Stories

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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513 Followers

Cricket can be the loneliest of all team sports. Yes, you’re part of a team but when you break it down it’s simply one bowler against one batter surrounded by 10 others whose sole objective is to remove the batter from his cherished position.

The batter job is to blunt the bowler, preserve their wicket and score runs on behalf of their batting partner at the other end and 9 team mates watching from the sidelines.

For cricket fans, it’s theatre and can be a show you don’t dare miss.

I asked a cricket fan to choose the one bowler from any era they’d like to see take on one batter from any era.

Their answer was – Allan Donald v Steve Smith.

What a match up that would be, and there’s been so many memorable match ups throughout the years

In asking others the same question, there are some fascinating responses. Let’s take a look.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/32/paul-ryan/blog/652/ball-v-bat-all-time-cricket-matchups

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2 years ago

Mitch Bourke

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0 Followers

Bathiya Perera arrived onto the Sri Lankan first class scene as a young 19 year old leg spinning all rounder. As his career progressed he would mature into a dominant top order batsman scoring 8254 first class runs with a high score of 220 not out. Bathiya put in many dominant performances for Sri Lanka A against world class lineups but could never break into the test side.

Bathiya has since moved to Australia where he had a short stint playing at Berwick, before he spent time as the coach of Upper Beaconsfield and Frankston Peninsula and skills development coach of various junior clubs.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1111/mitch-bourke/blog/1422/bathiya-perera-one-of-the-best-to-never-play-for-sri-lanka

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2 years ago

Bankstown District Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

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30 Followers

David Thompson made his first grade debut for Bankstown during the 1981/82 and is first grade cap number 144.

In 1985/86 David became the inaugural first grade captain of Fairfield Cricket Club where he spent one year and has the honour of Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Club Player of the Year Award named after him.

In first grade David scored 3,336 runs at 24.35 including one century and 21 half centuries. He took 58 wickets with his best figures 5 for 53.

In all grades David scored over 7,000 and continued to play into his 40s and became a tremendous influence and mentor to many younger players.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/356/bankstown-district-cricket-club/blog/646/david-thompson-be-prepared

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2 years ago

191 Likes
257 Followers

East Hills Boys High School cricket team - 1991 Alan Davidson Shield winners

Back Row - Adam Fairley, Justin Holbrook, Glen Hall, Michael Smith, Brad Parmeter, Jay McInney, Craig Herbert. Ron Perrett (Coach)
Front Row - Gary Trudgett, Paul Crossan, Adrian Barlow (Captain), John Byron, Danny Waugh (Vice Captain)

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2 years ago

191 Likes
257 Followers

NSW Combined GPS First XI Cricket team – 1987

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2 years ago

49 Likes
56 Followers

Sydney Grade Cricket scores - 15 November 1975

Pictured is Geoff Davies who scored 76 runs and took 7 for 23 in Nepean win over Manly

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1191/nsw-premier-cricket/blog/1419/sydney-grade-cricket-scores-15-november-1975

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2 years ago

St Kilda Cricket Club

Melbourne, Australia

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14 Followers

Matt Chasemore joined St Kilda for the 2013/14 season and made a tremendous contribution in his 2 seasons with the Saints.

He scored 1,207 first grade runs for the club at an average of 44.70 including 5 centuries and 5 fifties. With the ball he took 43 wickets at an incredible 14.18.

Matt made his first grade debut in Victoria Premier Cricket in 2001/02 when playing for Dandenong.

