Stories

2 years ago

Cricket NSW

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102 Followers

Vale Hedley 'Brian' Taber 29 April 1940 - 21 July 2023

Cricket NSW is deeply saddened by the passing yesterday of former Australian and NSW wicketkeeper Brian Taber. He was 83.

Born in Wagga Wagga and raised in Wollongong, Taber played his entire career with the Gordon club.

He made his first-class debut wearing cap number 526 for NSW in the 1964/65 season and went on to play 129 first-class matches prior to his retirement in 1973/74.

Taber also captained NSW on a number of occasions between 1968/69 and 1972/73.

While he scored one first-class ton and eight half centuries, it was Taber’s wicketkeeping aplomb that he was known for.

Safe and calm under pressure, Taber was considered one of Australia’s greatest ever ‘keepers. He made his Test debut behind the stumps for Australia (cap 240) against South Africa in Johannesburg on December 23, 1966, finishing the match with seven catches and a stumping.

In all, Taber represented Australia on 16 occasions between 1966 and 1970, snaring 56 catches and making four stumpings. He also scored 353 runs at a tick over 16.

Following the completion of his playing career, Taber continued his passionate association with cricket, holding several coaching and managerial roles. He managed the Australian Under 19 men’s team on several occasions and the winner of the Player of the Tournament award at the National U/19 Championships is now awarded the Brian Taber Medal.

Known as ‘Tabsy’ or ‘Herbie’, Taber coached NSW and was a Blues selector for 24 years through the 1990’s and 2000’s, many as the chairman of selectors.

Taber was made a Life Member of CNSW in 1979 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon called Taber ‘one of the most popular NSW and Australian players ever’,

“We are devastated by the passing of Brian Taber and send our condolences to his family and friends,” Germon said.

“His contribution to Australian cricket was immense, as a player, coach, manager and selector.

“Tabsy was universally loved for both his skill as a wicketkeeper and his character as a person.

“He was such a nice, genuine guy and he will be greatly missed by all.”

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2 years ago

Joe Maiorana

Sydney, Australia

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2 Followers

Few bowlers throughout history earned themselves such an intimidating reputation as Harold Larwood. A spell spent working in the coalmines of Nottinghamshire granted him formidable powers of strength and stamina, whilst his stature, he stood just 5’8” in his socks, meant that his horrible, lightning-quick bouncer homed in on the batsman’s ribs and jaw. A hard, intensely loyal man, he was a captain’s dream, prepared to bend his back on unresponsive pitches and bowl all day, so long as there was a beer and a cigarette to hand at the interval.

He was Douglas Jardine’s weapon of choice during the infamous Bodyline tour, utilised relentlessly and instructed to bowl through a painful foot injury at the SCG because Don Bradman, the principal target behind the ‘leg theory’ strategy, was still at the crease. The hostile, short-pitched barrage Larwood and Bill Voce, his partner-in-crime for Notts and England, subjected the Australians to was so potent that a diplomatic incident ensued.

Larwood, simply by doing what he had been told to do by his famously provocative captain, was made a scapegoat for the sake of the Empire. He never played for England again, a fate that tellingly did not befall Jardine ➖ perfect evidence that there is one rule for bowlers and another for batsmen.

Injuries gradually took their toll and Larwood retired from first-class cricket in 1938. He immigrated to Sydney in 1950 and, to his immense surprise, was welcomed with open arms by a nation who recognised a steely, honest competitor when they saw one. It’s a shame the English hierarchy of the time could not say the same.

Source – Vintage Cricket

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2 years ago

Shane Lee

Founder

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

39 Likes
10 Followers

In the 1970s and 1980's in Australia, if you played cricket, you had a moustache, an unbuttoned shirt and skinny pants. Pre-season was a lap around the SCG and ice was used to keep the beers cold not bath in post-match. Some fashionistas even wore the occasional safari suit, baby blue: (isn't that right Stumpa?)

