question
Q: This is the ball I took a hat trick with playing for St Peters Cricket Club against Hillgrove Cricket Club in the Armidale District Cricket association in 1964-65.
I wish I could remember the batsman names, but it was a long time ago
Peter Hutchinson
11 months ago
answered
Q: Growing up in Armidale Northern NSW in the 1970s I was like many youngsters playing backyard cricket at every opportunity and emulating my cricket heroes Ian and Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh, and Dennis Lillee.
In January 1980 at the age of 12 I was on a family holiday in Sydney and dad, and I went to the SCG to watch Australia and England in our first day night 50 over game. We sat high up in the old Sheridan Stand.
Australia batted first and scored 163. Under lights Dennis Lillee bowled first change after Jeff Thomson and Geoff Dymock and the England openers put on around 30 when Lilee came on the bowl.
He took 3 quick wickets and looking back at the old scorecard England had lost 3 for 9 and were 3 for 40 and then 4 for 51.
The crowd was going crazy chanting the famous "Lillee, Lillee, Lillee.." and he ended up taking 4 for 12 off his 10 overs before England scrapped home 8 down for 164 off 48.5 overs.
It was an incredible first up experience. I loved it.
Fast forward 12 or so years later and Lillee was doing one of his fast bowling clinics for young NSW fast bowlers at the SCG.
As a wicket keeper batter in Sydney Grade Cricket, I was invited to come along and after having a hit in the nets the fast bowlers ventured out for a centre wicket session. I did some keeping for an hour or so and then had an opportunity for another hit.
Lillee was working with the fast bowling group and after a couple of minutes batting he must've wanted to show them something and to my surprise grabbed a ball (he must’ve been 43/44 years of age), stood at the top of his mark and started running in to bowl.
It was a strange sensation. All of a sudden here I was facing up to a childhood hero bowling from the same end he was back in 1980 when the entire crowd was chanting “Lillee, Lillee, Lillee”. So surreal
A: Great story Paul. Many happy memories.
answered
Q: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen happen in a game of cricket?
A: In the days of 8 ball overs in Armidale many years ago, the umpire called out to the wonderful lady scorer Elspeth Howie, how many balls?
Elspeth replied 4. Wally Miller a fieldsman immediately called out “is that 4 bowled or 4 to come?”
CricConnect Fans
last year
answered
Q: What is the most surreal moment you've experienced in cricket?
A: Playing in a final in Armidale 1960’s, our Capt. was late getting to the match on the 2nd day being Sunday. Had church duties. I was vice captain and we were batting. The opposing Captain approached me to ask if we could supply a temporary fieldsman as they were one short. I agreed to go out.(Silly me!!!). One of our best batsmen was on 34 not out. I went to square leg. During the 1st over our batsmen pulled a short ball towards me and I automatically dived to me left with hand outstretched. The ball flew into it and stuck. Great catch however, !!!!!!!!!! I honestly can’t remember the result of the game but it tore our team apart. Lucky it was the end of the season.
Not my happiest memory of my cricket career. Peter.
CricConnect Fans
last year
answered
Q: I’m a fast medium bowler and would like to ask what bowlers are thinking about and looking at when they’re running into to bowl?
A: I was only medium pace. My brother Bill was really fast and had many overseas tours. I believe any bowler needs to concentrate on exactly where you want to pitch the ball. Is it an in-swinger or an out-swinger etc. Try to be in the head of the batsman and “feel” what he is worried about. Best wishes. Peter.
blog post
This is the ball I took a hat trick with playing for St Peters Cricket Club against Hillgrove Cricket Club in the Armidale District Cricket association in 1 ...
Peter Hutchinson
last year