In 15 seasons of first grade cricket with Dandenong, Frankston Peninsula and St Kilda, Matt scored 7,377 first grade runs at 32.93 including 12 centuries and 37 fifties. He took 219 wickets at 19.77 and took 5 wickets or more in an innings on 7 occasions. He also took 107 catches.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/282/st-kilda-cricket-club/blog/268/matt-chasemore-the-harder-you-work-the-luckier-you-will-be

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2 years ago

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

191 Likes
257 Followers

On the 19 August 1992 Sri Lanka wicket keeper batter Romesh Kaluwitharana scored 132 not out on day 3 of his test debut in the first test between Sri Lanka and Australia in Colombo.
In the test match Sri Lanka won the toss and sent Australia into bat and Australia were bowled out for 256.
Sri Lanak declared their first innings 8 for 547 and along with Kaluwitharana, Asanka Gurisinha and Arjuna Ranatunga also made centuries.
Australia scored 471 in their 2nd innings setting Sri Lanka 180 to win.
Kaluwitharana test debut century was in the same test match Australian spin legend Shane Warne bowled Australia to victory with 5.1 overs and took 3 wickets for 11 runs as Australia bowled sri Lanka out for 164 to win by 16 runs.
Kaluwitharana played 49 tests for Sri Lanka taking 119 dismissals, 93 catches and 26 stumpings and scored 1,933 runs at an average of 26.12. He ht 2 centuries and 9 half centuries and his highest score was 132 not out.
In 189 one day internationals Kaluwitharana took 207 dismissals, 132 catches and 75 stumpings and scored 3,711 runs at an average of 22.22. He scored 3 centuries and 23 half centuries in ODI and his highest score was 102.

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2 years ago

Prahran Cricket Club

Melbourne, Australia

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2 Followers

Andrew Grant made his first grade debut for Prahran Cricket Club during the 1981/82 season and played 209 first grade games for the club scoring 6,959 runs at an average of 36.43 including 11 centuries and 38 half centuries.

Andrew remains the third highest all-time first grade run scorer for Prahran.

In 1996/97 Andrew played for St Kilda Cricket Club for two seasons scoring 1,006 at an average of 40.24 and hit 8 half centuries.

All up in Premier Cricket in Victoria Andrew Grant played 238 games and scored 7,965 runs at 36.87 with 11 centuries and 46 half centuries.

He’s a member of the Cricket Victoria 200 Club and a very proud Life Member and Hall of Fame Member of Prahran Cricket Club.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/441/prahran-cricket-club/blog/350/andrew-grant-value-your-wicket

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2 years ago

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

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54 Followers

Photo, scorecard and team celebrations in St George District Cricket Club First Grade 7 wicket premiership winning grand final over Mosman in 1996/97

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/909/st-george-district-cricket-club-first-grade-premiers-1996-97-the-celebrations

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2 years ago

Peter Clifford

Insurance Manager

104 Likes
32 Followers

My Best Grade team - Peter Clifford 1979 to 1992

I played Grade Cricket for Randwick Cricket Club in Sydney from 1979 to 1985 before moving to Brisbane and playing for Toombul Cricket Club from 1986 to 1992.

Here is my Best Grade team from players I played with. In batting order

1. Alan Turner (Captain)- Randwick, NSW and Australia
Tough man, led by example and a wonderful mentor and leader. Even at the end of his career played some amazing innings. Aggressive captain and was always 2 hours ahead of play.

2. John Dyson – Randwick, NSW and Australia...

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/47/peter-clifford/blog/117/my-best-grade-team-peter-clifford-1979-to-1992

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2 years ago

49 Likes
56 Followers

Sydney Grade Cricket scores - 15 November 1987

Pictured is John Dyson who scored 117 for Sydney University v Campbelltown

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1191/nsw-premier-cricket/blog/1418/sydney-grade-cricket-scores-15-november-1987

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2 years ago

Paul Ryan

Founder

Valley District Cricket Club

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513 Followers

Neil Maxwell made his first grade debut for Northern District in 1985 and has since gone on an incredible cricket journey.

As an all-rounder Neil played 35 first class and 27 one day cricket games for Victoria and NSW. He played for Australia A against the West Indies and has represented Fiji, the country of his birth on numerous occasions.

Off the field cricket Neil’s contribution to cricket has been extensive. His business, marketing and entrepreneurial skills are very highly regarded in Australia and Internationally and he is currently the Chairman of Sydney Cricket Club.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/32/paul-ryan/blog/280/neil-maxwell-never-give-up-you-can-change-the-game

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2 years ago

Brisbane, Australia

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5 Followers

Shane Kabel is the proud owner of Valley District Cricket Club first grade player number 678 having made his debut during the 2008/09 season.

