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last year
Bankstown District Cricket Club
Bankstown District Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
10 Likes
30 Followers



Stuart Green played for Nepean/Penrith and Bankstown in Sydney Grade Cricket from 1975-76 to 1990-91. In eight seasons with Bankstown, he scored 2744 runs at 24.1 and took 93 wickets at about 24.75 with 46 catches mostly in second grade. With Penrith, Stuart captained both the Green Shield and Poidevin Gray teams.

Stuart is Bankstown first grade player number 152 and Penrith first grade player number 114.

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

The ultimate competitor was Geoff Spotswood. I was vice captain to him for years at Bankstown. Geoff took everything he did as a challenge for excellence and often played with the belligerence of a Rugby League front rower - I wonder why?

My best man, Tim Sullivan - a great competitor and highly skilled opening bowler. Always thinking about how to capitalise on the opponents’ weakness. I am sorry for running him out at Manly

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/356/bankstown-district-cricket-club/blog/1242/stuart-green-do-the-best-with-what-youve-got
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last year
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney
Western Suburbs District Cricket Club Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
69 Likes
93 Followers



Western Suburbs pile on 400 runs against Campbelltown in October 1987

It was the game the Sydney Cricket Association trialed orange balls across the first grade games. The ball seemed to be a bit harder than the norm and with the runs we had on the board and a fast bowling attack that included David Gilbert, Chris Killen, Murray Radcliffe and Brad McNamara I was really looking forward to keeping on day 2.

The scorecard above says there was rain on the Friday afternoon but my recollection is the game was called off on the Thursday afternoon after rain early in the week!!

I often think, how much fun it might have been keeping on day 2.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/1239/western-suburbs-pile-on-400-runs-against-campbelltown-in-october-1987
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last year
Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Club
Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
3 Likes
7 Followers



David Kelley made his first grade debut on 29 December 1985 at just 15 years and 315 days as a very talented left hand batsman.

From 1985 to 2008 David scored 8,916 runs at an average of 29.32 with his highest score 173 not out. He scored 11 centuries and 44 half centuries and won 2 premierships with Fairfield Liverpool.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

I can’t recall ever playing with a captain that I thought wasn’t any good but there were 2 blokes who I believed were more than just captains. They were great man managers as well and they were Billy York and Sean Pope.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/397/fairfield-liverpool-cricket-club/blog/1235/david-kelley-be-the-best-you-can-be
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last year
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
43 Followers



Ken Grieves joined Petersham DCC in 1941-42 scoring 62 and taking 6-78 off 22 overs in 3rd Grade v Paddington. He was immediately promoted to 2s where he hit 74 and took 10 wickets at just 14 in three games. Although only 17 years of age he was rushed into 1st Grade making 20 in his debut v Gordon at Petersham in October 1941 before going on to take the bowling honours with 32 wickets at 20.25.

A right-hand batsman and leg spin bowler he had knocked up 1,207 runs in 1st Grade, taken 71 wickets and held 41 catches, mainly at slip where he excelled, for Petersham before his 20th birthday.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/1234/ken-grieves-randwick-petersham-cricket-club-heroes-of-the-ages
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last year
Pat Rodgers
Pat Rodgers
Teacher
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
0 Likes
3 Followers



19 February 1963: the English spinner Tony Lock completed his initial season with Western Australia. 2 May 1963: the former English Test all-rounder, Jack Crawford, died in a Surrey hospital.

"So what?" I can hear you say. Well, on closer examination, not only were these two cricketers the first Test players from England to appear in the Sheffield Shield competition, but their lives and careers share quite remarkable parallels.

The Surrey county club can boast many fine players in its history. Crawford and Lock rank high among them. Crawford's talent was obvious from an early age. He had such great success as a schoolboy cricketer that he was selected for Surrey at just 17 years of age. Two years later, he was playing the first of his 12 Tests as the youngest Englishman to do so and he was also a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1907. The world seemed to be at his feet. However, a dispute with his county led to his venture to Australia.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/199/pat-rodgers/blog/1232/from-surrey-to-the-sheffield-shield
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last year
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan
Founder
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
503 Likes
513 Followers



As the pre-season training schedules were being planned for the 1996/97, Petersham like all Premier Clubs did and do, contacted their players to check if they were ready for the pre-season.

It was during the call to Greeny when he informed the caller, he was transferring to St George when he was told “you’ll never play higher than 5th grade there. “

Fast forward for 17 seasons and Steve Green decided to retire after the 2012/13 first grade grand final between St George and Sutherland.

He retired with a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction. He played 202 first grade games for St George and took 383 wickets at an average of 19.3 including 17 x 5 wicket hauls. He is also a 4-time premiership-winning player, a Life Member and achieved one of the most celebrated careers at the St George District Cricket Club.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/32/paul-ryan/blog/1231/steve-green-dedicated-and-skillful
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last year
Brett Mortimer
Brett Mortimer
Business Development Manager
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
1 Likes
0 Followers



My Best Grade Team - Brett Mortimer 1990 to 2002

I was lucky enough to play in many premierships during the glory days of Sandgate - Redcliffe Cricket Club. My team was hard to pick and includes some of Queensland and Premier Cricket’s greatest ever players.