Steve 'Jack' Small (He/Him) was all of the above. Strong with facial hair, Mal Meninga thighs and a three-pound bat. The biggest bit of wood ever held by one man without help from a draft horse. If Jack was born in the 1800s he would have replaced his bat with an axe and cut fucking trees down. He could probably ringbark a tree with his bare hands if he wanted to - a true blue Aussie with a hard-earned thirst. He would probably even share a beer with the tree itself after he cut it down. What goes on the field, stays on the field! No hard feelings.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/538/shane-lee/blog/1308/jackball-steve-small

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2 years ago

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

53 Likes
54 Followers

St George’s Wicket Taking Machine Calls Time – Trent Copeland, Life Member No.59

Trent finished with 410 First Class wickets. Six for Australia and 344 for NSW in the Sheffield Shield which sees him finish 12th on the all-time list of Australian bowlers and 3rd for NSW behind Geoff Lawson and Greg Matthews. Let’s not dismiss his all-round abilities. Copeland was good enough to score a shield century, 106 vs Tasmania in Hobart. He finished with 2163 First Class runs, as well as 111 catches.

For now though, family life beckons and I think we could all attest to being richer for having crossed paths with this highly competitive and multi skilled cricketer from Bathurst. Thanks for the memories “Copes” ….. and the premierships.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/1307/st-georgersquos-wicket-taking-machine-calls-time-ndash-trent-copeland-life-member-no59

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2 years ago

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

53 Likes
54 Followers

Part 1 - The history of St George District Cricket Club 1921-22 to 1930-31

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.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/1306/part-1-the-history-of-st-george-district-cricket-club-1921-22-to-1930-31

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2 years ago

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

40 Likes
43 Followers

Heroes of the Ages - Ernie Toshack, a member of Don Bradman’s 1948 “Invincibles”, holds a special place in the history of Randwick Petersham Cricket. Not because of his first-class and Test cricket on-field exploits, but because he is the only cricketer to have played first-class cricket while a member of the three clubs behind Randwick Petersham – Petersham, Marrickville and Randwick.

At 29 he ventured to Sydney to play Grade Cricket. Surprisingly, his first choice club Petersham couldn’t find a spot for him and it was Marrickville where Ernie made his Grade debut – in 3rd Grade. In the only match he played in that grade, he took 10 wickets (6-40 and 4-16) against Glebe. Promoted to 2nd Grade he took 9-94 in his only game and was immediately promoted to 1st Grade where he took 7-35 in a losing 1st Grade match against University. His 6-22 to dismiss Manly for just 59 however, resulted in a resounding win for his team.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/1305/ernie-toshack-randwick-petersham-cricket-club-heroes-of-the-ages

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2 years ago

Darren Berry

Cricket Coach

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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0 Followers

My best Victorian team - Darren Berry 1990 to 2004

For 15 years I was a very proud member of the Victorian Cricket team and played with many great cricketers.

It was tough process to pick my Victorian team during my time and some gun players unfortunately missed out.

So here goes, in batting order my best Victorian team from 1990 to 2004.

1. Warren Ayres
Technically correct beautiful on the eye. Should have played more games for Victoria IMO. All-time leading run scorer in Melbourne grade cricket and now doing good things in coaching field.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/978/darren-berry/blog/1303/my-best-victorian-team-darren-berry-1990-to-2004

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2 years ago

Dean Tuckwell

Travel Agent

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

70 Likes
20 Followers

Australian Test player number 390 gives a very modest account of his career.

Perhaps Nathan Hauritz was destined to be a cricketer having been delivered into the world by Carl Rackemann’s mother “Dragon” at The Wondai Base Hospital in 1981.

He certainly impressed as a young player representing Queensland at under 17 and 19 levels and touring England and Sri Lanka with the Australian under 19 side before attending the Cricket Academy in Adelaide.

A batting all-rounder in his early days, it was his tidy off-spin bowling that propelled him to the Queensland side in 2001 and by weight of his obvious potential and solid performances he was ultimately rewarded with an Australian one-day cap in 2002, aged 20.

