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last year
Essendon Cricket Club
Essendon Cricket Club
Melbourne, Australia
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0 Followers



Matthew Drain is a Life member of the Essendon Cricket Club

Matthew made his first grade debut for the club in the 1989/90 season and in a career where he played 131 games for Essendon and 23 for Carlton he amassed 4,791 runs at an average of 30.51 and scored 10 centuries and 26 half centuries. His highest score was 141.

In 1989-90 and 1993-94 Matthew won Essendon Cricket Club prestigious Mick Mitchell award for the players player of the year.

Matthew also spent two seasons playing with Sydney University in the NSW Premier Cricket Competition where he played 26 games and scored 4 half centuries.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/341/essendon-cricket-club/blog/215/matthew-drain-always-be-positive
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last year
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
43 Followers



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.

Walter Leslie Byrne was born in Sydney on 10 August 1905 and joined Randwick in 1926-27 from the Centennial Park Junior Association as a 21 year old. He played in the 2nd Grade side taking out the batting average with 191 at 27.28 and was quickly promoted to 1st Grade where he impressed greatly as a wicket-keeper. The annual report that year contained the following comment: “Wally’s wicket-keeping was a big factor in our success and good judges predict a big future for this unassuming colt”.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/1943/wally-byrne-1905-1977
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last year
Joe Maiorana
Joe Maiorana
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
2 Followers



Bill Brockwell (1865 –1935) was an English cricketer. Although primarily remembered as a batsman, he began his career as a fast-medium bowler. With George Lohmann, Tom Richardson and William Lockwood carrying all before them, Brockwell had few opportunities until they declined.

A stylish and often brilliant batsman, strong in back play and a free hitter in front of the wicket, Brockwell also was a useful fast medium paced bowler and a smart fieldsman, notably at second slip where he succeeded George Lohmann--one of the surest catches ever seen in that position. First playing for the county in 1886, Brockwell matured slowly but it was difficult to find a place in the very powerful Surrey eleven of that period. However, from 1891 to 1902 he was a regular member of the side and played his last game in 1903 when the team were declining rapidly in all round strength.

In the very wet 1894 season, Brockwell, despite the consistently treacherous pitches, made a remarkable advance. He scored more runs (1,491) than any other player, and hit five centuries, and consequently was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He declined a great deal in 1895, but from the following year up to 1899, formed a formidable batting trio with Bobby Abel and Tom Hayward that made Surrey invincible on the perfect Oval pitches.

Bill played seven Test matches for England, all against Australia – one in 1893, five on the 1894/95 tour and a final match in 1899 – but was not a success at this level and averaged under 17 with a highest score of just 49. He played on for Surrey until 1903, but from 1900 his powers as a batsman declined severely and after two final first-class matches for London County he retired from cricket.

Sadly he was homeless in his last years and he passed away in poverty on the 1st July 1935 (aged 70)

William Brockwell was born on this day in 1865.

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last year
Stuart Cope
Stuart Cope
London, United Kingdom
11 Likes
0 Followers



I've just been reading the story of Shamar Joseph and it's incredible

Shamar just debuted for the West Indies against Australia, picking up five wickets and getting Steve Smith out with his first ball.

He hails from a small village in Guyana, to reach Baracara, one has to take a boat trip of around 225 km up the Canje River. It would take almost two days for a person to reach the remote rural area in the Caribbean. Baracara did not have proper telephone or internet network until 2018.

Baracara's population is 350, but Joseph has five brothers and three sisters. He would play tape-ball cricket and sometimes use lemons and guava to play impromptu matches. He only played an official cricket match five years ago!

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/838/stuart-cope/blog/1941/the-story-of-shamar-joseph-is-incredible
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last year
University of Queensland Cricket Club
University of Queensland Cricket Club
Brisbane, Australia
1 Likes
1 Followers



Uni Bookworms with Martin Love

Alumni Edition 7 - August 2013

One of UQ’s favourite sons is no doubt Martin Love. His balance at the crease made him one of the truly great batsmen to watch. What better person to provide this edition’s Uni bookworms 20 questions?

Your first memory of UQCC?