Here's my Best Grade team in batting order:

1. Trevor Barsby
Legend off the club. Retired from rep cricket and back to Sandgate to captain us to our first flag
2. Jerry Cassell
Should have played more games for QLD. Great talent. Scored some big shield hundreds. He joined the gators from Wynnum.
3. Peter Goggin

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1008/brett-mortimer/blog/1230/my-best-grade-team-brett-mortimer-1990-to-2002
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last year
Stuart Cope
Stuart Cope
London, United Kingdom
11 Likes
0 Followers



At Uni, I worked for Yorkshire CCC, I managed the cricket centre at Headingley a few times a week, coached various county age group teams and worked within local schools. I played in the Bradford League and Airedale and Wharfedale league, where I conversed with all stakeholders from grassroots to the higher echelons of the game. My experience of the sport then was that it polarized people, there was a complete lack of empathy and understanding of different cultures and their struggles.

It was a bold ask to write a dissertation regarding my employers but in all fairness to Yorkshire CCC they opened the doors to interview all key stakeholders from the CEO, players, coaches, ex-players and club cricketers.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/838/stuart-cope/blog/1229/be-curious-and-change-the-inequality-in-cricket
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last year
Clarence District Cricket Club
Clarence District Cricket Club
Hobart, Australia
1 Likes
0 Followers



Andrew Dykes - when you make a start, go on with it

Andrew Dykes played 303 games for Clarence District Cricket Club after making his debut as a 17 year old at the start of the 1989/90 season.

In 272 innings for the club Andrew scored 9,793 runs at an average of 44.11 including 25 centuries and 48 half centuries. Andrew is the highest run scorer in the clubs history.

With the ball Andrew took 238 wickets at 23.47 and took 5 wickets in an innings on 7 occasions.

Let’s find out more about Andrew’s journey in the game

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/431/clarence-district-cricket-club/blog/344/andrew-dykes-when-you-make-a-start-go-on-with-it
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last year
Cricket NSW
Cricket NSW
71 Likes
102 Followers



Jason Arnberger goes big with 319 for NSW 2ndXI against NSW Country in December 1995

Jason Arnberger was a Penrith junior and played Sydney Grade Cricket for Penrith so it was Arnie’s home ground when he scored 319 not out against NSW Country.

Jason made his debut for NSW during the 1994/95 and he moved to Victoria at the start of the 1997/98 season. He played his last first class game for Victoria against Queensland in March 2006.

In a first class career spanning 1994/95 to 2005/06 Jason Arnberger played 88 first class games and in 165 innings scored 6,049 runs at an average of 39.79.

He scored 13 first class centuries and 32 half centuries and took 58 catches.

Jason was awarded Victoria’s State Player of the year in 2005/06 and it was an unfortunate back injury that kept him out of the 2006/07 season and ultimately the end of his distinguished first class career.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/154/cricket-nsw/blog/440/jason-arnberger-goes-big-with-319-for-nsw-2ndxi-against-nsw-country-in-december-1995
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last year
Michael McMahon
Michael McMahon
Insurance Broker
Sydney, Australia
1 Likes
4 Followers



Unique Days of Test Cricket at Lords in 1986

I was in England during the northern summer of 1986. My great mate Rick Allen and I were playing a season of Minor County cricket with Sawbridgeworth in the Hertfordshire League.

We resided in Sawbridgeworth village, a short distance from London. On a rare day off from playing, we decided to attend the 2nd day of the 1st Test between England and India at Lords on 5th June 1986. This was my first trip to the home of cricket but for Rick Allen, the current No.1 cricket scribe for The Sun newspaper in Sydney, it was his umpteenth visit to Lords. Rick had been a member of the initial Australian Under 19 Cricket team which toured England in 1977. He was one of the star batsmen in that team, which included the future Test opening pair of David Boon and Geoff Marsh. Rick followed a career path in sports journalism (which restricted his grade cricket availability) and a world class social life (which had a similar effect). He definitely had the batting ability to be a First Class cricketer if he had pursued that avenue.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/576/michael-mcmahon/blog/1228/unique-days-of-test-cricket-at-lords-in-1986
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last year
Matthew Betsey
Matthew Betsey
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
13 Likes
0 Followers



1999-2000, the year of the Bulldogs

I was fortunate to start my 1st grade career on Australia Day in 1994 with Fairfield-Liverpool after Corey Doyle (RIP) was selected in the Australian Under 19 team. I went on to play three seasons with Western Suburbs (1996-1999) and then for Bankstown (including the 1999/2000 premiership) until 2005. I finished with a season back at Fairfield-Liverpool playing in the 2006 Grand Final against Bankstown.

To celebrate the mighty Bankstown Bulldogs winning the 1st grade Premiership in 1999-2000, I want to acknowledge my great Bankstown team-mates (see below) and in the absence of singling any out in ‘my best grade team’, I thought I would select a Sydney Grade Cricket XI based on the performances of our opposition in our 1999/2000 premiership season!

1. Brett van Deinsen (St George) – what a talent, but anyone who witnessed VD taking on Wayne Holdsworth in the Final

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/757/matthew-betsey/blog/1226/1999-2000-the-year-of-the-bulldogs
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last year
John Millward
John Millward
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
1 Likes
0 Followers



Either side of the breathtaking opening test of a much-anticipated Ashes series, almost all of the discourse has surrounded England’s style of play, allegedly referred to as “Bazball”.

But while the very mention of the ubiquitous term may cause numerous eyes to roll, I’m fascinated by how desperate some are to see it fail. There appears to be a legion of ex-players, journalists and fans, utterly determined to prove that such an unorthodox and radical method cannot possibly succeed in the storied surroundings of test cricket.

“Just wait until you try it against this bowling attack or on this type of pitch”

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1088/john-millward/blog/1225/bazsquall
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