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12 months ago
Mark Atkinson
Mark Atkinson
Real Estate Agent
Sydney, Australia
9 Likes
0 Followers



Colin Miller first-class career spanned 16 seasons from 1985/86 to 2001/02 playing 3 states Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. He became Australian Test Cricket Player Number 379 and went on to play 18 Tests in the Baggy Green.

He made his First-Class debut at the age of 21 but had to wait until he was 34 to play his First Test

Colin “Funky” Miller had an amazing cricketing journey. He travelled the world to play the game he loves and had the unique ability to adapt or switch from bowling medium pace swing bowling to bowling off-spin successfully at the highest level.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/567/mark-atkinson/blog/2180/colin-miller-funky-was-a-free-spirit
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12 months ago
Dean Tuckwell
Dean Tuckwell
Travel Agent
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
70 Likes
20 Followers



As the son and grandson of Wallabies, Phil Mooney was destined to be a rugby player. That he was also an accomplished first grade batsman with Western Suburbs was testament to his prodigious sporting talent and he fortunately played in an era where he was able to juggle both sports without having to choose one over the other.

A skilled and intelligent fly half or fullback with Wests in the Brisbane Premier competition, many judges believe that Phil would have played Super Rugby in the modern era but with Australian rugby only having 2 provinces and players of the calibre of Michael Lynagh, Brian Smith, Greg Martin & Rod Latham standing in his way, he never played for Queensland at senior level.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/69/dean-tuckwell/blog/2178/phil-mooney-this-sporting-life
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12 months ago
Joel McGlynn
Joel McGlynn
2 Likes
0 Followers



The History of Cricket for the 60s, 70s, and 80s year old players

Let's be clear from the outset: we are not discussing cricket players from the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s. We’re talking about people today who are still playing cricket in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. That's right, more than a thousand cricketers, or perhaps even closer to two thousand, are still playing cricket on a weekly basis throughout Australia and England, plus a smaller number in New Zealand and other parts of the world. In our home state of Victoria, we currently have some 700 over-60 cricketers playing in our own Cricket Association on a regular basis, every Wednesday and Sunday during the cricket season. Included in this number are 200 Over 70s players.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1566/joel-mcglynn/blog/2174/the-history-of-cricket-for-the-60s-70s-and-80s-year-old-players
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12 months ago
John Rogers
John Rogers
Melbourne, Australia
23 Likes
7 Followers



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

Occasionally there were summers with no international cricket at all, so the domestic game was played with great intensity. One-day cricket and Sunday play did not start until the 1967-68 season, so there was less call on the top players. The sports lift-outs of the three Sunday papers gave grade cricket extensive coverage. The two afternoon daily newspapers, The Sun and the Daily Mirror, also covered grade cricket extensively. Articles on grade cricket were read widely, and the sporting public was interested in what Test and state players were doing in domestic cricket.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/531/john-rogers/blog/2173/sydney-grade-cricket-50s-to-70s-strong-opponents
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12 months ago
Gordon District Cricket Club
Gordon District Cricket Club
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
12 Likes
25 Followers



Robert 'Bob' Thomas Life Member nomination by Jim Cattlin

Attended Orange High School and displayed his talent by being chosen in Combined HS cricket and rugby league teams. In playing at St Joseph’s college he was chosen for Schoolboys Team to tour West Indies in December 1969 where he scored 540 runs in 10 innings including 1 century and took 11 wickets.

When he came to Sydney in 1969 he joined his mates playing for Sutherland CC and scored 604 runs over 2 seasons and took 24 wickets, including 5/41. His highest score was 77, which just happened to be against Gordon at Chatswood, when he took to Guy and Todd. He probably thought Gordon needed help and on such a small ground a switch the next season was a good move. He also played Rugby League for Cronulla as an amateur. Not only was he gifted in those sports but also squash and Rugby Union.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/2172/bob-thomas-awarded-life-membership-of-gordon-district-cricket-club
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last year
Peter Langston
Peter Langston
Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
36 Likes
4 Followers



Book Review: "Ponting: At The Close of Play" Ricky Ponting (Harper Collins 2013)

I embarked on this book just so I could understand the context in which the challenging statements released from it in pre-publicity were made. I also opened the first page as an anti-fan, believing that for all his greatness as a player, that his attitude had done much to erode the image of Australian cricket. By the end, I was not so sure.

Ponting is a man of great passion toward the game and even greater passion to winning. That has always been clear. What comes forward in this book doesn't confuse that understanding - it enhances it - but there is so much more to this very complicated man from a working class background. He was raised to believe that you can't trust the boss and that suckers don't get an even break and he has lived his life along those lines.

He treasures the relationships he has formed with his closest mates and he adores his wife and children.

In the mix, he is largely in denial about the incidents which have provided a darkness to his shadows. Clearly, some have been exaggerated by an Australian media which loves to rip and tear away at its successes ... to bring the tall poppies back to size. However, too often he shrinks important mistakes he has made where no shrinkage is allowable. At other times, he owns up ... just not often enough.

His reported comments about others in this book hardly make it a kiss and tell special, rather the application of a directness that has been there all along but was refused permission to speak by "the boss".

