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Sydney Cricket Club
Sydney Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
13 Likes
29 Followers



Markham Matthews made his first grade debut for the Balmain Tigers (Sydney Cricket Club) in 2001 to become Tiger first grade player 492.

An extremely gifted and talented all-rounder Markham was 29 when he made his debut as he spent many years on the professional golf circuit.

As a first class golfer, you can only imagine how far he can hit a cricket ball.

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Easy one. Peter Smith playing for the Tigers against North Sydney, at North Sydney Oval. He made 185 not out off 78 deliveries. Hit 16 sixes and 15 fours. 50 off 27 balls, 100 off 51 balls, then onto 185 off 78. I will never forget the numbers, it was easily the best sustained hitting I ever saw against a good a

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/375/sydney-cricket-club/blog/1713/markham-matthews-be-respectful
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last year
Graeme Rummans
Graeme Rummans
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
1 Likes
4 Followers



My best Grade Cricket team - Graeme Rummans, Sydney and Melbourne 1994 - 2016

Okay, challenge accepted to pick my best Grade Cricket team from the players I played with during my playing days.

In my years playing Premier/Grade Cricket I only ever played for the “Saints” – St George in Sydney and St Kilda in Melbourne.

So to paint the picture of the players I can choose from I made my First Grade debut for St George in March 1994 and played with St George until I made the move to Melbourne and St Kilda for the 2002/03 season.

I returned to St George for 2 seasons from 2006/07 season and then made my way back to St Kilda in 2008/09 and finished up my Premier/Grade Cricket career at the end of the 2015/16 season.

This isn’t an easy challenge but this is my best Grade team from the players I played with

1. Brett Van Diensen – St George

2. Nick Jewell – St Kilda

3. Rob Quiney – St Kilda

4. Michael Klinger – St Kilda and Captain

5. Moises Henriques – St George

6. Brad McNamara – St George

7. Scott Thompson – St George

8. Nathan Pilon – St George and Wicket Keeper

9. Trent Copeland – St George

10. Stuart MacGill – St George

11. Michael Beer – St Kilda

12th man – Steve Green

Team Scorer – Phil Stelzer

Team Manager – Tim Loughry, “Clock”

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Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
69 Likes
93 Followers



A rather weather beaten old 'photo was delivered to Pratten Park recently and, fortunately, the Groundsman, current Wests' First Grader, Nick Cutler, was there to receive it.

The photograph (attached) and lovingly restored as well as possible by Wests Archives, was taken by a local Dubbo photographer at Easter 1930, and it depicts what he has called the 'Southern Star' and the visiting Magpies Players, Manager and Scorer lined up on the runway.

The monoplane was actually called the 'Southern Cloud', a ‘sister ship’ of Kingsford Smith’s ‘Southern Cross’, a high wing monoplane and, in fact, one of five purchased by 'Smithy' for his fledgling ANA fleet. The 'plane's details can be seen on the photograph caption.

Among the tourists was Selby Burt, Western Suburbs’ Player #237 and the highest wicket taker in the Club's history (793 wickets at an average of 16.45), in a career that stretched from 1923 to 1942. Selby's great, great grandson, Tom Burt, is Wests' First Grade Player #699.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/1708/western-suburbs-flight-to-dubbo-in-1930
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last year
Ken Piesse
Ken Piesse
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
8 Likes
0 Followers



Bill Lawry's famed Test and first-class career was over when he shook the hand of president Jack Edwards and agreed to be St Kilda's new captain-coach for three years from 1972-73.

At $3000 per year he was being paid substantially more than he received in a season with Victoria and Australia.

Then 35, Lawry had played the last of his 99 state games with Victoria and his 67 Tests with Australia and was seeking fresh challenges.

"I'd been reluctant to leave Northcote," he said. "I had two young kids and a responsibility to their future. I said to the people at Northcote I didn't know what my future was going to hold. They said: 'We can't offer you any money but we can offer you a VCA delegate's badge'. That helped convince me."

Closer-to-home Carlton was also ready to pounce, but was 24 hours too late. Lawry had already made his commitment.

"It was an honour to go to St Kilda," he said.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/572/ken-piesse/blog/1705/bill-lawry-joined-st-kilda-cricket-club-in-1972-73-on-3000-a-year
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last year
Joe Maiorana
Joe Maiorana
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
2 Followers



