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Q: My best grade team – Graham Price 1979 to 2002
I joined Penrith Cricket Club in 1979 and made my first-grade debut for the club in 1986. Penrith first grade cap number 74.
I also played for Hawkesbury Cricket Club and Blacktown Mounties Cricket Club when they first joined the NSW Premier Cricket Competition. Blacktown first grade cap number 9.
I had the very good fortune to play with so many great cricketers and here’s my best grade team in betting order.
1. Steve Small (Penrith)
2. Brian Wood (Penrith)
3. Trevor Bayliss (Penrith)
4. Rod Bower (Penrith)
5. Mark Higgs – (Hawkesbury)
6. Mark Atkinson – (Blacktown) and wicket keeper
7. Ken Kall – (Penrith and Hawkesbury) – Captain
8. Graeme Pitty – (Penrith)
9. Phil Blizzard – (Penrith)
10. Subroto Banerjee (Blacktown)
11. Paul Sullivan – (Hawkesbury))
A: That’s a hot side Pricey! Hope you are doing well. Tim
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Q: If you could make one rule change in any format of the game what would it be?
A: I'd like to see a trial of the double play in T20 games: e.g., fielder takes a catch and then run out the non-striker if backing up too far, or, get a run out at both ends in the one play. Would showcase fielding skills, even the contest between bat and ball, and maybe stop non-strikers getting a head start. It is a great feature of baseball so I'd like to see if it could work in the shortest form of cricket.
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Q: Round 6 vs Bankstown (30/11/85 & 1/12/85)
(by Paul Bourke “Bourkey” First Grade Cap No 3.)
Campbelltown made an encouraging entry into the Sydney First Grade Competition in the 1985/6 season. Round 1 saw a solid win (by 81 runs) over another newcomer Hawkesbury, and Round 2 resulted in a draw after Day 2 was washed out. This game was evenly poised against Fairfield who were also in their debut season. Round 3 against the strong Penrith team exposed several deficiencies in our play but rain saved us to escape with a draw. Round 4 against Parramatta really rammed home how far we were off the pace against a solid, competitive side. To lose 7/11 in the last hour of play on a good batting wicket illustrated the lack of depth in our batting line up as we were beaten outright.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/418/campbelltown-camden-district-cricket-club/blog/2143/the-match-that-signalled-the-arrival-of-campbelltown-first-grade-team
A: This game was pretty intense. John Sullivan bowled really well (and quick) and the combination of Tom Shiner and Barry Thebridge was hard to score off. Bridge usually flighted the ball but was pretty flat that day on a deck that turned. Tommy was quicker through the air than most leggies of his era and bowled a great toppie. I had played at Penrith with both of them (and Craig Peck too), so I knew it would be a challenge. A funny moment was an exchange I overheard between Tom and umpire Rocky Harris--an excellent umpire and a character too. Fielders were packed around the bat and there was lots of chat and appeals. After one unsuccessful shout, Tom looked at Rocky with a smile and said 'One in three today Rocky?' Rocky's reply was a knowing grin and a shrug. At the end of the over I asked Rocky what it meant. Apparently, in some previous games, the appealing by the Campbelltown bowlers and close fielders was so relentless Rocky had told Tommy he was only going to look at every third one until they calmed down! The knock by Pecky was a cracker. He was a non-stop talker at the crease, and as hard as you tried not to laugh or get involved, it was impossible. Rod Bower showed all his class in top scoring for us.
Campbelltown Camden District Cricket Club
7 months ago
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Q: Who is the one player from Sydney Grade Cricket who played between 1980 and 2000 you’d want as the first player selected if you had the opportunity to start your own NSW Premier first grade cricket team?
A: Just for the sheer pleasure of seeing him run in again and let fly, and in awe of his determination and never beaten attitude, Wayne Holdsworth. From teenage tyro to the matured and skilful fast bowler it was inspiring just to be on the field when Cracker was bowling.
But after Wayne, it must be Ken Hall: in his prime 400 runs a season and 40 wickets bowling left arm late swing at a nippy pace or teasing left arm orthodox, and catching everything within reach at slip or any close catching position.
Love this thread—so many great players chosen and great to see Tommy Shiner contributing—what a bowler!
CricConnect Fans
9 months ago
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Q: I'd love to get people's feedback on the coin toss in Test cricket. With all the discussion about pitch preparation and local captains requesting preferable home team pitch conditions what if they did away with the coin toss and allowed the away team to choose whether they wanted to bat or bowl first?
A: It was tried in County cricket. Did anyone see any analysis of the results?
Robert Radley
10 months ago
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Q: Bankstown District Cricket Club First Grade Grand Final team 1982-83
Back Row - Les Andrews, Rod Bower, David Thompson, Tim Sullivan, Brett McKirdy, Gary Crowfoot, Trevor McDonald.
