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2 years ago
Joe Maiorana
Joe Maiorana
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
2 Followers



Born in Gujarat, India, Hanif Mohammad - the original Little Master- was a batsman with yogic powers of concentration.
Hanif authored the longest ever Test innings in the history of Test cricket - a marathon 970-minute 337 for Pakistan against West Indies at Bridgetown, wherein he compiled century stands with four different players including his brother, Wazir. The hot steak continued as he made 499 for Karachi versus Bahawalpur before being ironically run-out whilst attempting the 500th run, the very next year in 1959. The record stood tall as the highest first-class individual score until Brain Lara eclipsed it in 1994. He also held the unique distinction of making a ton against all his Test opponents in 'away' conditions, which highlighted his adaptive abilities.
Interestingly, Hanif was ambidextrous with the ball and also served as an occasional keeper. Following his retirement, he ran the Pakistan International Airlines colts scheme before taking up the position of Pakistan's batting consultant in 2002.
Many other members of Hanif's family were also cricketers: his brothers Mushtaq, Sadiq and Wazir all played Tests for Pakistan, as did his son Shoaib. Another brother Raees was once twelfth man for Pakistan, and four nephews had first-class careers. His mother Ameer Bee was a national badminton champion in pre-independence British India.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013. He had been undergoing treatment for lung cancer in Karachi's Aga Khan Hospital. He passed away on 11th August 2016 at age 81.
In 2018, a Google Doodle was created to celebrate his 84th Birthday.
Hanif's triple-century against the West Indies team in 1957/58 made him a legend in the cricketing world. He was one of the original inductees into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Pride of Performance Award in 1959 by the Government of Pakistan
Hanif Mohammad was born on this day 21 December in 1934

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2 years ago
Max Bonnell
Max Bonnell
Lawyer
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
10 Likes
0 Followers



Australian cricket used to built as a pyramid. It was widest at its base, where we all started, playing at school, or in the juniors in a local park. A few hundred stepped past that on to the next tier, joining a Grade club. From there, at least in theory, you could scale to the very top of the pyramid – the Australian team – if you were good enough.

Today, the pyramid is looked on as a clumsy, inefficient and amateurish method of talent selection. Bright young kids are handed State contracts after bossing around a bunch of seventeen year-olds in age-group tournaments. People are picked on the basis of what they can become, rather than on what they’ve done. And maybe that’s better. Except that the pyramid worked. If you were good enough, you reached the top, having earned every promotion along the way. And if you weren’t – well, the pyramid delivered that message, too

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/436/max-bonnell/blog/1037/scaling-the-pyramid
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2 years ago
Matt Ellis
Matt Ellis
Cricket Coach
Dubbo, NSW, Australia
59 Likes
7 Followers



The mood was bubbling with excitement as my family gathered together for a birthday celebration. Family members exchanged stories with an assortment of food and drinks to add to the merriment.

My mood on the other hand was somewhat tense as the Australians had their backs to the wall in the Boxing Day Test Match. I had just turned nine and I had a love of cricket that was deep in my veins, so while the family were outside enjoying the festivities, I found my way inside to witness one of my fondest Boxing Day Test Match memories.

It was 1987 and Michael Roy Whitney was in the middle of the MCG facing the music trying to defy Sir Richard Hadlee from taking the final wicket and win the Test Match for New Zealand. The larger than life fast bowler was not known for heroics with the willow joined Craig McDermott at the crease with the task of seeing out the remaining overs. To add to the challenge, he would be facing the man who would be awarded player of the series and who finished his distinguished career with 431 Test wickets.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/182/matt-ellis/blog/1146/23-minutes-that-had-me-hooked-on-cricket-for-life
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2 years ago
John Rogers
John Rogers
Melbourne, Australia
23 Likes
7 Followers



Always graceful and often flamboyant, Billy Watson amassed almost 8,700 runs for St George at an average of 45. He tallied 500 runs in a season 12 times. Yes, 12 times.

That he should be so consistent was reflected in a comment he once made: “I may fail twice, but I won’t fail a third time.” He wasn’t boasting, just stating what he thought was an obvious with his typical, remarkable confidence.

Short, trim, yet immensely strong thanks to working in the wholesale potato business he took over from his father, Bill feared no bowler, always cocking a snoot at the most fearsome – Wes Hall, Ray Lindwall, Gordon Rorke, Alan Davidson – and, as he approached 40 years of age, the fearsome Thommo and Lennie Pascoe. He also loved taking on the top spinners – Benaud, Philpott and Martin.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/531/john-rogers/blog/1850/billy-watson-a-joy-to-watch
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2 years ago
St George Cricket Club
St George Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
53 Likes
54 Followers



In this “in between balls” St George District Cricket Club feature Nick Shurmer who made his first grade debut for the Dragons on 23 January 2021 against Western Suburbs. Nick is St George’s first grade player number 456.

What year you were born and where?

1991 Bathurst

Can you remember your first game of cricket?

Can’t remember the exact game but it was for Rugby Union Cricket Club probably playing at Learmonth Park or Police Paddock

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

Standard country kids cricket life. Juniors Saturday morning, Seniors Saturday afternoon, Representative cricket Sunday. Outside of School cricket. I’ve only really had 3 clubs. Rugby Union in Juniors, City Colts in Seniors then St George.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/586/st-george-in-between-balls-with-nick-shurmer
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2 years ago
Dandenong Cricket Club
Dandenong Cricket Club
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3 Likes
1 Followers



We are grateful to the Dandenong Star Journal who researched and published much of this article on 14 September 2017. A cartoon of Harry Shepley from the Dandenong Journal.

What’s In a Name delves into the fascinating stories and personalities behind some of the city’s best-known street names and locations. This week the Journal looks at Shepley Oval in Dandenong.

The sports oval at the top end of Pultney Street officially became the Harry Shepley Oval in March 1953.

Shep, as he was known, died suddenly on 7 August 1952 at age 57.

His death “robbed this district of one of its finest citizens, and leaves the whole community with a sense of deep personal loss”, the Journal reported at the time.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1378/dandenong-cricket-club/blog/1844/harry-shepley-engineer-worked-to-build-sports
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2 years ago
Prahran Cricket Club
Prahran Cricket Club
Melbourne, Australia
3 Likes
2 Followers



Neil Schlittler made his first grade debut for Prahran Cricket Club during the 1997/98 season and played 233 first grade games for the club.

At the time of publication Neil is the 4th highest first grade run scorer in the clubs history having scored 6,460 runs at an average of 27.84. His highest score was 178 and he hit 9 centuries and 34 half centuries. He also took 47 wickets with best figures of 3 for 16 and took 91 catches.

Neil was Prahran first grade captain in 58 games and he’s a two time winner of the Dav Whatmore Award for the Champion 1st XI Player of the Year.

In 2015 Neil Schlittler was inducted into the Prahran Cricket Club’s Hall of Fame.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/441/prahran-cricket-club/blog/439/neil-schlittler-true-blue
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