Born in Middle Swan, Western Australia
Tony Mann was a leg break bowler with a sharp googly. He was almost selected for 1969–70 Australian Second XI Tour of New Zealand when the Test players were in India and South Africa. A useful batsman, he made the Test side during the first season of the Packer schism.
He was in England during 1971-72 when, while playing at club level for Lancashire's Bacup Cricket Club, he also appeared at county level for Shropshire.
He was selected to play against the touring Indian side, being picked over Jim Higgs due in part because of his better batting. Mann took 3–12 in the first innings of the First Test and also making useful scores of 19 and 26 in a closely fought match. He was less successful in the second innings as a bowler, taking 0–52.
In the Second Test he found the going harder against the Indian batsmen, taking 0–63 and 0–49. However, in the second innings, when Australia was chasing 339 to win the game, Mann came to the wicket as nightwatchman when Australia was 1–13 and did not leave until they were 2–172 by which time he had scored 105 runs, helping lay the platform for an Australian victory.
He was only the second man in history to score a century in a Test match after being sent in as nightwatchman.
He was used sparingly as a bowler in the Third Test and in the Fourth Test he was dismissed for a pair and took 0–101.[6] He was dropped in favour of fellow West Australian Bruce Yardley for the Fifth Test and never played for Australia again.
His father was Jack Mann, a pioneer of the wine industry in Western Australia.
Tony was a schoolteacher for 30 years before becoming manager for the WACA, Adam Gilchrist becoming among his notable recruits to the Western Australia cricket team. He passed away of pancreatic cancer at St John of God Murdoch Hospital in November 2019 aged 74.
Anthony Longford Mann was born on this day in 1945

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last year
Armidale District Cricket Association
Armidale District Cricket Association
10 Likes
8 Followers



Brad King has played all his cricket in the Northern NSW town of Armidale.

He started playing for Hillgrove Cricket Club when he was 15 and has played with “The Grove” ever since. He is still their first-grade captain and continues to make a very valuable contribution to cricket in Armidale.

Turning 50 and Brad is also playing Veterans Cricket and was recently selected for the NSW Kookaburra to play in the Over 50s National Championships in Victoria in December.

Brad and his family run the local pet shop - Armidale Pet Shop and Aquarium

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/237/armidale-district-cricket-association/blog/1702/brad-king-control-your-own-performance
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Penrith Cricket Club
Penrith Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
18 Likes
20 Followers



Penrith Cricket Club won the 2009-10 Poidevin Gray Shield after beating St George in the Final at Hurstville Oval on 14 March 2010.

St George finish on top of the ladder with Penrith one point behind.

St George won the toss and batted first to score 146 from their 50 overs. Blake Fitzgerald top scored with 43 while Damian Carroll made 40 not out.

Pat Cummins was the pick of the Penrith bowlers taking 3 for 35 from his 10 overs.

Penrith only needed 43 overs to score the winning runs with Jordan Silk top scoring with 58 and Tim Sutton scored 35.

Penrith only lost 4 wickets to take the champions title and it was the first Poidevin Gray Shield win since 2000/01.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/594/penrith-cricket-club-poidevin-gray-premiers-2009-10
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last year
Shane Lee
Shane Lee
Founder
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
39 Likes
10 Followers



Former Petersham 1st grade cricketer and NSW junior representative Corey “Slug” Pearson changed his sporting career focus at the age of 21 from Cricket to Rugby League and I may have played a small part in his decision making.

I preface this story by saying Corey is one of my best mates and he's also the Godfather to my five-year-old son Thomas - God help Thomas and I mean that literally.

I first met Slug when playing Green Shield at the age of 15. I was the quiet blonde quick from the South Coast of NSW and Corey had already been cutting his cricketing teeth in the lower grades at Petersham Cricket Club.

Corey’s introduction to the world of “Man Sport” was honed by the Petersham elite. Graham “Heaps” Hughes (why did they call him Heaps? When you saw him in the shower he had HEAPS!), Brian Riley (the greatest sledger of all time) and the Sullivan Brothers or “Slut” Brothers - Worm and Fuss. The Petersham hierarchy had developed their own language, designed to distract and sledge the opposition on the field and attract the ladies off it!

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/538/shane-lee/blog/859/corey-pearson-from-no-5-to-no-8
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last year
Ken Jacobs
Ken Jacobs
Business Advisor
13 Likes
4 Followers



Well before T20 Cricket and even 50 over one day matches there was "Double Wicket Cricket" and in 1968 it was played in Australia, largely due to the efforts of former NSW and Australian captain Bob Simpson.

And when you look at the players who were involved in 1968 it makes you wonder about the crowds they would attract today - an absolute array of champions of the game of cricket.

The rules are outlined in this booklet as too the prizemoney on offer -the winning team received $4000 and the team that finished eighth received $1150.

Matches were played in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and for all matches local players in each State were the fieldsmen for the day - there are many familiar and other well-known players who acted as fieldsmen in each State as you will see.

Unfortunately, the fieldsmen for the Victoria leg of the competition played at the St. Kilda Cricket Ground "Junction Oval" are not listed but I think there were a number of St.Kilda CC players involved.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/126/ken-jacobs/blog/1701/world-championship-cricket-before-world-series-cricket-australian-tour-1968
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Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Brisbane
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Brisbane
Brisbane, Australia
4 Likes
5 Followers



Nev Paulsen connection with Western Suburbs District Cricket Club dates back 40 odd years, firstly as a player and then as a supporter of his 3 sons who have played for the club.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket so far?

Being involved in the selection and development of young cricketers in Queensland who have gone on to represent at state and national level as well as the establishment of the Eddie Gilbert Cricket Program to find and develop Indigenous Cricketers. (After my retirement from Queensland Cricket unfortunately the program was discontinued).

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/261/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-brisbane/blog/701/nev-paulsen-the-radio-and-clive-harburg
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