Front Row - Mark Wiley, Paul Talbot, Steve Smith, Bob Vidler, Mark Waugh, Arthur Couper (Scorer)
A: A great team and great fellers to play with. One of the most enjoyable things about playing at Bankstown was the togetherness of the Club from top to bottom. We played that season with fun and enjoying each other's success. Bobby Vidler was a terrific skipper who never let the game float--he was always trying things and you always felt you were in the game. We were a bit blessed by weather in the semi against Petersham. I am sure the Petes boys would say we were kissed on the you know what by a leprechaun! But into the final we went vs a terrific Penrith team. We did well to keep them to 184 on day 1 but we lost a couple of key wickets late in the day. We had a BBQ at Paul 'Straws' Talbot's parent's place that night and we felt we were a real good show the next day. But the game turned on a miracle catch by Mal Cobcroft at short leg to dismiss Gary Crowfoot and after that we kept losing wickets steadily and fell 30-odd runs short. Bobby Vidler kept us in the game--top scored with 45 no. I was privileged to spend a bit of time in the middle with him. He was so encouraging and matter of fact I believed we could win it. Penrith's left arm quick Graeme Pitty bowled the best spell of sustained fast bowling I ever saw or experienced in the top grade. Bobby's skill and bravery in that innings was unforgettable--I never saw anything better. He used Pitty's pace to deflect and work the ball, and his driving and cutting of their spinners Hall, Beard, and Donlan was superb. I got out to Beardy's doosra--I'd never seen anything like it before--and that was the end of our innings. Bobby never looked like getting out.
Bankstown District Cricket Club
10 months ago
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Q: Who was the first Australian cricketer to play Sheffield Shield cricket for 3 different states?
A: Or back when they were still colonies Test captain Percy McDonnell?
CricConnect Fans
last year
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Q: Who was the first Australian cricketer to play Sheffield Shield cricket for 3 different states?
A: Graeme Watson?
CricConnect Fans
last year
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Q: Who was the batter Australian fast bowler Craig McDermott dismissed to take his first wicket in Test Cricket?
A: Viv Richards
CricConnect Fans
last year
question
Q: Tom Shiner (Campbelltown), Mark Waugh (Bankstown), John Sullivan (Campbelltown) , Ian Davis (Campbelltown), Steve Waugh (Bankstown), Rod Bower (Bankstown)
Tom Shiner – 436 first grade wickets in Sydney
Mark Waugh – 128 Test matches for Australia
John Sullivan – 283 first grade wickets in Sydney
Ian Davis – 15 Test matches for Australia
Steve Waugh – 168 Test matches for Australia
Rod Bower – 13 first class matches for NSW and 11,841 first grade runs in Sydney
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Q: St George District Cricket Club First Grade Premiers 1984-85
Back Row - Trevor McDonald, Mark Osborne, David Roberts, Geoff Milliken, Wayne Turnbull
Middle Row - Trevor Osborne (Secretary), Gary Mulcahy, Steve Bernard, Warren Saunders (President), Brett McKirdy, Wayne Seabrook, Brian Corbett (Manager)
Front Row – Ray Gonella, Graham Smith, Richard Done, Jon Jobson (Captain), Murray Bennett, Paul Bourke, David Moore
A: What a wonderful team. Great players and great characters. Always a tough encounter on the field with all that talent, and they always played with style and respect.
St George Cricket Club
last year
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Q: The West Indies cricket team have entertained cricket fans for many decades. The all-conquering Windies of the 1980s and 90s inspired a generation of cricketers throughout the world.
The West Indies, typically cool and exotic names.
Can you name any past or present West Indian cricketers who share the same first name?
A: Roy Gilchrist and Roy Fredericks
CricConnect Fans
last year
question
Q: First year in Penrith 4ths, we had a dashing (i.e., crazy) opener Kevin Buick. He would smash anything he could reach. He was a tiler and used to pick me up before I had a car in his battered Holden station wagon, with all his tools and crap in the back.
I’d arrive at the game with brick dust, grout and concrete in my eyes, nose, ears, pockets—everywhere.
Kev’s at short leg. A ball gets punched at him. He grabs at it, knocks it up over his head, walks on the ball as he turns around, has the presence of mind to do a backward roll and pick up the ball as he falls. Springs to his feet and throws it straight into the ground in front of him. In disgust, kicks the ball into a gap, and the batsman who has been standing in his crease watching, takes a single. Kev is crestfallen. The bowler, Jon Llewellyn, says ‘Well done mate—a lesser man would have panicked’.
blog post
Back Row - Mark Grant, Scott Prestwidge, Tim Sullivan, Andrew Divall, Gary Crowfoot, David ThompsonFront Row - Wayne Holdsworth, Nick Geale, Paul Talbot, Bob VidlerSitting - Gary Love ...
blog post
Tom Shiner (Campbelltown), Mark Waugh (Bankstown), John Sullivan (Campbelltown) , Ian Davis (Campbelltown), Steve Waugh (Bankstown), Rod Bower (Bankstown)Tom Shiner – 436 first ...
