I don’t need or want a night watchman
Brad Bannister | September 17, 2023
In the Australian Country Cricket Championship of 2005/06 NSW headed to Mandurah in Western Australia. In Game 3, NSW and Victoria travelled inland to Pinjarra for two searing hot days.
The NSW and Victoria boys always had a very healthy rivalry, especially when the Victorian team contained characters like Richie Hassett and Chris Hopper.
We were down on troops after our two fine opening bowlers in Duncan McIllveen and Burt Cockley had succumbed to injuries. This was a must win game for both teams. Back in those days, these championships consisted of two-day games where both teams had to bowl the full 100 overs each day. It was a fifteen-day tournament and only had two rest days.
After bowling second, the day before, our tactically inept captain thought winning the toss v the Vics and bowling in 40° heat was a good idea, especially with two bowlers short. Anyway, the Vics rattled along and posted an excellent score of around 360+. We did ok to bowl them out in about 90 overs, meaning we had to bat about ten overs.
We walked off and our opening batsmen were padded up. The dressing rooms were construction site demountable buildings that were comfortably 15° warmer than outside. Our captain in all his wisdom looked at me and said, pad up, you can be night watchman. I asked why, and he replied ‘you’re the best batsman out of all our bowlers’.
I asked, had he noticed that I just bowled two consecutive days where I had pumped out 35+ overs per day? No reply.
Our stunning Number 3 who had unceremoniously been dumped as skipper from the previous year’s tournament looked at me and in his own strong manner, said "I don’t need or want a night watchman."
Simon Moore from Newcastle is his name and what a player he was. Better bloke too to be fair. Anyway, our two openers Steve Mudford from Newcastle and Adam Jones from Tamworth negotiated the overs before stumps.
Turing up the next morning, Moorey quietly asked how I was travelling? I confessed that I was no good and wasn’t sure I could even get my boots on. He looked at me and politely said, ‘you don’t bay today, put your feet up’.
A bold statement given the score we were chasing, the quality of attack and the searing conditions we faced, and the fact I was batting 7. Fast forward to after tea and we passed their score 3 or 4 down and yours truly spent the majority of the day on the massage table.
Moorey finished about 140 not out. The trip home on the bus with the Vic boys was awesome. Plenty of beers and laughs.
The next game we won the toss and actually batted. Moorey in his own compassionate manner asked how was then. ‘Still no good’ was my response. ‘Well you don’t bat today either, put those feet up again, we will need you at the top of your bowling game tomorrow’.
Another unbeaten ton from the King of Country and another day of massage for me. What a player. It’s tournaments like these that provide us with lifelong memories. And the Player of the Tournament Simon Moore showed that week just what talent, determination and guts can do.
We actually lost the tournament on the last ball of the 100th over of the last game. What a fortnight!!
Many beers flowed at the Presentation Dinner and the teams gathered and shared stories. Awards were presented and much to the King’s confusion, he was presented the major gong for the night. He sauntered to the stage to collect his award.
Previously these awards were brand new top of the range bats. Not this year, the King met Australian Test Cricketer Tony Dodemaide on stage and was given a small painting of the Mandurah River Bridge. The look on his face was priceless. But it added to the fortnight. What a week and what a player King was.
