3 years ago
The light bulb moment occurred at 2.00am on Day 2 of the Second Test of the 2019 Ashes Series. Staying up to the wee hours watching the pulsating cricket on offer, I realised how much I missed the game and came up with an idea…
Ten games for ten different clubs across Australia during the 2019/20 season. I climbed into bed at the end of play (3.00am local time) and tapped Mrs D on the shoulder to tell her my brilliant idea. Not particularly thrilled at being woken at such an hour, she simply replied, ‘You’re having a mid-life-crisis, go to sleep.’
Looking back, I think it was just my way of clinging onto that boyish dream of playing cricket - the thrill of hitting one in the middle; the adulation of ten teammates slapping you on the back after taking a wicket; a cold beer in the sheds after taking 2/72 off 28 overs, figures that can only excite an off-spinner.
At 41, life was great – beautiful wife, gorgeous kids, steady job, nice house etc. With all that, there was something nagging at me. A desire to have one last crack at doing something I used to love.
It would be too self-indulgent to make this just about me. I went through a very rough patch with depression in my early 30s. In a short period of time I lost my job and then broke up with my partner. It seemed like the end of the world.
I shut myself off. Life was excruciating for a period of six months. I was going nowhere fast.
Over the course of time, and with the help of many important people I recovered.
Life is now great, however, I have never forgotten those dark days, so it was a natural consequence to want to support a mental health charity.
If I couldn’t convince ten clubs across Australia to give up a playing sport to a balding 41-year-old cricketer well past his prime, then the project would be over before it started.
Having played cricket for twenty years, I had a great network of mates spread across the country could ask a favour and hopefully turn out for their clubs.
Every club I approached said yes. All up, it was about 10,000 kilometres of travel to navigate Australia via planes, trains and automobiles!
Over the next 6 months the games ticked by and it was the ultimate cricketing and lifetime adventure. With the exception of getting married and having kids it was the best thing I have ever done. In total, we raised $9,000 for mental health.
I will be forever grateful that I had a crack at this great cricketing adventure.
I also wrote a book – A View of Australia from Fine Leg
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3 years ago
Australia v West Indies Melbourne Cricket Ground December 31, 1951 to January 3, 1952
John Goddard Captain of West Indies won the toss and decided to bat and batting number 3 Frank Worrell with 108 was the major contributor to the score of 272. The “Three W’s” Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott from Barbados were ranked with the best batsmen in the World. Keith Miller was amongst the wickets with 5 for 60.
Australia struggled making 216, the highlight being a partnership of 124 between Neil Harvey 83 and Keith Miller 47. During this partnership an intriguing battle took place with the West Indies spin twins Alf Valentine left arm and the mystery spinner Sonny Ramadhin right arm.
In their second innings West Indies were held to 203 with Stollmeyer 54 and Christiani 52 being the main contributors. The wickets were shared by Ray Lindwall 3, Miller and Bill Johnston 2 each.
Australia were set 260 to win and again the spinners were on top with Valentine 5 and Ramadhin 3 wickets. They didn’t have express fast bowlers in those days. Lindsay Hassett held the innings together for 5 hours making 102. With the score 9 for 222, number 11 Bill Johnston joined his Richmond team mate Doug Ring requiring 38 runs to win.
The next 35 minutes had the crowd on the edge of their seats watching an amazing and exciting finish to the match. Doug Ring was a more than capable lower order batsman who liked to chance his arm with lusty blows over the infield. Bill Johnston, despite leading the batting averages on a tour of England, was regarded as a bunny. They soon had the West Indies in panic mode with dropped catches, misfields and mid pitch conferences involving a number of their players. However to no avail as the last pair held their nerve, with Johnston turning a ball to fine leg for the winning run for victory by one wicket.
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3 years ago
With perspiration pouring from his forehead and a shirt lathered in deodorant and sweat, he walks off the ground, bat in hand and with a face more tanned than Julio Iglesias. One would expect a man with clothes this wet to have just scored 150 in Madras in 40-degree heat. But no, its pre-season at NSW cricket, mid-winter and the man is Steve Stumpa Rixon, the COACH.
