficult for sure but having been through all the little life lessons to that point certainly helped me adapt more quickly. I was very fortunate to have some very good family friends in Jamaica to help me out along the way.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1150/cameron-vellacott/blog/1337/brendan-nash-the-road-less-travelled

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2 years ago

Andrew King

Real Estate Agent

Mornington, Victoria, Australia

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Adam Voigt is the President of Dromana Cricket Club in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.

He started out in the MPCA juniors and seniors with Delacombe Cricket Club before joining Dromana as captain coach.

He then moved to Darwin and played for Waratah Cricket Club in Darwin Premier Cricket.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Winning the 1992/93 flag with Delacombe Park CC. It was a huge breakthrough moment for the club. I remember seeing old-timers in tears and knowing we’d done something pretty special.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/900/andrew-king/blog/1335/adam-voigt-enjoyed-the-big-moments

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2 years ago

Redlands Tigers Cricket Club

Brisbane, Australia

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4 Followers

Evan Bancroft, known to all as ‘Banger’ is a passionate Tigers man.

Starting out with Easts as a 17 year and still playing over 40’s cricket, Banger has such an infectious personality he brings a smile to all.

He can talk, in fact he does it professionally as an MC and he shares some great tales as we look back at his journey playing the game.

I was 27 years and we played Sandgate. It was a great thrill as I never thought I would get the chance to play first grade. I took 2 wickets and scored 23 not out batting 11.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/404/redlands-tigers-cricket-club/blog/286/evan-banger-bancroft-mc

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2 years ago

Tony Goodfellow

Ballina, New South Wales, Australia

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0 Followers

Greg Beacroft’s World Record Six Hitting Innings for Yass

In January 1979, Greg Beacroft playing for Yass first grade against Williamsdale in the Sunday competition scored 268 runs in 92 minutes at the O’Connor concrete pitch in Canberra.

The 21-year-old Beacroft, who played first grade for Western Districts in the Saturday competition, hit an amazing 29 sixes in his innings, which at the time, was reported to be an official world record.

Unfortunately, balls faced were not recorded in those days and I was told by a good mate who was playing in the match, that the innings would have been much quicker in time as some deliveries were deposited on to the bitumen surface of Barry Drive which runs past the oval. This meant that the fielder retrieving the ball had to scale a six-foot-high wire fence that bordered the road, significantly adding to the time that Beacroft batted for.

Peter O’Reilly, who was an ACT representative played in this match as well and the following is his recollection of Greg Beacroft’s innings.

“Greg was a bit dusty at the beginning of his innings as a few of his early sixes only just cleared the boundary. He was hung over from his 21st Birthday party the night before. He partnered mostly with a Yass guy by the name of Donny Douglass who played the perfect foil for Greg. Donny scored 29 singles in his score of 29 feeding Greg the strike. 29 sixes and 11 fours by Greg. There was a church service beginning across the road where Greg landed one nearly hitting a combi van on the way in and 50 minutes later again on the way out of the church grounds. It was an unbelievable innings and remember waking up the next morning to hear it on the national news with Keith Miller calling for Greg to be added to the Australian team against England.”

Sadly, Greg passed away a few years ago from cancer, however, his innings briefly made him a cricketing celebrity, with radio interviews locally and internationally, while his record stood till October of 2017, when Josh Dunstan hit forty sixes and nine fours in his innings of 307 for West Augusta against Central Stirling in the Port Augusta cricket association.

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2 years ago

Mark Atkinson

Real Estate Agent

Sydney, Australia

9 Likes
0 Followers

Steve Nikitaras was a left-arm fast bowler who represented both NSW and Western Australia.

A late starter to the game Steve possessed incredible natural talent and quickly progressed through the ranks and played 4 first-class game and 14 one day games.

It’s been quite the cricket journey for Steve and he shares some raw insights and most memorable moments

When I finally got picked in an NSW squad, it was massive and I can honestly say it was enough. I don’t see the same value these days in players and I think players don’t appreciate it to the degree we did. Maybe I have that wrong but I doubt it.

