Geoff Davies - Randwick Petersham Cricket Club - Heroes of the Ages
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | August 07, 2023
Geoff Davies joined Randwick in Green Shield in 1959-60. The following summer he won a place in the Combined Metropolitan Green Shield team after setting a club record when he took 27 wickets at just 9.3.
3 years later he made his 1st Grade debut at 16 years and 167 days–the fifth youngest in the club’s history. His debuted v St George at Coogee. The following season at Hurstville, he rattled up a brilliant 96 before being bowled by Australian Test star Norm O’Neill. Frustratingly for the talented youngster, he made 94 v Paddington the following season and was caught for 96 v Wests at Pratten & a year later when the West Indies Test fast bowler Wesley Hall played a season with the club.
1965-66 was one of the greatest in Randwick’s long history. Crowds flocked to Coogee Oval and the presence of Hall in the team and as skipper brought out the best in all players. In reaching the SF Davies scored 401 runs and secured 35 wickets including 9-43 v Petersham-Marrickville - a Randwick 1st Grade record - gaining the attention of State selectorswith his first-class debut on 31 December 1965 v Queensland at the SCG. He scored 69 and took 4-51 in NSW’s 192 runs win.
Randwick Petersham Heroes of the Ages proudly sponsored by Coogee Courtyard
In his second season of first-class cricket, Geoff Davies was Australia’s leading run-getter with 557 in Sheffield Shield and another 333 on an Australian tour of NZ. With the ball he took 32 wickets. He also hit 123 v Queensland and 101 v South Australia. Strangely, he had to wait until the following 1967-68 season to score his first century for Randwick when he hit 148* v Balmain.
In 1968-69 the West Indies toured Australia where he was selected in the 12 for the 1st Test Match in Brisbane ending as 12th man.
In 1972-73 Davies played his final season for Randwick and also retired after seven seasons with NSW scoring 3,903 runs with six centuries. He also took 107 wickets with 6-43 his best. In 12 seasons with Randwick he scored 3,776 runs plus 222 wickets. Of those, 3,149 runs and 185 wickets were achieved in 1st Grade. In addition, he scored 915 runs and took 80 wickets in PGs and Green Shield.
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