My first memory was WEP coming up to Toowoomba Grammar School to talk to me when I was in Grade 12, prior to me playing the Metway Cup preseason competition as the country player for Uni. I remember walking away after that conversation hoping not everyone at the club was like WEP.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/503/university-of-queensland-cricket-club/blog/449/uni-bookworms-with-martin-love
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last year
Queensland Cricket
Queensland Cricket
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
15 Likes
25 Followers



Peter Allan, born 31 December 1935 in Brisbane is Australian Test Cricketer No. 236 after making his Test debut in the first test of the 1965-66 Ashes series against England.

Having made his first class debut for Queensland during the 1959/60 season Allan toured the West Indies in 1964-65 however fell ill during the tour and didn’t play any of the Test matches.

In the first Test in Brisbane against England Peter Allan bowled 21 overs and took 2 for 58. Australia batted first and declared at 6 for 443 and then bowled England out for 280. Australia enforced the follow England and in England 2nd innings Peter Allan only bowled 3 overs, 0 for 25 as England reached 3 for 186 and the Test match was drawn.

Allan was dropped for the 2nd Test with Alan Connolly coming into the team. He was recalled to the Test team for the 4th Test after taking 10 for 61 for Queensland against Victoria at the MCG in January 1996. Unfortunately Peter Allan was injured before the Test and replaced by Graham McKenzie. He did not play Test cricket again.

In 57 first class games Peter Allan took 206 wickets at an average of 26.10 and took 5 wickets in an innings on 12 occasions.

His best bowling figures – 10 for 61

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/267/queensland-cricket/blog/1933/peter-allan-10-wickets-for-61-runs-for-queensland-v-victoria-in-january-1966
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last year
Toombul District Cricket Club
Toombul District Cricket Club
Brisbane, Australia
5 Likes
6 Followers



Peter Clifford played first class cricket for NSW and Queensland scoring 2,864 runs in 48 first class games. He scored 6 centuries and 14 half centuries averaging 38.70.

Peter left home in Bellingen NSW to join Randwick Cricket Club in Sydney and played during one on the most successful eras of the clubs history.

On moving to Queensland Peter joined Toombul Cricket Club in 1986 and was the captain of the First Grade Premiership winning team in 1991/92. He was also awarded the Peter Burge medalist in the same year for being the best and fairest player in Brisbane premier grade cricket.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/371/toombul-district-cricket-club/blog/232/peter-clifford-a-game-to-enjoy
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last year
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
33 Likes
20 Followers



Our Manly Car and Truck Rentals Waratah in History Q&A is with the popular Ken Pitcher our first target. Ken was a great clubman in the 80’s and early 90’s and is commonly remembered as one of the nicest men to ever come out of the Peninsula. We really enjoyed the catch up. Moving forward we’ll release a Q&A every fortnight.

Today we are pleased to release the first Waratahs in History Q&A that we will be doing in the back half of the 2021/22 season. Every 2 weeks a new wrinkled Waratah will be interviewed with the results published on our website.

First up is Ken Pitcher, a long term and popular clubman who is as Manly as Manly Beach itself. We hope you enjoy the read.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/760/waratahs-in-history-ken-pitcher
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last year
South Brisbane District Cricket Club
South Brisbane District Cricket Club
Brisbane, Australia
5 Likes
3 Followers



To celebrate the club centenary, the author has chosen the following twelve players to comprise the team of the century. It is obviously impossible to compare players from different eras due to varying conditions and changing rules, however I feel that these players would more than hold their own against any other club combination. Some players were not considered either because they played few matches for Souths or because their representative careers were played with other clubs. Players not considered due to the above criteria include- WA Brown, D Tallon, AW Grout, KA Archer, SC Trimble, and CJ McDermott. The team is lodged in chronological order.

Alan MARSHAL Played for Souths at the age of 14 in 1897 and finished his career in 1912. A right-handed batsman and medium paced bowler, he played one season in Sydney in 1902/03. He played 11 times for Queensland. His career figures for Souths were 3289 runs at 32.56 and 146 wickets at 11.93.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/317/south-brisbane-district-cricket-club/blog/1926/south-brisbane-district-cricket-club-ldquoteam-of-the-centuryrdquo-1987-1997
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last year
St George Cricket Club
St George Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
53 Likes
54 Followers



The legendary cricket exploits of W. J. “Tiger” O’Reilly are very well known. Club records show, that Bill took an amazing 766 wickets at an average of 8.7 runs in his years playing first grade cricket for St George.