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2 years ago

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

53 Likes
54 Followers

Part 2 - The history of St George District Cricket Club 1931-32 to 1940-41

The St George District Cricket Club boasts a proud history which has now extended beyond a century.

When the club entered the first-grade competition in 1921-22, few could have predicted the success and prestige that would accompany it in the ensuing century. As the club celebrates its centenary of first grade across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons there is an opportunity to celebrate many of the outstanding performances and moments that have occurred.

With this in view, it was decided to compile a list of 100 moments in 100 years.

Here's Part 2

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/1332/part-2-the-history-of-st-george-district-cricket-club-1931-32-to-1940-41

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2 years ago

Dean Tuckwell

Travel Agent

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

70 Likes
20 Followers

Brisbane Grammar School First XI cricket team - 1982

Back Row – Michael Keddy, Andrew Carter, Julian Gardner, Gavin Brown, John Xavier, Christian Schatz, Angus Blackwood (team scorer)

Front Row – David Harding-Smith, Andrew Hammelmann, Phil Mooney (Captain), Ron Cochrane Esc (Coach), Scott Keddy, Richard Williamson, David Littler

The Brisbane Grammar School First XI of 1982 contained some multi-talented sportsmen:

Michael Keddy - 1st grade wicketkeeper for Souths
Andrew Carter - 1st grade batsman for Wests
Julian Gardner – rugby union flanker who played 4 rugby Tests for Australia and 20 for Italy and former coach of the Australian Sevens team
Gavin Brown - first grade batsman for Valleys and first grade rugby league winger for Wests
Christian Schatz - received a tennis scholarship from Oklahoma State University where he achieved a psychology degree and played in Queensland junior representative teams for cricket, tennis and rugby.
Andrew Hammelman - fast bowler who played Sheffield Shield for Queensland and was a Peter Burge Medallist for the best and fairest in Brisbane Grade cricket
Phil Mooney - 1st grade batsman for Western Suburbs and Wests rugby fly half and former coach of the Queensland Reds
Scott Keddy - 1st grade batsman for University of Queensland and Queensland hockey captain

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2 years ago

Penrith Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

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20 Followers

The Bayliss Factor - Penrith Cricket Club 1985 -86

Perhaps one day Trevor Bayliss would look back on this season as pivotal in what was to become an illustrious career. On his way to a 500-plus run summer he was selected in the NSW Colts (versus WA) and the NSW 2nd XI (versus Victoria), but the real indicator of the selectors’ opinion of him was his selection (with Steve Small) in a NSW XI to tour Zimbabwe. In those days Zimbabwe was a genuine emerging International opponent, not the cricketing and social basket case it would become by the turn of the century.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/1330/the-bayliss-factor-penrith-cricket-club-1985-86

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2 years ago

Bankstown District Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

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30 Followers

Brett Elliott is Bankstown District Cricket Club first grade player number 183 after making his first grade debut at the age of 21 and during an incredibly strong and successful era at Bankstown.

Very much a team-first player Brett was a top-order batsman and a handy off-spin bowler who won multiple premierships with the Bulldogs and went on to win a first grade premiership with the Balmain Tigers.

I’d probably categorise myself as a decent 1st Grade batsman who held my own in some very good company and did okay against some quality opposition over the years. Always put the team first and played wherever picked. Predominantly a top order batsman and generally opened in 1st Grade.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/356/bankstown-district-cricket-club/blog/1329/brett-elliott-team-first

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2 years ago

John Rogers

Melbourne, Australia

23 Likes
7 Followers

The period from the 1950s to the 1970s was a heyday of Sydney grade cricket.

