My best grade team - Andrew Millican 1984 to 2003

Andrew Millican | July 07, 2023

I’ve picked a One-Day side as it made it easier to fit another player or two into the squad.

This was not an easy task after just shy of two decades (1984 to 2003) in 1’s and having had the pleasure of playing with some phenomenal cricketers. I’ve done my best and hope I haven’t offended anyone.

1. Richard (Chewy) Chee Quee

Good front man for Six and Out but I preferred his batting. Quality top order NSW player who had the ability to change a game in a few overs. Took on Wayne Daniels (West Indies) at 16 and scored a great 50no in the second dig. I remember him hooking him into the front of the stand at Coogee. His disdain for spinners was a character trait that never subsided.

2. Rodney (Horse) Davison

Left handed NSW opener who played shots all over the ground and was fantastic on the short ball. He absolutely loved batting and set out to bat all day every day which was fine by us as his conversations after he got out were hard work.

3. David (Space) Knox

Elegant right hander who had endless time to play shots. Also, opened the bowling for 5 overs or so and was genuinely quick and a sensational ring and boundary fielder. One of the funniest guys I had the pleasure of playing with until lost to Rugby where he did pretty well.

4. Peter (Pud) Clifford

Got a couple of seasons with Cliffo before he headed north. What a great player. His timing, placement and ability to score freely was just awesome. In my second game in 1’s at North Sydney Oval he scored 130 and didn’t hit a ball off the deck. They just didn’t now where to bowl. If you could just bat and not field in cricket he would have played 100 tests.

5. Martin (Moose) Hayward

Tall top order NSW bat who had every shot in the book and played them regularly. Was always hard to stop him scoring and tie him down as he had so much time and finesse. Had the pleasure of putting on 320 with him one day and watching him at the non-strikers was bloody special.

6. Gary (Brains) Bensley - Captain

My first skipper in 1’s who gave me an absolute rollicking on debut for turning up late to Rawson Oval (no one told me what time to be there). A fantastic all-rounder who played one-dayers for NSW. Damaging left hand bat who hit it incredibly hard and a brilliant medium pace swing bowler who could work it both ways in the air. Also a brilliant fielder. He did all this with the thickest pair of glasses I’ve ever seen.

7. Andrew (Spike) Millican – Wicket Keeper

Suppose I need a keeper so I’ve given myself a game.

8. Ian (Oscar) Austin

Lancashire overseas player who was a sensational all-round cricketer who also helped the Rugby Club to record profits that year (not sure he understood that rehydration was normally done with water not VB). Cracking medium quick bowler who ran in all day and he could hit it out of sight and scored a couple of brutal tons. Went on to play ODI’s for England and was a genuine great fella to play with on and off the field.

9. Anthony (Scoob) Stuart

Right arm quick who came down from Charlestown and went on to play for NSW and Australia. Hit the deck hard and his control of length was fantastic. Great competitor who always gave 100% with the ball and was a very useful bat who iced a number of games for us. Great man to play with.

10. Trevor (TJ) Jay

Left arm orthodox spinner who took a million first grade wickets without turning the ball. He was 40 years old by the time the opposition worked that out. Was devastating on a wet track which I found out when keeping on debut against Mosman and he opened the bowling with the new ball and took 6 for (I think it was 6) and we rolled them for 80. He had amazing control and was unbelievably competitive. Also played some really useful knocks with the bat.

11. Michael (Roy, Whit, Crazy) Whitney

Who doesn’t know Whit? Was a buzz every time he was back from NSW or Australian duty and playing for the Wicks. Keeping to him and watching him work blokes over with intimidation, control and pace was a cricketing highlight. An amazing competitor who gave his all for the Wicks and never shirked, even when I would send the ball his way for his 5th spell of the day at 5.15pm (had to make the most of him being there ha ha).

12. Adam (Wazza) Warren

Great right arm quick who worked guys over with great control and cricketing smarts. A super competitor and once he established himself I gave him the job of knocking over opposition key players and he rarely let me down (the list of players is highly impressive). He was a hard-hitting lower order bat who took pride in his batting and we managed to finish off a number of games together. He hit the largest hook shot I’ve ever seen in cricket.

Manager - Bob Barter

The poem writing legend who was a great man and looked after us brilliantly.

Scorer – Stan “the Man” Beal

Not sure how he managed to see the cricket out in the middle but he found a way and is still doing the job. Looked after bucket loads of Randwick players at his units on Cowper St and Allison Rd. Legend.

I’m pretty happy with that squad and reckon we’d have won a couple of games.