Stumpa is the only person I have ever met that could sweat in the shower. A product of his commitment to practice as both a player and a coach. In my opinion, the greatest coach I ever played under. Direct, focused, well planned and a panache for finding key moments in any match and rallying the troops to execute on said opportunity.
I will never forget the day he pulled me aside as a senior player and asked me to room with Rodney ‘Horse’ Davidson’. Horse was a talented left-hander with interesting social skills. Stumpa thought I could bring the best out of him and the team would be rewarded as Horse continued to pile on the runs. The combination had immediate success as he started to make runs consistently, the only issue being is I found my new roommate using my toothbrush one morning. “For .... sake Horse, that’s my toothbrush.” “Sorry mate, I forgot mine,” Horse said.
“Stumpa, I can’t do this mate,” Stumpa replied with his typical laugh followed by a deadpan response. “I'll buy you a new one, we need his runs!”
That evening we had a team dinner. Rodney ‘Horse’ Davidson settled right next to Stumpa at the head of the table with a smile from ear to ear and his clean fangs shining. Those who have dined with Stumpa know he will not start his meal until everyone has received theirs. I have seen him wait for half an hour on one occasion. Even when asked to start by others, he will refuse. As Murphy’s law would suggest, Stumpa’s meal arrived that night before the rest of the team. He sat patiently and only occasionally looking down lovingly at his 400g ribeye on the bone, chips and pepper sauce. To my amazement, my little left-hander ‘Protege of Etiquette’ Rodney started to steal a few chips from Stumpa's plate while waiting for his meal to arrive.
After the third chip was about to be removed, Stumpa picked up his fork and stabbed our opening bat in the back of his hand. “Ouch,” Horse screamed as his hand quickly moved off Stumpa’s plate. “Don’t touch my food” our coach said with sweat starting to bead on his furrowed brow.
Come on Stumpa I’ll buy you some new chips. We need his runs!
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3 years ago
Brabourne Stadium, Bombay, 18th Dec 1967. My cousin invited me to see the last day of the Test Match - India v/s West Indies. Over 35,000 people. Electric atmosphere. I was mesmerised. HOOKED. Hopelessly. It was Clive Lloyd's Test debut. I also got to see Gary Sobers, Basil Butcher, Seymour Nurse, Wes Hall. The Indian team also had some great stars: Chandrasekhar, Ajit Wadekar, Chandu Borde, Salim Durrani, M.L. Jaisimha. I had hardly played some street cricket before then, but after that I did not stop playing for over 45 years in India, England, Australia and have watched Tests in another 4 countries.
I am NOT a tragic. I am a VICTIM of cricket.
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3 years ago
Wesley College in Perth is a lovely school, with great facilities.
In March 1992 I was manager of the NSW team to play WA in the Sheffield Shield Final. The trip was 10 days and the game was one of the best games ever played at the W.A.C.A. The fortunes of both teams flowed until finally the home team won the shield.
Soon after our arrival in Perth, we received a visit from a former Blues player, John Rogers, who was a teacher at Wesley College and a good friend. John offered the NSW team the use of the school’s ground and net facilities.
The team arrived at the school and we were shown the change rooms. As I walked into the room I saw a familiar face,eadmaster, Rod Keffotrd, whom I had known when he was teaching at Barker College in Sydney. We greeted each other, I thanked his for his hospitality and asked if we could reciprocate in any way.
“Well, we have a school assembly in half an hour, which Geoff Lawson has consented to address and I was hoping you would be able to attend yourself and, if possible, arrange for a couple of other players to join you, “Rod responded.
Like all good headmasters, Kefford never misses out on a chance to obtain a “quid pro quo”.
Half an hour later, “Henry” Lawson, the brothers Waugh, Mike Whitney and myself walked up onto the stage at the Wesley College school assembly. Lawson addressed the boys in his usual thoughtful and eloquent manner, the boys loved it.
When the assembly finished, Rod Kefford and John Rogers took us on a guided tour of the school. We walked around and then, by popular request, we ended our sojourn in one of the school bathrooms.