Shane is a one club player having joined Valley as a junior and is a first grade premiership winning player.

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

Without a doubt Usman Khawaja in the 2013/14 grand final. He came in 3rd ball of the innings and went on to score 130 odd and made it look so easy.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/334/valley-district-cricket-club/blog/736/shane-kabel-back-yourself

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2 years ago

Dean Tuckwell

Travel Agent

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

70 Likes
20 Followers

Stroll around the Brisbane bayside suburb of Deagon and you may come across a game of cricket being played at Kirsten Pike Oval, proudly named in honour of Sandgate/Redcliffe’s first women’s test cricketer. Kirsten was an accurate medium pacer who represented her country 37 times achieving great success in One Day Internationals where she took 34 wickets @ 23. A distinguished playing career is just part of her story as she is the first woman to be elected deputy chair of the Queensland Cricket board, fulfilling her fiduciary duties around a busy work life as a partner of major Australian corporate law firm Thomson Geer.

Pike was Queensland Fire player of the year in 2006/07 and toiled hard for 13 seasons finishing her career as Queensland’s all-time leading wicket taker. She was an integral member of the first Queensland team to win a national title, taking most wickets in the 2013/14 T-20 competition. She retired after the final against the ACT citing that there could be no better time and that she was sick of giving free conveyancing advice to her teammates.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/69/dean-tuckwell/blog/207/kirsten-pike-cricket-nuffy

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2 years ago

Sheldon Stackpoole

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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0 Followers

Brendan Creevey was a fast bowler who made his first class debut for Queensland in the 1996/97 taking 31 wickets at an average of 30 in 12 games. His best figures for the Bulls was 6 for 70 and his top score with the bat was 52.

He also played 31 one day games for Queensland.

There are some great messages embedded in Brendan’s tale and we appreciate him taking the time to share his journey.

It is true. I was playing indoor cricket in my brother’s team weekly but I did play school cricket through high school. That was my only exposure to Outdoor Cricket. When I joined the workforce I travelled around a bit and being part of an outdoor cricket team involved more of a commitment, so I didn’t really get involved.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/268/sheldon-stackpoole/blog/1416/brendan-creevey-a-different-pathway-to-become-a-bull

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2 years ago

191 Likes
257 Followers

On the 18 August 1934 Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford shared a world record partnership of 451 on the first day of the 5th cricket test between England and Australia at the Oval.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat and Ponsford’s opening partner Bill Brown was out for 10 and the score was 1 for 21.
Bradman joined Ponsford and they took the score to 2 for 472 when Bradman was out late in the day for 244.
At stumps on day one Australia were 2 for 475 with Ponsford not out on 205 and Stan McCabe not out 1.
An interesting note about the test match was the first day was on a Saturday and Sunday was the rest day after just one day’s play and the test resumed on Monday the 20th of August.
On day 2 of the test Ponsford was dismissed for 266 and Australia were bowled out for 701 and went on to win the test convincingly by 562 runs.

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2 years ago

49 Likes
56 Followers

Sydney Grade Cricket scores - Round 12, 3 February 1991

Pictured - Sutherland batter Justin Kenny who scored 70 not out in Sutherlands 7 wicket victory over North Sydney

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1191/nsw-premier-cricket/blog/1415/sydney-grade-cricket-scores-round-12-3-february-1991

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2 years ago

49 Likes
56 Followers

Sydney Grade Cricket scores - Round 11, 25-27 January 1992

Pictured - Bankstown speedster Wayne Holdsworth who bowled 13 overs, 6 maidens and took 5 wickets for 13 runs against Sutherland in their first innings of 75.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1191/nsw-premier-cricket/blog/1414/sydney-grade-cricket-scores-round-11-25-27-january-1992

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2 years ago