St George was clearly the team to watch, but Western Suburbs often proved to be the Saints nemesis at finals time. This was particularly so when Alan Davidson turned out for Wests, as he won finals in 59-60 and 63-64 and the 64-65 semi-final almost single-handedly. Each time he had with him a fine state bowler in Les Ellis but Davo’s exploits were telling. Each time St George was missing Brian Booth while Norm O’Neill also missed the 63-64 final as both were on their way to the 1964 Ashes in England. Wally Wellham, Ken Muller, Grahame Corling and Jim De Courcy were the pick of the Wests players in the early 60s. In the late 60s Test skipper Bob Simpson captained effectively and had Gary Gilmour, Brian Rhodes and Stuart Webster as three fine pace bowlers and a dangerous left arm tweaker in Peter Ferguson, while Bob Bartlett was a tough top-order batsman.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/531/john-rogers/blog/1317/sydney-grade-cricket-50s-to-70s-strong-opponents

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2 years ago

Lyall Gardner

Sydney, Australia

31 Likes
9 Followers

RECORD: 326* runs in 1986-87 by Mark O’Neill (200) / Phil Emery (127) for Gordon 2-353 declared against Fairfield-Liverpool 110 & 1-125 at Chatswood Oval in round 10 on 17-24 January 1987.

Gordon’s NSW Sheffield Shield star Mark O’Neill and batter/wicket-keeper Phil Emery came together with the score 2-27, after Fairfield-Liverpool new ball bowler, Greg Clarke, had disposed of both openers. But that was the last of the good news for the new competition entrants, as the experienced pair broke a club and Premier Cricket record as they piled on a massive undefeated 326 in 273 minutes. The hard-hitting O’Neill, son of the legendary Australian batting star Norman O’Neill, smashed 27 boundaries and two sixes in his neat 200* while Emery hit 16 fours and a six in his unconquered 127*.

Declaring at 2-353, Gordon dismissed the Lions for a paltry 110 to win by a massive 243 runs.

Emery joined O’Neill in the NSW team in 1987-88, going on to become one of the State’s most dependable batter- ‘keepers. He also played a Test match for Australia in Pakistan in 1994-95. In first-class cricket, he completed 384 dismissals while scoring 3,292 runs. O’Neill’s career in first-class cricket continued until 1990-91 when he retired as the scorer of 3,729 runs including nine centuries.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/227/lyall-gardner/blog/1315/nsw-premier-cricket-the-record-partnerships-from-1893-to-2023-the-third-wicket-record

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2 years ago

Paul Ryan

Founder

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

503 Likes
513 Followers

NSW Combined Catholic Colleges cricket team - 1985

Back Row – Michael Kemp (Assistant Manager), Adam Johnson, Grant Doorey, Andrew Shaw, Craig Culnane, Anthony Waddell, John Saint, Brother Bernard (Manager)
Front Row – Paul Foster, Andrew Fitzhenry, Michael Chee Quee (Vice-Captain), Paul Ryan (Captain), Brett Elliott, Stephen Dignam, Silvano Ciaschetti

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2 years ago

Tim Sullivan

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0 Followers

Tom Shiner (Campbelltown), Mark Waugh (Bankstown), John Sullivan (Campbelltown) , Ian Davis (Campbelltown), Steve Waugh (Bankstown), Rod Bower (Bankstown)

Tom Shiner – 436 first grade wickets in Sydney
Mark Waugh – 128 Test matches for Australia
John Sullivan – 283 first grade wickets in Sydney
Ian Davis – 15 Test matches for Australia
Steve Waugh – 168 Test matches for Australia
Rod Bower – 13 first class matches for NSW and 11,841 first grade runs in Sydney

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2 years ago

Evan Bancroft

Business Owner

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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If you drive past Bottomley Park near Easts Rugby Club in East Brisbane these days you will see a tiny little brick building opposite the Norman Park train station with a few cricket nets and some large gum trees. It was once the home of the Eastern Suburbs District Cricket Club.

The clubhouse was known as the “Crab Pot” as once you got in you couldn’t get out!

It was a fantastic joint and loved by Easties all opposition players and the umpires as well. It was the good old days when after matches meant having a beer with the opponents.

It was actually the unofficial umpire’s clubhouse. Popular umpire Mel Johnson played for Easts before becoming one of our greatest ever test umpires and he may well have started the tradition.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/233/evan-bancroft/blog/1026/the-story-of-the-crab-pot

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2 years ago

Penrith Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

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20 Followers

Phil Blizzard - Penrith Cricket Club first grade player number 73

One of the useful factors in any bowling ‘balance’ set-up is the presence of a left-arm new ball bowler, either quick, a swing merchant, or both if you’re lucky.