“Well, what do you think of Wesley?” asked Rod Kefford.
“It is a most impressive school Rod, you must be very proud, “I said. Three of the others endorsed my sentiments.
“Well, I don’t think much of it!”
Everyone turned to look at Mike Whitney.
“I beg your pardon?” said Kefford.
“It’s nothing like my old school, South Sydney Boy’s High,” replied Whitney.
I remember exchanging glances with Steve Waugh; this attitude was so out of character for Whit, who could lay claim to being Australia sport’s nicest man.
“No, this is not a real school – not like South Sydney Boys,” Whit reiterated.
Kelford asked, “Why is that?”
Whitney began to laugh. “Call yourselves a school, what a load of crap. Just look at this bathroom – there is no graffiti on the walls and not one cigarette but in the urinals.”
Then Whit winked at Rod, slapped him on the shoulder and walked out to practice
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3 years ago
I’ve witnessed loads of great knocks, and often it’s not the number of runs, it’s the context of the innings.
In 1997 we were playing the last round of league games and we were top of the league, just 2 points ahead of our archrivals, Sandiacre. They had a relatively easy last game, but we had to go to Radcliffe on Trent. A tough track to bat on, made more difficult by the fact their overseas player for that season was Barrington Browne who was in and around the West Indies ODI squad at the time.
It was mid-September and conditions were Autumnal and the pitch was green. We won the toss and contained them to just 176/6 (sorry, 6 for 176) and we went into our innings with the league title in our hands.
Our innings started well but then in poor light, and with Barrington getting a head of steam, we lost 4 quick wickets.
Around this collapse, Sandiacre (who had brushed aside their opposition to gain maximum points) turned up and were very cock sure, thinking we’d blown it.
Enter Neil Fenwick and Brett Scothern in our middle order. They went into a different zone and made a fantastic 100 run partnership in the toughest of conditions against some great bowling. Brett finished on 52 not out and Fenners 55 not out. They pulled, hooked and cut the Windies superstar to all parts!
In the context of the game, what it meant, the quality of the bowling and the challenging conditions – those two share my best innings award. Happy memories!
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3 years ago
As a young kid, I heard my dad share a lot of stories about his cricket career and he loved nothing more than stories of the great Keith Miller.
You see dad was Ron Briggs and he was fortunate to play 15 first-class games for NSW in the 1950s under the leadership of Miller.
It wasn’t until I was older that I appreciated his Miller stories.
In dad’s first game for NSW under Miller leadership, Jimmy Burke said, “whatever you do, don’t ask Miller where to field.” Dad asked him “why?” Burke replied, “just don’t, pick somewhere and go there.” To dads amazement with no field placings from the skipper he just kept picking positions in the field of his judgement through day.
It wasn’t long before Miller found out about dads love of the horses and a punt so he ended up next to Miller in the slips with Miller at first and dad at second with Miller talking about all sorts of things particularly the horse racing game but there was never any chat regarding the cricket match. He would make bowling changes and he would only bowl if he was in the mood.
As I working my way through the Grades at Northern District in Sydney I was fortunate to be selected for the Australian Under 19s tour of Pakistan.
The team gathered at the Travelodge in Rushcutters Bay in February 1981 for a couple of days to get to know our fellow squad members before flying out to Karachi.
The day before leaving we had a net session at the SCG followed by a function in the City and were told our special guest for the night was Keith Miller.
I couldn’t believe it. I rang dad as soon as we got back to the Hotel.
We filed in looking flash in our blazers and ties and Miller was sitting on a corner of a table and we were introduced one by one to the great man.
When it came to my turn, he looked at me “Briggs, Briggs”, I replied “yes, I’m Ron Briggs’s son” in which he replied, “well bugger me!!”
As the night went on, I heard from the other side of the room the booming voice of Miller, “Briggsy, get over here I’ve got a few stories about your old man I want to tell you.”
This bloke didn’t know me from a bar of soap but now we’re having a drink together like we were best mates with Miller sharing stories about my dad from those great years where I think they won the Sheffield Shield just about every year throughout the 1950s.