An injury to Shane Warne gave Nathan a break for his Test debut in 2004 in Mumbai where he took 5 wickets in a famous victory. Test opportunities for spin bowlers were difficult to come by in the Warne and McGill era but upon McGill’s retirement in 2008 he was regularly Australia’s first choice slow bowler for a 2 year period playing his last Test in Mumbai in 2010.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/69/dean-tuckwell/blog/1302/nathan-hauritz-ldquoricky-ponting-always-found-a-way-to-instill-belief-in-me-even-when-i-didnrsquotrdquo

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2 years ago

Redlands Tigers Cricket Club

Brisbane, Australia

6 Likes
4 Followers

The Tigers history is a long, rich and varied one which we value greatly. This edition of the Tigers Captains series steps back in time to a very different era of the club.

Mal “Rowdy” Freeman led our top team during a very successful period when the club had a different name, home ground, logo and colours to the ones we are known by in the present.

If you look closely you can still see plenty of traces of the old days around our club today.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/404/redlands-tigers-cricket-club/blog/412/tigers-tales-1st-grade-captain-mal-freeman-cap-475

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2 years ago

Jimmy Maher

Managing Director

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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Jimmy Maher - my greatest ever Queensland cricket team

Dean Tuckwell introduction

"Jimmy Maher first played for Queensland as an 18 year old and played in the Bulls’ first ever Sheffield Shield win the following season. He played in a further 4 winning finals including captaining the 2005/06 defeat of Victoria when he scored 223 in a man of the match performance. Queensland has had no more passionate player and he was an integral element of the state’s most successful era. Perhaps unsurprisingly he has selected 7 former teammates in his greatest ever side."

1. Matt Hayden
2. Bill Brown
3. Greg Chappell
4. Peter Burge
5. Allan Border - Captain
6. Martin Love
7. Ian Healy - Wicket Keeper
8. Ray Lindwall
9. Craig McDermott
10. Jeff Thomson
11. Carl Rackemann
12. Michael Kasprowicz

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2 years ago

Ross Wallace

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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My Best Grade team - Ross Wallace 1971 to 1984

I was lucky enough to play First Grade cricket in Brisbane from 1971 to 1984. During this time I played with Sandgate, Valleys & Souths as well as having 2 seasons with the Colts set up under Brian Gaskell.

I have selected my “Grade Cricket Best 11” from all clubs not just the ones I played with, so I hope I have not upset anyone & more importantly I hope I have not missed a player I have forgot about. Obviously not having “My Cricket” in those days made the memory work a bit harder.

1. Sam Trimble (Souths) - Captain

Great opening bat for club & Queensland. Real guts player & a great bloke to talk to. The holder of many records & a pleasure to play with.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1137/ross-wallace/blog/1298/my-best-grade-team-ross-wallace-1971-to-1984

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2 years ago

Queensland Veterans Cricket

Brisbane, Australia

5 Likes
9 Followers

Gill Chapman continues to make indelible contribution to the game of cricket and the community. He’s been involved with Valley District Cricket Club for 57 years to date, plays Veterans cricket, toured with the Australian Over 60s and is a life member of Queensland Veterans Cricket. He played rugby League for Wests back in the 60s and 70s and was also a rugby league referee.

Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against so far?

Tony Dell, Ian King and Ross Duncan, the master of swing and control, were all great bowlers. Delly was awkward and King was sharp.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/337/queensland-veterans-cricket/blog/1297/gill-chapman-a-lifetime-passion

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2 years ago

UNSW Cricket Club

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9 Followers

UNSW Cricket Club Poidevin Gray cricket team 1976-77

Back Row – Nigel Perger, Neville Jansson, Dave Meagher, Greg Livingstone, Geoff Kirkwood, Mick Watt, John Carmichael
Front Row – Peter Jourdain, Mick Bryce, Jim Robson (Captain), Geoff Lawson, Steve Howard

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2 years ago

Brad Haddin

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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My first Shield game with Steve and Mark Waugh

