The Day 'Hammer' Destroyed Queanbeyan With A Record Wicket Haul
Tony Goodfellow | August 31, 2023
In round two of the 1980/81 ACT season, Northern Suburbs big left-arm fast bowler Brett Hannam, took 7-26 in the first innings and 10-47 in the second against Queanbeyan at Majura Oval.
Nicknamed ‘Hammer’, Brett’s match figures of 17-73 are still to this day the best bowling figures in the 98 year history of first grade cricket in Canberra.
On winning the toss, Norths bowled first on the seamer friendly wicket, dismissing the Queanbeyan side for only 51. Hannam’s inswinger was on song that day as he cleaned bowled four batsmen in his 7-26 haul.
The Queanbeyan bowlers found the pitch also to their liking, as Norths the defending premiers, could only muster 65 in reply.
Batting a second time Queanbeyan were all at sea as Hannam, charging in from the City end, ripped through their lineup to claim all ten wickets, this time five batsmen clean bowled.
The only previous time a bowler has taken all ten wickets in a Canberra first grade innings was DB Robin with 10-59 for Kingston versus RMC in the 1953/54 season.
Hannam’s record haul was all the more outstanding considering he was competing for wickets with the quality of Norths, ACT opening bowler Dene Moore operating from one end and young medium pacer Roland Zocchi.
Brett could hit a long ball too, however, it was his ability to kick one well that saw him represent ACT at senior level in both cricket and Australian football.
It was ‘Hammer’s’ excellence as a footballer that cost him a long career in Canberra cricket as he spent a few successful seasons in the SANFL as well as on his return to Canberra, many premierships with Ainslie in the ACTAFL.
The 10-47 wasn’t his best ever bowling figures, as I played in a school match for Dickson College where Brett took 10-2 (not a misprint) with me taking 4 catches at short leg that day, as the opposition batsmen ‘crapped’ themselves at the sight of the big fella charging in.
Unfortunately crickets loss was Australian footballs gain.
