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last year
Joel McGlynn
Joel McGlynn
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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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last year
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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last year
Gordon District Cricket Club
Gordon District Cricket Club
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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28 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
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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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last year
Howzattt Cricket
Howzattt Cricket
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
3 Likes
2 Followers



Howzattt presents - Profiles of Champions - Jaco Castle

“There is always a time for everything in life”

Name: Jaco Castle

Age: 45

City / Town: Strand, Western Cape

Province: Western Province

Employment: Self-Employed. Owner of Aluspan Gutters and Waterproofing PTY Ltd

School: Strand High School

Cricket Teams Represented: 1st Team Durbanville Cricket Club, Western Province Vets, Western Province Under 18B

Cricket Career Highlights: Representing Durbanville Cricket Club at Club Champs 3 times and winning it ones and also playing at Community Cup T20 2 times and winning it ones as well. Winning the gold medal with Western Province Vets at the o/40 IPT.

Brief description of your cricket skills: Right arm medium bowler and top-order batsman.

Other sports played: Rugby at Helderberg Rugby Club and Western Province 7s

Interests / Hobbies: Braai with friend. Working in my Garden.

Sporting Hero: Shaun Pollock

Favorite quote: There is always a time for everything in life.

Your thoughts on the Vets Cricket: The best thing about Vets cricket is that you can play against all the players you have played against when you where younger and look up to. It gives you the reason to play cricket again to make high Honors like representing your Country that was always my child hood dream.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1542/howzattt-cricket/blog/2164/howzattt-presents-profiles-of-champions-jaco-castle
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last year
Tony Goodfellow
Tony Goodfellow
Ballina, New South Wales, Australia
5 Likes
0 Followers



Over fifty years ago, on October 9, 1971, Northern Suburbs young enigmatic batsman, Geoff Clark, pounded a scintillating 147 against the strong East Canberra bowling line-up at Kingston in a first grade match.

Clark’s innings was the stuff of folklore at Northies when I was younger, however, this promising player was one of the most nervous starters I’ve seen, which is backed up by his career stats of 25 ducks from 154 innings, a duck innings percentage of 16.23.

Apart from the odd fifty and presumably due to those nervous yips, Geoff never emulated this epic innings again in a match, however, he was arguably the greatest net batsman I’ve ever seen.

On Tuesday and Thursday practice evenings, when there was no pressure on being dismissed, ‘Clarky’ would advance the fastest bowlers, hooking and driving with clinical precision and bravado like a man possessed.

It was a shame that in the middle where it counted, nerves really did stifle a batting career that, early on, promised greatness.

Clark was also infamous for being called for throwing nine times in three overs by the square leg umpire in the 1977 first grade Grand Final at Manuka Oval, for Norths against the eventual winners Western District.

This would come as no surprise to Norths members, as Clark was notorious on the dodgy club practice wickets for generating lift, cut and nasty pace, with an action that resembled a baseball pitcher.

There is no doubt that the offending umpire in that Final could have called every delivery a no ball, however, after three overs, Norths captain Graeme Smith mercilessly pulled Clark out of the attack and destined him forever to terrorising batsmen in the practice nets.

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