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last year

Mick Davis

Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia

2 Likes
3 Followers

The top batsman of my time in Dubbo - Mick Davis

By popular demand (well really just one reader but I still think it’s pretty cool) I have been asked to rate the best batsmen of my time. So, let’s qualify this. I must have seen them live; they have to have had an impact on me and they had to play cricket in Dubbo. Those three criteria get them a look. After that I am picking on who made a great impression on me. Not just who might have had the best stats. So, I am looking at things like stats, technique, attitude, their impact on the game and reputation.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1449/mick-davis/blog/1988/the-top-batsman-of-my-time-in-dubbo-mick-davis

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last year

Penrith Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

18 Likes
20 Followers

Murray Rayner made his first grade debut for Penrith Cricket Club during the 1990/91 season and is the proud owner of the clubs first grade player number 111.

Murray was awarded the A.W Green Shield Player of the year award along with Geoff Sullivan in 1989/90 and in the same year won the Trevor Wholohan Fielding Award.

In 1991/92 Murray won the clubs Poidevin Gray player of the series award.

In all grades for Penrith Murray scored 3,080 runs and still holds the record for the most number of runs in a 2nd Grade season when he scored 899 runs in the 1992/93 season.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/1987/murray-rayner-itrsquos-never-as-hard-as-it-seems-play-every-ball-and-it-will-get-easier

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last year

Penrith Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

18 Likes
20 Followers

Paul Thomas - Penrith first grade cap No 79

When he retired Paul Thomas had taken 687 wickets for Penrith, the Club’s highest wicket-taker. We can add to that: took five-wickets-in-an-innings 28 times. But, these are just a beautiful set of numbers. It’s the character of the cricketer, and the patient manner in which he negotiated his career path, that makes ‘Thommo’ an ideal role model for aspiring young cricketers, especially spin bowlers. It was a pathway with the occasional bump. As a young boy he idolised the left-arm swing bowling of the great Australian all-rounder Gary Gilmour, and bowled it for St Dominics. “There was not a lot of power in my slight frame and Bob and I soon realised there was no future in it.”

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/528/paul-thomas-penrith-first-grade-cap-no-79

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last year

Cricket NSW

71 Likes
102 Followers

Week 18 – ‘The Opening Spell’

First ball – If at first you don’t succeed!

The old saying “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” was taken to the extreme on Saturday, when Jordan Daly made his first-grade debut for Manly-Warringah against Sydney University.

The 29-year-old had made his first appearance in NSW Premier Cricket in fifth-grade in January 2009, scoring 19 (not out) against Mosman. In the intervening 15 years, Jordan had played a further 179 games in all grades, mostly in second (69 games) and third grade (87 games).

He has scored six centuries, five in third-grade and one in second-grade. His highest score was the first of these, 150 (not out) in third-grade against UNSW in the opening round of 2012-13.

https://www.cricketnsw.com.au/news/3882769/week-18-the-opening-spell

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last year

Cricket NSW

71 Likes
102 Followers

NSW Colts Cricket Team – December 1976

Back Row – Phillip Antman, Mark Perry, Jon Jobson, Michael Murfin, Geoff Wright, Graeme Pitty, Murray Bennett

Front Row – Ray Phillips, Bob Vidler, Andrew Hilditch (Captain), Allan Border, Phil Slocombe

Match scorecard -

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/154/cricket-nsw/blog/468/nsw-colts-cricket-team-ndash-december-1976

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last year

Joe Maiorana

Sydney, Australia

40 Likes
2 Followers

The Australian players celebrate with some beers on the dressing room balcony at the end of the 6th Test match between England and Australia at The Oval, London, England, 29th of August 1989. The match ended in a draw and Australia regained the Ashes, winning the six-match series 4-0.

Identified are (front row, left-right): Dean Jones, Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor, Carl Rackemann. Back row, Tim Zoehrer, Mike Walsh (scorer) and Allan Border.

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last year

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

40 Likes
43 Followers

Marrickville District Cricket Club First Grade team 1921-22

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last year

Armidale District Cricket Association

10 Likes
8 Followers

Armidale Cricket 1850-1898

Armidale has always been prominent, from a cricketing point of view, and for a town of its size has taken a leading position.

1. In the early days, as back as the fifties, several of the pioneers were cricket enthusiasts, notably the Marsh family of Salisbury Court and the Taylors of Terrible Vale. These stations each had a cricket team and matches between these country teams and the town team were frequent, and in later years these contests still went on. Salisbury Court and Terrible Vale were the first to use the matting wicket, which was the means of materially improving the game, as good cricket was impossible on the old chipped, bumpy wicket which did duty before the introduction of the mat.

2. Some time after the gold discovery at Bakers Creek Gold Mine in 1887, Hillgrove took an active part in cricket, and Mr George Smith offered a valuable cup, to be played for between teams in Armidale, Hillgrove, Uralla and country teams. This competition, which was extended over 3 years, was the means of giving the game a fillip, and ultimately the Armidale team won the Cup, which was presented to the club at Hillgrove, at a dance given by Mr Smith and the Hillgrove cricketers.