Those same records show that another O’Reilly - John William (St George Player No 186) and no relation to Tiger Bill – played 9 successful seasons with St. George. At the end of his time with St George in 1965-66, this “Other O’Reilly” ranked among the club’s top wicket-takers after Bill, having taken 304 wickets at an average of 18.4.

In 7 of his 9 seasons at St George, John took out the club’s aggregate and/or average bowling honours. John was among the leading Sydney First Grade wicket takers in many of these years being the top wicket taker in 1958-59 and 1962-63.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/270/the-st-george-cricket-story-of-john-william-orsquoreilly-the-ldquoother-orsquoreillyrdquo
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last year
Bankstown District Cricket Club
Bankstown District Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
10 Likes
30 Followers



Grahame Thomas had the honour of being the first Bankstown player to represent Australia in Test cricket. He was a magnificent hooker of the ball, loved the straight drive and was very speedy between the wickets.

Grahame formed a dynamic opening partnership with Bankstown Legend Dion Bourne and together they tore opposing bowlers apart. The scourge of fast bowlers and an absolute delight for spectators. Grahame also teamed with Alan Kelly for a record 246 run stand vs Paddington. Kelly sensibly turned the strike over to the rampaging Thomas who took full advantage.

One fine day at Memorial Oval Dion and Grahame hammered the Cumberland attack which contained a youthful Richie Benaud. Grahame pounded 143 that day and the leggie must have been impressed as years later he said that Thomas had played some of the most brilliant innings he had ever seen.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/356/bankstown-district-cricket-club/blog/1452/grahame-thomas-a-history-of-bankstown-players
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last year
Jason Swift
Jason Swift
Cricket Coach
Hove, England, United Kingdom
2 Likes
0 Followers



My best grade team – Jason Swift 1989 to 2004

I made by first grade debut for Hawkesbury Cricket Club during the 1989-90 season and played with the club for 8 seasons before I moved to Canberra and played for Queanbeyan Cricket Club for 4 seasons. I moved back to Sydney for the 2001-02 and played for Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club until I moved to the U.K after the 2003-04 season.

I was very lucky to play with a lot of good players and selecting my best grade team wasn’t easy but it brought back a lot of great memories.

Here’s my team.

1. James Marshall (Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club)

Played Test cricket for New Zealand. Well organised, paced his innings beautifully. Top quality opener.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1310/jason-swift/blog/1920/my-best-grade-team-jason-swift-1989-to-2004
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last year
Peter Langston
Peter Langston
Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
36 Likes
4 Followers



The Veterans

I watched some old men run today

I saw them chase the ball

Send one down at their best speed and

shout and laugh and call

“Yes” then “no” then

“shit, sorry mate,

the spirit is willing but

the legs aren’t great … and

if I go too fast I’ll fall.”



Not one tried to pretend at youth

(a lost cause at this stage)

but gee it was great to see them play

and not concede to age

Those with lids of thinning grey

might once have had thick mops

but a carpark with some empty space

is better than vacant lots

and it’s better to comb than shave.



The batsmen aimed some lusty blows

one bowler was seen to sweat

A steady pursuit of a well struck ball

is as fast as a bloke can get

The Captain stode to the crease

to set a good example

A mighty swing … but they caught the thing

and he left, without a sample

and his bird is quacking yet.



Some moved with surprising stealth

as they ran up to the wickets

or timed the ball with life-long ease

‘till it rattled on the pickets

Others took a lesser role

just content to play their part

only there with the love of the game

written on sleave and heart.



Thank God the rain stayed in away

so these blokes to could have their head

and prove old mates companionship

doesn’t always need a shed

It matters not if they laugh or hurt

It’s not their youth they try to capture

It’s mates … the game … oh I can’t explain

being lost among the rapture

not confined upon a bed.



The ump calls time and stumps are drawn

Last runs have been recorded

A few beers later … the strangest thing

Their worries have been reordered

Not from deeds achieved on the field

Not even from a few cold wet ones

But from holding each other up …

There’s honour among these Veterans

and another day has been rewarded.



(pictured) Hunter Lord Taveners & Mid North Coast

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