Early on Penrith’s best were Ken Hall and Graeme Pitty, and in the lower Grades Steve Hider.

Tasmanian Phil Blizzard, wife Alice and daughter Rachel came to the Club on the back of a friendship with Steve Small, one forged when Steve was down south trying to break into the First-class scene. They liked it so much they stayed long enough to add two more to the family, Brendon and Stephen. (By coincidence Steve Small has a son, Brendon.) Long enough, too, for Phil to win a spot in the NSW Sheffield Shield team. But, as well as things went, life could never be good enough to satisfy Phil’s absolute love in life: a good fishing ground. Tasmania was ‘the only place’, and his stories about the size of the mud crabs and trout were legendary.

His early potential won him U/19 selection for Tasmania and he toured Sri Lanka with the Australian U/19 team. In maturity his pace was more medium than fast, but he could swing the ball in and away from the batsman. Ken Hall said: “What a great bowler. Many times the batsmen just didn’t know what he was doing”. He had that wonderful attribute of breaking the back of a batting order: in two seasons he six times took more than five wickets in an innings, the best 7/62 against Sydney. There was also the occasion when he took 6/13 against Campbelltown, who were 9/23 in reply to Penrith’s 179. Unbelievably, Phil failed to receive the umpires’ nomination for the player of the match. That went to an opposing batsman who was … seven not out!

He could bowl long spells in trying conditions and was a handy low-order batsman. For Penrith he scored 192 runs @ 17.45 and took 76 wickets @ 20.23; 13 catches. First-class (Tasmania/NSW): scored 569 runs @ 15.37, highest score 51 and took 63 wickets @ 40.44, best 4/62.

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2 years ago

Carrum Cricket Club

Mornington, Victoria, Australia

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1 Followers

John Mitchell has had a long and decorated career playing premier cricket in Victoria and South Australia and has been a terrific contributor and valued member of Carrum Cricket Club

Playing for Hawthorn in Victoria Premier Cricket John played 81 1st XI games and scored 1,849 runs at 22.01 including one century and 10 half centuries.

He won a first grade premiership with Hawthorn as well as for Carrum and has scored well in excess of 3,000 runs for Carrum CC.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1085/carrum-cricket-club/blog/1313/john-mitchell-play-in-the-arc-for-your-first-fifteen-runs

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2 years ago

Andrew King

Real Estate Agent

Mornington, Victoria, Australia

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0 Followers

Powell Cooper is a legendary figure at Frankston East (Ballam Park) Cricket Club.

He played just about all his cricket at Ballam formerly Frankston East Cricket Club, taken over a 1,000 wickets, if a Life member and former President of the club.

I was lucky enough to play a game of cricket for the Victorian Schoolboys and was in awe playing against the Cavaliers. Desmond Haynes was playing with Dandenong and Malcolm Marshall was playing with Moorabin and they both played in that game. It was an amazing experience.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/900/andrew-king/blog/1312/powell-cooper-living-the-best-life

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Armidale City Public School – 10As Premiers 1981 Term 3

Back Row - Andrew Tambyraja, Alastair Piper, Ben Callcott, Milton Watts, James Ley, Darrel Brock, Nick Pearce
Front Row - Anthony (Joe) Campbell, Michael Handes, Albie Hempel, John Maclean, Renos Rologas

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Armidale City Public School – 10As Premiers 1981 Term 3 Back Row - Andrew Tambyraja, Alastair Piper, Ben Callcott, Milton Watts, James Ley, Darrel Brock, Nick Pearce Front Row - Anthony (Joe) Campbell, Michael Handes, Albie Hempel, John Maclean, Renos Rologas

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Armidale City Public School – 10As Premiers 1981 Term 3

Back Row - Andrew Tambyraja, Alastair Piper, Ben Callcott, Milton Watts, James Ley, Darrel Brock, Nick Pearce
Front Row - Anthony (Joe) Campbell, Michael Handes, Albie Hempel, John Maclean, Renos Rologas