From The Jubilee Souvenir of the Municipality of Armidale 1863-1913 (p.64)
• The Armidale Cricketers Association was formally birthed on the 1-Sep-1899. The first competition was organised in two divisions:
1. Town: Armidale, Orientals, Hillgrove, Dumaresq, Uralla, T.A.S., West End
2. Country: Black Mountain, Ollera, Guyra, Wandsworth, Booralong

For 1911-12 the Junior Competition included a Hillgrove side. As well as sides from Brick Villa, De La Salle College and T.A.S.

• In the 1947-48 midsummer competition, additional teams were entered by Armidale Timber Co. And Hillgrove.
(Association Records)

Pictured - T.A.S First XI cricket team 1895

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last year

Joe Maiorana

Sydney, Australia

40 Likes
2 Followers

Martin Crowe

Batting average after 10 Tests: 20.68

Career average: 45.36

It took Crowe 5 Tests for his career average to cross 10, and 21 Tests to go past 30. With one Test century in 3 years, the pressure was on a young Crowe, but things turned around on the 1985 tour of the West Indies when he smashed 188 v an attack comprising Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, and Joel Garner.

By his 34th Test, his average had crossed 40, and he ended his career as New Zealand’s leading run-getter, eventually averaging in excess of 45 from 77 Tests.

Vintage Cricket

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last year

Sutherland District Cricket Club

Sylvania, Australia

29 Likes
22 Followers

Sutherland District Cricket Club 2nd Grade Premiers 1996-97

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last year

Sutherland District Cricket Club

Sylvania, Australia

29 Likes
22 Followers

Matthew Bradley - Sutherland District Cricket Club Cap No 172 and Life Member

On 12 July 2015 at the Sutherland District Cricket Club Annual General meeting for the 2014-15 season Matthew Bradley was nominated for Life Membership of the club.

Here is Matthew Bradley Nomination for Life Membership as presented by Mathew Duff.

Matthew Bradley joined Sutherland in 1991-92, when he played five matches in AW Green Shield. The following season, he was captain of the AW Green Shield team that won the premiership. He also played a full season of grade cricket, split between 4th and 5th Grades, scoring 558 runs. Combined with his 320 runs in AW Green Shield, his overall season aggregate was 878 runs - at the time, the fourth highest in the Club's history

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/294/sutherland-district-cricket-club/blog/1980/matthew-bradley-sutherland-district-cricket-club-cap-no-172-and-life-member

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last year

Parramatta District Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

6 Likes
10 Followers

Greg Davidson played first grade cricket for Parramatta from 1989 to 2008. Highly respected by his team mates and those in opposition Greg took 333 wickets at an average of 27.45. His best figures in first grade was 6 for 57.

Upon retirement Greg ventured into umpiring and is now a first-class umpire and one of 12 that form part of Cricket Australia National Panel.

Who’s been the biggest influence in your cricket career?

Apart from my parents, I had 3 coaches in Ron Dunn, Eric Myatt and Max Crittenden growing up who taught me the fundamentals of the game and how to win and lose gracefully. Later in life Bob Simpson, Ron Wright, Michael Hair, Darren Goodger and Simon Taufel have been instrumental in my development and progress as player, umpire and human being.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/420/greg-davidson-no-short-cuts-be-true

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last year

Shane Lee

Founder

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

39 Likes
10 Followers

As the years wear on, some stories become folklore. The original version of the tale is enhanced and embellished into a legendary yarn. Sometimes, the story itself takes on its own life and becomes bigger than Ben Hur!

Wayne ‘Cracker’ Holdsworth stormed onto the domestic cricket scene in 1989, taking six wickets on debut for NSW in a performance even Ben Hur would have been proud of!

Wayne’s nickname ‘Cracker’ according to his mother is derived from hitting numerous batsmen on the head with his fast bowling feats. Smashing helmets and intimidating batsmen with raw pace and aggression his superpower in the game of cricket. His team mates having a different version of the chosen nickname

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/538/shane-lee/blog/1979/absolute-cracker

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last year

Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club Sydney

Sydney, Australia

16 Likes
25 Followers

Waverley - Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club team of 125 Years

Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club celebrated 125 years in the Sydney Grade/NSW Premier Cricket competition at an Anniversary Lunch at Doltone House on 12 March 2020.

The celebration culminated in the announcement of the Waverley/ Eastern Suburbs Team of 125 Years.

As part of the announcement Easts Dolphins shared the 50 contenders up for selection

The criteria for selection is arduous and reflects the community spirit in which the history and foundation of the Waverley/ Eastern Suburbs Cricket Clubs history has been built.

Alan Kippax pictured.

The team – congratulations to all

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/319/eastern-suburbs-cricket-club-sydney/blog/1975/waverley-eastern-suburbs-cricket-club-team-of-125-years

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last year

Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club Sydney

Sydney, Australia

16 Likes
25 Followers

On 15th September 1813 thirty-eight-year-old Henrietta Gregory was found guilty in the Old Bailey of forging a one-pound note and was sentenced to transportation and 14 years servitude in the colony. She was just one of 162,000 so dispatched. However, this sentence and subsequent transportation, routine at the time, was to change the course of both Australian men’s and women’s cricket because accompanying Henrietta was her nine-year-old son Edward William Gregory.