I found it refreshing, honest and informative ... and yes, my opinion of the man has been changed - improved - by it. It’s compelling ... much like the man's expert commentary during broadcasts, where he has established himself at the very upper end of those who provide insights into the game.

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last year
Peter Langston
Peter Langston
Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
36 Likes
4 Followers



Book Review: "Sometimes I Forgot To Laugh" Peter Roebuck (Allen & Unwin 2005)

"... he fought for his place in a world that did not suit him nearly as well."
The words of Peter Roebuck's father, published in 2004, at the end of this book, are an eerie epitaph in the light of his death. In fact, Roebuck's last three sentences of the book include "Alas, the dismayed will continue to take their lives for life is all the more fragile than it appears."

Whether a fan of Peter Roebuck or not, this is a fascinating insight into the man, all the more remarkable for the fact he has opened the door and let us in to a world he usually kept so private. A man who clearly placed enormous demands upon himself and those he considered capable enough to get on with life, he was never the less compassionate to a fault and immensely interested in life and the characters that give it colour and was filled to the brim with the imperfect humanity in us all.

He felt abandoned by England and had no great concern in adopting Australia, loving its capacity and preference for openness.

His legendary falling out with Ian Botham is covered in detail and despite painting a sympathetic picture of Beefy, he isn't backward in his dislike for the skulduggery Botham applied in making life difficult for him, from the fallout at Somerset onwards. His praise for Australians such as Steve Waugh, Allan Border and Mark Taylor and the manner in which junior cricketers are developed in Australia is noteworthy by comparison to his own experience in passing from boy to man.

As you would expect, it is an extremely well written book by a man who shuffled words on a page with great mastery. Like his newspaper jottings, there is much more on the page than the story being told. There are many dog-eared pages in my copy and highlighted quotes worthy of repetition but perhaps two to finish with which remind us of where we started.

"A man may survive many blows, outstare numerous disappointments and still hold his head high. Its not the harshness that brings him down but the tiny, unendurable slights that follow."
... and my personal favourite
"A man must follow his spirit for otherwise something dies within."

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last year
Ashley Holznagel
Ashley Holznagel
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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My Best Grade team - Ashley Holznagel 1992 to 2005

I started my Grade Cricket journey at Souths back in 1992 and had 12 great years at the club. I was lucky to play in a 2nd Grade premiership in 1995-96 and First Grade premiership in 2000-01. A great journey and a privilege to play for such a traditional club.

I moved up to the Sunshine Coast for the 2004-05 season and thoroughly enjoyed 3 years of playing first grade with a ‘team first mentality ‘of the playing group.

Eddo Brandes was our coach and I learnt a lot as captain.

I played 2nd Grade after that and enjoyed helping the next generation of Scorchers come through. I coached at Sandgate-Redcliffe for 2 seasons and enjoyed every minute with a fantastic club. I’ve returned to the Sunshine Coast for the last 4 seasons and have enjoyed being involved with a special playing group.

To be involved with cricket and enjoy the competitiveness of Grade Cricket is a privilege. Cricket teaches us all a lot about life and how to bounce back from tough times. The game is a great leveller.

To be with Alecz Day when he had his heart attack and be able to play a part in saving his life along with John Turnbull and Ashley Renouf was a special moment in my life. A moment in time that everyone in our Scorchers Club will never forget. The cricket community was amazing during this time and I am forever grateful.

It’s been a wonderful journey and cricket has been good to me. Here’s my best Grade team made up of players I played with from 1992 to 2005. It goes without saying Andy Bichel and Ashley Noffke would be automatically selected but given they were on Queensland and Australia duties most of the time they weren’t considered for selection. Both were fantastic for their clubs and tremendous role models.

1. Troy Dixon – Sunshine Coast

2. Jeff Thomas – Sunshine Coast

3. Lance Kahler – Souths

4. Gavin Fitness – Sunshine Coast

5. Matt Kerr – Sunshine Coast

6. Dale Turner – Souths

7. Mick Sippel – Souths

8. Matthew Lunn – Souths

9. Brad Ruddel (Captain and Wicket Keeper) – Souths

10. Paul “Sticks” Argent – Souths

11. Paul Cash – Sunshine Coast

12th man Glen Rogers - Souths

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last year
Ralph Sadler
Ralph Sadler
1 Likes
0 Followers



Over 60s inter-state cricket got under way following the publication in the SMH of a letter type notice by John Hammer from Victoria inviting NSW to organise a fixture against Victoria for over 60 players.

Col Dennis responded to the invitation, and he then took it on himself to do all the organisational work in putting together a team, from old cricket mates from a number of places and with a variety of cricket backgrounds, as well as arranging practice sessions and negotiating with Concord Council and the Briars club re the use of Rothwell Park for the first match.

The first match was scheduled for 6 April, 2005, at Rothwell Park. This ground was chosen because of Col’s long association with the Briars Club, where he had played both rugby and cricket over many seasons.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1563/ralph-sadler/blog/2167/the-pioneer-days-of-over-60s-cricket
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