What a night it was, something I’ve cherished and never forgotten. I’d like to add that boarding the plane the next morning for Pakistan, I wasn’t in a good state if you know what I mean.
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3 years ago
I played a game for the SCG XI at the SCG a few years ago against the Honk Kong Cricket Club and they had this opening bowler who played County cricket and apparently bowled 140km/hr. Stuart Clark was captaining us that game and got out LBW to him on the last ball of one of his overs, then he skittled our next batsman first ball of his next over.
So, I found myself trudging out onto the SCG to face the hat trick ball. Russell Grimson was at the other end and said to me ‘play forward, he will pitch it up’. Well, Russell was right, it was pitched up, but it was through me before I got a chance to get forward, quickest ball I have ever faced by far, wrapping my back pad on the knee roll. Arthur Watson was umpiring and gave me not out. Not sure what part of middle stump it would have been missing. Maybe Arthur is a bit if a sadist and just wanted to watch me face the rest of that over, which I did, somehow. I actually really enjoyed the challenge.
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3 years ago
I was playing for Hawkesbury v Penrith (1st grade 1986/87), Rod Bower had smacked us around all day, and was on 200, and looking to move past the current club record score of 202. At this stage we had been fielding for 4 sessions and were cooked, so the captain brought on Barry Coad to bowl his useful left arm wrist spin. The field was spread far and wide, then Barry bowling his third delivery had Rod coming down the wicket and hitting a hard on drive in the air to deep long on. Rod had hit it hard, and quite straight, so the fielder had to run quite a distance to his left to get anywhere near it. As the ball got closer to the fence (in the air still), the fielder thought they were closer than they thought, so they should put in and then gave it a big soccer goalie dive. To everyone’s amazement, the ball lodged in the right inverted hand of the fielder, one inch off the ground, and Rod was caught for 200.
As Rod walked past the fielder, he was heard to say, “how the #@%$ did you catch that?”, to which the fielder said “#@%$ed if I know”.
Rod and I have never spoken about it since.
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3 years ago
Few men had a greater love of the Randwick District Cricket Club than Wally Byrne. He began as a player and finished as President of the club, a position he held for seven years between 1952 and 1958.
In 1932-33, Wally Byrne was captain of the Randwick First XI. In the four years he skippered the side, it finished 2nd, 3rd, 3rd and 2nd. It was an amazing effort and only bad luck prevented the team not taking out a premiership or two during that period.
An indication of his dedication to Randwick and the game he loved was illustrated by an incident during the course of a 1st Grade match at Kensington Oval in October 1933. A member of the Randwick team was Dr. William McCristal, a fine left-hand bat and later captain of the team. However, on this occasion, Wally was in charge of the side and was a little upset to learn that the Doc had to leave the ground to deliver a baby. Once the delivery was complete, Dr McCristal returned to the game although Wally’s enquiry of the details of the birth did not eventuate until the fall of the next wicket. This was an amazing display of patience and restraint by the skipper as the baby Dr McCristal delivered, was in fact Wally’s daughter, Judy!!
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3 years ago
A great tale from my time at the Gold Coast Dolphins in Queensland Premier Cricket. Apparently, as the story goes, back in 1994/95 the boys were playing Valleys and the Valleys team consisted of Stuart Law, Matthew Hayden, Allan Border et al. A rare time where there was no Shield or International matches over a two-week period. The Dolphins skip figured that the best option for a positive result was to win the toss and bat the entire two days. All went to plan and the boys did win the toss and duly batted for the two days, with opener Ian Redpath (not of test match fame) posting an unbeaten 194 not out. Suffice to say the boys from Valleys were none too impressed to having to field for two days with no chance of a stick of their own. After the match, as Border was heading to the car, a young third grader Dolphins lad (who went onto have a good first class career of his own) went up to Border and asked “excuse me Mr Border, can I have your autograph please?” to which Border replied “do you play for the Gold Coast son?”, “yes “said the bright eyed young fella, Border continued walking and said succinctly “no thank you” ... well maybe a little stronger
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