Col Blackman

Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | January 29, 2025

Oswald Colin Blackman was born on 9 March 1942 in Griffith, NSW. A keen cricketer and left-hand bat, he moved to Sydney to pursue university studies shortly after completing his schooling at Griffith High. Having met State selector Dudley Seddon at a rep. cricket match in the Murrumbidgee area, he followed his advice and joined Petersham-Marrickville DCC prior to the start of the 1960-61 season. The 18-year-old impressed good judges and was immediately selected in 1st Grade for the opening match against Gordon at Marrickville. Batting no.7, he made a rather inauspicious start being stumped by future Australian wicketkeeper, Brian Taber, off future NSW leg-spinner, Dick Guy, for 4.

A duck against Paddington next game saw the youngster dropped to 2nd Grade. But by round 6, he was back in the side for the ABC televised match against St George at Petersham Oval. The Pete’s however, were no match for Saints, making just 129 and 5-81 after Warren Saunders had made 151 for the visitors. Unfortunately, young Col was bowled for a duck in the first innings and made a “pair” when he was lbw in the second without scoring.

The following three seasons were spent in lower grades with the attractive stroke-maker struggling for runs. However, in 1962-63 he displayed his real ability with a fine even 100 against Balmain in 3rd Grade. He also showed his fielding agility with 12 of his 13 catches in the nine games he played, taken in the slips. Those performances turned out to be the trigger for what was to become an outstanding cricket career.

Blackman’s first game in 1963-64 was against Paddington where he batted no. 9 for 5*. He didn’t get a hit in the next game playing Glebe, but against Waverley, he went in at no. 3 making 16* and 49 in the outright win. That led to promotion as opening bat for the next match where he made 77 against Balmain at Drummoyne Oval. That was immediately followed by a top-score and match-winning 82 against University at Marrickville. Col finished the season with 324 runs in his seven games at an average of 64.8 which was the team’s season best. With his runs in 2nd Grade, he completed the summer with a tally of 544.

The summer of 1965-66 saw Blackman and Illawarra recruit David Martin develop into one of the best opening bat combinations in the 1st Grade competition. Martin made 684 that season with Colin next best scoring 493 including a maiden 1st Grade century of 107*, in the defeat of Northern District at Petersham. Their efforts went a long way toward the side finishing third in the comp.

In 1966-67, the pair produced another outstanding win while re-writing the record books along the way. Playing Mosman at Petersham Oval, they flayed the David Colley-led attack, putting on 229 in just 164 minutes for the first wicket. It was a record opening partnership for the club, surpassing the 227 scored by Max Benjamin and David Martin at North Sydney Oval three seasons earlier. Blackman scored 112 with 16 fours while Martin belted 122 with 17 boundaries. Colin also made 100 v St George.

That was a big season for Blackman with his performances recognised by State selectors, picking him for the NSW v Queensland Sheffield Shield match at the SCG. He went in first drop making 28 in the first innings and an impressive 47 in the second. Maintained for the next match against South Australia in Sydney, he opened the batting with Gordon Goffet but failed to make double figures in both innings and did not play again that season.

Blackman was recalled the following 1967-68 season, again playing Queensland at the SCG. On that occasion, he and Bobby Simpson put on 111 for the first wicket before Col was bowled by Ross Duncan for 36. Simpson made 277. It was another top first wicket partnership next match against Victoria in Melbourne, when Col and Lyn Marks put on 120. Blackman made second top-score of 63. A week later however, he racked up his highest first-class score with an innings of 88 against South Australia in Sydney.

The following season, after making one appearance, Col was 12th man for the match against Victoria at the SCG. A young 18-year-old Alan Turner made his debut in that match but didn’t own a pair of cricket pads. Colin graciously lent the youngster his gear and watched him make 89 in the second innings wearing the borrowed pads. Blackman played 11 times for NSW scoring 488 runs.

Over that and the following three seasons, Blackman put together an enviable 1st Grade record. He finished with 4,119 runs at 35.20 with six centuries and 21 fifties when he retired after the 1971-72 season, having been transferred in his job to Dubbo. Along the way however, he put his name in the record books on two occasions. In 1968-69 his season total of 783 was a new mark which stood until Graeme Hughes made 784 in 1983-84. And in 1971-72, –his last season, he smashed the Randwick attack at Marrickville for a record 181* hitting 18 fours and seven sixes in a total of 5-361. He also captained the team in 1969-70.

For the club, Col Blackman scored 5,136 runs across three grades. With his Poidevin-Gray performances his figures total 5,473. He also held 95 catches in all competitions with 55 in 1st Grade including 15 in 1968-69.

Lyall Gardner OAM

Randwick Petersham Cricket Historian