The very busy schedule of the test players meant we didn’t get to see a lot of them, but it was great for us young blokes when we did get access to them. Their knowledge and experience was invaluable and I soaked it up. Because of their commitments against touring Pakistani and Indian teams, I didn’t get to play with the Waugh twins until our fifth Shield match of the season. We were at the WACA having a hit a couple of days before the game when Steve Waugh bowled me a bouncer. I ducked, thinking, What’s going on?? Is it some kind of softening-up ritual? He bowled me another one. Okay, I was getting rattled now. We’d hardly spoken, but had I done something to annoy him somehow? Did he just not like me? Then he sent down another bouncer. I moved from wondering if he was cranky to getting fired up myself. Tugga, as he was known to us, was the captain of the Australian team, an amazing cricketer we all looked up to. But in that moment I thought, Steve Waugh or not, if he does that again I’m going to hit him out of the net. Sure enough, the next ball was another bouncer and sure enough I hit it out. He gave me a satisfied nod and said, “I heard you had a good pull shot; I just wanted to check it.”

The above are extracts from Brad Haddin book "My Family’s Keeper" and published with approval. You can purchase the books through Harper Collings Publishing

Click to buy -

https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460752494/my-familys-keeper

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2 years ago

Normanhurst-Warrawee Cricket Club

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Normanhurst-Warrawee Cricket Club - T20 Premiers 2010-11

Left to right - Murray Watts, Mike Griffin (President), Sol Tomlinson, Brett Turpin, Tom Williamson, Bruce Wood (Manager), James Brackin, Steve Smith (Captain), Matt Nelson, Glen Holden, Craig Hodges, Rob Waight, Daniel Wood & Michael Brown.

This is the Normanhurst-Warrawee CC A Grade team that won the inaugural Hornsby Ku-ring-gai & Hills District Cricket Association's (Division 1) T20 competition in 2010-11, defeating Castle Hill RSL CC in the Final.

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2 years ago

St George Cricket Club

Sydney, Australia

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54 Followers

Jim Dayhew is a very proud former player of St George District Cricket Club. With strong family ties with the club we wanted to find out more about Jim’s passion and insights into the game.

My greatest thrill was to play a few seasons with St George DCC in my mid-20s. I was an eager and lighting medium pace opening bowler, who could do a bit in the right conditions. I played in the lower grades and was a mentor to the Greenies, where I was a coach. I’ve coached ever since in the schools where I’ve taught and set up a couple of Academies.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/1293/jim-dayhew-always-family

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2 years ago

Northern Suburbs Cricket Club Maitland

Maitland, New South Wales, Australia

3 Likes
0 Followers

Northern Division A Grade Team Winners 1928-29

Back Row - Clive Smith, Jack Reeves, Albert Kenny, Gordon Bell, Wilfred Jarrett, Jack Scobie

Front Row - Elias Bowden (President), C. Randall, Arthur Watson, Roy Oakes (Captain), Bruce Lindsay, Herb Patfield Senior, Claude Pearson (Secretary)

Seated: Harold Lanham (Scorer)

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2 years ago

Kingsgrove Sports Centre

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Sir Garfield Sobers and Keith Miller at the Cricketers Club of New South Wales at its All Rounders Dinner at the Club on Monday February 19th, 1990

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2 years ago

Cricketers Club of NSW

New South Wales, Australia

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Cricketers Club of NSW touring party to Lord Howe 1998

Back Row - Rowan Hamman, Brian Fallon, Rodger Robertson, Tom Robertson, Evan Hamman, Mike Birchall, Steve Purcell
Front Row - Roger Williams, Keith Elloy, Garry Winney, Adrian Hawkes, Gordon Salier, Stirling Hamman

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2 years ago

Cricketers Club of NSW

New South Wales, Australia

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Cricketers Club of NSW tour party in Christchurch 1992

Back Row - Adrian Hawkes; Mike Birchall, Ian Wright (umpire); Frank Crowe; Peter Thorogood, John Russell (Manager); Harry Solomons; Dennis Cameron; Joff Johnson; Dave Watt; Keith Elloy
Front Row - Garry Winney; Ian Duffy

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