My Best Grade team - Andrew Gode 2007 to 2020

Andrew Gode | December 07, 2023

I made my debut for Valley District Cricket Club in 2007 and over the years have played with some fantastic players.

With some down time I thought I reflect on who would make my best team. It was also a bit of fun and brought back some great memories.

Here’s my best Valley team from players I played with, in batting order:

1. Nick Kruger

My first captain at Valley. Brutal opening batsman who punished bowlers throughout the competition before moving to Tasmania where he ended up being part of a Sheffield Shield winning team. Rather sizeable cranium as well

2. Lachlan Pfeffer (Wicket keeper)

Walk up start with his batting numbers over the last few years. Lances keeping has gone through the roof as well. On days off will see him riding track work at Ipswich Turf Club

3. Usman Khawaja 

Class. Made the easiest 200 you’ll ever see one day at Yoku Road. Barely out of 2nd gear. Also made a lovely 100 in our two day final win. As competitive as they come. Hates losing!

4. Lee Carsledine 

Reality TV icon Lee made cricket look so easy. Taught us how to play T0 cricket and basically won us our first T20 competition off his own stick. Elite fielder and bowler also. Freak. 

5. John Rogers - Captain

Didn’t set the world with the bat at his small time at the club. His elite man management skills along with Heath Pedrola turned the club around and in the positive direction it has been going over the last few years. 11/10 bloke 

6. Nick Stevens

Master of the forward defence. Man of the match in our winning one day side. First class 150 shows his talents. Rather large nose 

7. Jack Wildermuth 

Pidgey, smokie. Great talent. Capable of things most players would dream of. Also capable of some of the silliest things you’ll see. Diesel....153 not out was close to the best innings I’ve seen to get us into a semi final 

8. Mark Steketee

Fast away swingers. Country boy from Warwick. Loves a beer. What’s not to like. Reaping some great rewards for his performances with the Bulls with selection in Australia A side recently 

9. Luke Feldman. 

Fox. The king. Would rRun through brick walls for the skipper. Had as much passion playing for Valley as he did throughout his illustrious first class career. Spent his days at Yoku Road running up hill so fellow legend Matt Petrie could bowl for hours down it. 19 wickets across the Semi and Final when we won. Amazing 

10. Matt Petrie. 

An absolute wizard and the ball was his wand. Most skilful bowler you’ll see. Bowled until he couldn’t walk any more. I didn’t have to captain the first session with Fox and Peets in the team. Hated bad wickets. Bowled, LBW and nicks only 

11.Darin Turner. 

Could be a biased selection as he is my uncle. However his number are second to none at Valley. Elite skill set. Mentally toyed with batsman. Helped me get to my first 1st Grade 100 with a 10th wicket partnership of 40. He got 3. Occasional moments of madness...

12th Man - Josh Dascombe 

Couldn’t fit a spinner in with the seamers and they wouldn’t have got a bowl. Maybe could have made it in based on his fielding or running between wickets. One of my all-time favourite people and team mates 

13th Man - Adam Lockhart Krause 

After 5pm Skipper. Unofficial Vice captain during my time as captain. “You keep bowing mate”. Ultimate competitor 

Coach - Ben Schuhmacher 

Valley have been lucky to have some of the best coaches in the land. We currently have in my opinion the 2 best coaches in Brisbane with Peter Drinnen and Brad’ Spud’ Murphy and Heath Pedrola was the turning point for our club.

But I don’t think a player coach, batting at 9 and not bowling has been able to change a grand final before. A proper street fighter on the field and a legend of it. 

Notable omissions

Ben Scott, Jack Leach, George Docktrell and Rob Woodman. All fantastic overseas players who gave us so much both on and off the field. 

Leach and Docktrell have both represented the country and Jack Leach has become a national hero after the Ashes