My best grade team - Peter Dickson 1999 to 2020

Peter Dickson | August 04, 2023

I played for Melbourne Cricket Club from 1999 – 2005 and Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club from 2005 – 2020 and was very fortunate to play with so many great players from two great clubs. Here’s my best grade team in batting order

1.  Warren Ayres

The best batsman I have ever batted with. Made the impossible look easy and was one of the only players who played every shot. A technical genius.

2. Lloyd Mash

Classical left-hand batsman who was one of the most natural back foot players with a perfect technique to tackle fast bowling. A great thinker of the game as a coach and captain also.

3. Dean Jones

Started my premier career playing under Deano. He had been retired from first class cricket for around 2 years and came back to help an injury ravaged Melbourne. His awe at the crease was something I will never forget.

4. Brad Hodge

Lucky enough to play with him during his best years whilst on the fringe of international cricket. Could score so quickly and hit to all parts of the ground.

5. Glenn Maxwell

Was years ahead of his time. Sometimes we wondered what he was doing or why he was doing it, but before you knew it he would be 80 off 50 balls from batting left handed for half his innings. Thought about the game so differently and taught me a lot in accepting how others go about it.

6. Andrew McDonald

Tactically with bat and ball so smart, combined with his elite level of skill made him the most all-round competitive players I have ever seen. Not hard to see how he has moved into coaching so easily.

 

7. Matthew Frith

One of the most natural cricketers I have ever played with. Bat, ball and fielding made everything look easy. Had a knack of playing his best against the best attacks and in the biggest games. Could bat or bowl in any position and be dangerous. 

8. Peter Roach – Captain and Wicket Keeper

Came to Fitzroy Doncaster late in his career and instantly made it a better, more competitive club. A great gloveman to spin and pace, also one of the most reliable batsman I have played with. Knew his opponents back to front and in any other state would have played a lot more state cricket.

9.Trent Lawford

A big gentle giant! Bowled like to wind and could hit the ball 100+ metres. One of nicest fast bowlers ever to play, would often chat the batsman while they were petrified of him.

10. Chris Street

Very laconic and laid-back character who could swing the ball away and hit the top of off time after time. His last ball was the same pace as his first ball, probably the most consistent bowler I ever saw.

11. Shane Harwood

The bowling equivalent of Warren Ayres, the best bowler I have ever watched or faced on game-day. His skill level matched his aggression which made him a scary customer. He loved inflicting pain of the batsman before getting them out.

12. Brad Knowles

An aggressive fast bowler who would bowl until he dropped. Was courageous and lead from the front. The sort of person you loved to walk out with. 

 

Coach – Mick O’Sullivan

Could write a book on this man. His care and love for his players made him the best, would do anything for him as a player.  Thursday night selections would often go for 3-4 hours when he would read out the teams and talk about every player from every team. 

Team Manager – The late and great Don Patrick

Fitzroy Doncaster name their players player after him each year, loved the club so much and his players even more. 

Team Scorer – Roger Page, Fitzroy Doncaster scorer

Best in the business, every week would walk into the rooms and inform each player what number game they were on. Loved cricket and loved scoring, tremendous person.

Umpire – Bill Sheehan

All new umpires should spend a week learning from this man. Had a way of communicating with players which provided banter and a way of politely putting them back in their place.