Edward William, reported to be somewhat of a cricket tragic, was to marry Mary Ann Smith in 1832 and they had six children, two of whom, Dave, born 15 April 1845 and Ned, 29 May 1839, were to become pioneers of Australian cricket.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/319/eastern-suburbs-cricket-club-sydney/blog/1974/the-gregory-family-crickets-first-dynasty

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last year

Sydney University Cricket Club

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

10 Likes
14 Followers

Tuesday 10 June 1902.

The Fenners Ground, Cambridge University.

The Australians vs Cambridge University.

A bearded, greying batsman walks out to join wicket keeper Hanson Carter. Dr Roland James (Rowley) Pope is a former Test cricketer, playing his last 1st class game, more than seventeen years after appearing in his only Test Match.

A RETURN TO 1ST CLASS CRICKET.

It has been a diluted English summer filled with frequent rain showers interspersed with even heavier rain. The cold weather has seeped into the Australians' bones. Joe Darling and Bill Howell are in London, stricken with influenza. Monty Noble tries to recover in Brighton. Jack Saunders has quinsy and Dr Pope's instructions are that he be confined to bed.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/260/sydney-university-cricket-club/blog/1972/pope-helps-out

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last year

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

53 Likes
54 Followers

Part 3 - The history of St George District Cricket Club 1941-42 to 1950-51

The St George District Cricket Club boasts a proud history which has now extended beyond a century.

When the club entered the first-grade competition in 1921-22, few could have predicted the success and prestige that would accompany it in the ensuing century. As the club celebrates its centenary of first grade across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons there is an opportunity to celebrate many of the outstanding performances and moments that have occurred.

With this in view, it was decided to compile a list of 100 moments in 100 years.

Here's Part 3

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/1969/part-3-the-history-of-st-george-district-cricket-club-1941-42-to-1950-51

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last year

Geoff Williams

Sydney, Australia

27 Likes
1 Followers

In the early 70s I was playing for Central Cumberland District Cricket Club (CCDCC) against Balmain at the SCG. Balmain and NSW opening batsmen, Tony Steele, was in superb form and I have never heard a batsman sledge a fielding side the way Tony did that day. He would say things like " easy", "that is crap", "don't bowl that shit to me" etc. as he hit another boundary. He didn't shut up.

Our opening bowler, Bill Lothian, moved me to fine leg right on the boundary near the Brewongle Stand. Tony Steele saw this field change and practised playing a hook shot to which I cheekily responded by pretending to take a catch. Tony saw this a just gave a mocking laugh. Two balls later, Billy bowled a short ball which Tony hooked. I did not have to move, the catch was hit straight to me (it would have been a six these days). I really enjoyed mimicing Tony's mocking laugh as he trudged off the field.

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last year

Dennis Hourn

Sydney, Australia

38 Likes
2 Followers

It's 1975 and Tony Grieg, Waverley's captain, conspires with the players from the opposing team, Randwick, to play a trick on a fieldsman in the gloom of a Rothman’s Knock Out limited over match at Waverley Oval.

Tony bowls, the Randwick batsman Billy Knowles hooks and Tony screams to the visually challenged fieldsman who is fielding in the dark at deep fine leg, “Hournie Catch it, Catch it”. Hournie of course runs around in circles looking for the ball but it can’t be seen. At least by Hournie.

After an agonising twenty or so seconds and a fruitless search for the ball Hournie looks up and sees Greigy sitting on the pitch laughing his head off holding the ball up in the air.

The crowd and opposing team are also laughing because Greigy had cooked up a
scheme to bowl a “dummy” and for the batsman to play a ‘dummy’ hook shot. Everyone was in on the act except Hournie.

Tony dined out on that at many Waverley functions for years after.

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last year

Bruce Francis

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

3 Likes
1 Followers

Tony Greig’s first game for Waverley in season 1975-76: Waverley 33 and 86. St George 1-36 and 0-24.

Second game; tame draw

Third game versus Gordon, was one of the best games I have played in.

Greig won the toss and chose to bowl

Gordon were 8 for 18 and then fast bowler Barry Thompson hit four sixes. Gordon all out for 52. Greig 7 for 38.

The team insisted Greig bat at number six so he could bat on a dry wicket the following week.

End of first over Greig not out nought having faced one ball. Waverley four wickets for one run. Len Richardson (NSW & QLD opener) 0; Ron Crippen (NSW opener & number 3) 0; Greg Besomo 0; Bruce Francis 0. Barry Thompson four wickets for one run.

Stumps Waverley chasing 52 were 8 for 48 with Dennis Hourn and Dick Rowland the not out batsmen with David Hourn to follow.

Following week: Waverley dismissed for 60.

Gordon second innings 125. David Hourn 7 for 54.

Waverley 6 for 121 won outright. Greig 63 and Mick Beningfield 23 not out.

Waverley 10 points and running second in competition

Every over felt like I imagine the last over of a twenty/20 match would feel.

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