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last year
Les Eastaway
Les Eastaway
Taree, New South Wales, Australia
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As a lover of cricket it was certainly not a chore for Les Eastaway to research and write about the sport. Following the compilation of ‘Cricket in the Manning’, he chose to research and document cricket in the township of Inverell and nearby regions.

The 2012-13 season opened with Les spending the first of six summers scoring for a local town team.

Two double centuries in the opening weeks whet his appetite to ‘dig’ for prominent big scores and admirable bowling performances. He unearthed a tarnished trophy, the cup and some fine stats became his ‘baby’ to compile enough notes to enable a book of Sapphire City cricket tracing over one hundred years.

The book is titled, ‘Inverell Cricketers, Curators and Centuries.’

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/908/les-eastaway/blog/882/inverell-cricketers-curators-and-centuries
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last year
Peter Langston
Peter Langston
Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
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First published in 1946 (I read a 1947 edition), the focus of the book is the Bodyline tour by England in 1932-33. It indeed occupies the first half of the book but references to it are sprinkled through the second half as well. Fingleton's candour dropped him into controversy throughout both his playing and writing career and this book was one of the chief reasons for his opponents' attacks.
Not surprisingly, given his robust criticisms of the demigod Bradman, the former captain was most upset by this volume.
Fingleton questioned Bradman's ability and fortitude against the short, fast bowling of England during that heated summer on and off the field when the members at Lords first struggled with their understanding of the Spirit of Cricket. Once the unflinching opener covered in bruises, Fingleton backs his assertions with with descriptions of incidents when he struggled against that form of attack but stood firm. His claim that Bradman ran whilst others stood and took it, stirred a hornets nest but it was the evidence he presented to defend himself against the claim made by Bradman that he leaked the famous Woodfull line to the press - "their are two teams out there. One of them is trying to play cricket; the other is not" - is not only refuted here but played straight back at Bradman.
The second half delivers player portraits and descriptions of other matches he both played in and observed. All is penned in his wonderful prose which stands through time. With a foreword by Sir Neville Cardus and the observations of a man who still once held the record for the most Test 100's in consecutive innings until Everton Weekes 5 topped him, his legendary toughness and durability shine through in his writing.
This is probably the best book written about cricket by an Australian author and set a standard which others such as Gideon Haigh have measured up to but never surpassed. Essential reading for a balanced view of Bradman's impact on Australian cricket and society and to be reminded just how beautiful the game can be in the hands of a wordsmith.
You might need a library or a collector to find it but the search will reward you.

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last year
Jeff Cook
Jeff Cook
Cricket Coach
Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
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My best Grade team - Jeff Cook 1989 to 2015

Wow tough ask, this brought back many memories. Thank you for the opportunity to name my best team I had the pleasure to play with on a Saturday in the Sydney Grade Competition. The players were/are not just champion players in their own right but had a huge influence on my career and more importantly, gave time to others in the Club or opposing players. In particular young players entering the 1st Grade ranks in the late 80s/90s was daunting, their guidance and belief in you were instrumental to many young players going onto a career in cricket or distinguished 1st-grade careers.

Here's my team in batting order:

1. Wayne Seabrook

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1570/jeff-cook/blog/2182/my-best-grade-team-jeff-cook-1989-to-2015
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last year
Tony Goodfellow
Tony Goodfellow
Ballina, New South Wales, Australia
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The Rise and Rise of Terry Hannam

On February 28, 1954, young Kingston all-rounder Terry Hannam, was selected for the senior Canberra XI team, led by future NSW Shield player John O’Reilly, to play Monaro at Cooma.

A mere eighteen months before his senior representative debut, Terry was simply a promising 14-year-old junior playing 3rd grade for Kingston, however, promising enough by seasons end to win the clubs batting and bowling awards for that grade.

At the beginning of the 1953/54 season and based on his previous years grade and U17 representative performances, the 15-year-old Terry skipped second grade and started the year in firsts.

Terry immediately performed well at first grade level, scoring valuable lower order runs with his powerful hitting and consistently taking wickets with his medium-pace bowling.

Batting at number 4 for the ACT U17 side against Monaro U17’s, Terry scored a dashing 92 with 15 fours and two sixes, to help his side into the final of the ‘Old Executive Cup’ competition.

On the back of 7/27 against Turner and 5/27 including a hat-trick against Combined Services, to go with his consistent run scoring, the ACT senior selectors penciled in Hannam’s name for the match against Monaro, a truly meteoric rise from 3rd grade to the top for the 15-year-old all-rounder.

With his selection for that Monaro match, at the tender age of 15 years 259 days, Terry Hannam remains the third youngest senior representative player in the 99 years of Canberra cricket.

Terry Hannam went on to become a Northern Suburbs stalwart with both his sons, Garry and Brett playing for the club.

Brett, also an ACT representative, played in the victorious 79/80 Norths First grade premiership side, before pursuing a successful AFL career.

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last year
Joe Maiorana
Joe Maiorana
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
2 Followers



David William Gregory (15 April 1845 – 4 August 1919) was an Australian cricketer. A right-handed batsman, Gregory was the first Australian national cricket captain, leading the side for the first three recognised Test matches between England and Australia in March and April 1877 and January 1879. Gregory was also the captain of the NSW team, notably during the Sydney Riot of 1879 when he rebelled against an unpopular decision by Victorian umpire George Coulthard during a game against the touring English team.

Gregory was part of a large cricketing family: his father, Edward William Gregory, was a "capable cricketer" with 8 sons, 5 of whom played for NSW in international or intercolonial matches between 1861 and 84; in all, 20 of Edward William Gregory's descendants represented NSW in cricket and other sports.

David William Gregory was a man of striking appearance, he "looked like an Old Testament prophet not long out of training college."

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last year
Western Australian Cricket Association
Western Australian Cricket Association
Perth, Australia
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Jim Allenby and David Bandy Share Olly Cooley Medal 2003-04 – Western Australia Premier Cricket

Exceptional seasons from young guns Jim Allenby and David Bandy were rewarded when the pair were proclaimed joint winners of the Olly Cooley Medal at the WACA Ground in March.

Allenby is the first Claremont-Nedlands player to win the medal since the Olly Cooley Medal’s inauguration, while Bandy in now in the elite company of two-times medal winner and Scarborough captain Kade Harvey, who last won the medal four years ago.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/480/western-australian-cricket-association/blog/2181/jim-allenby-and-david-bandy-share-olly-cooley-medal-2003-04-ndash-western-australia-premier-cricket
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last year
Mark Atkinson
Mark Atkinson
Real Estate Agent
Sydney, Australia
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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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last year
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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last year
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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