Alan Cripps
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | March 10, 2025
Alan Edward Cripps was born at Lakemba on 11 August 1930. At age 14, the right-hander joined Randwick in the 1944-45 season, playing in the club’s A W Green Shield team. He represented NSW Schoolboys in the Interstate series with success the next season. The following year he was the outstanding batsman in the Green Shield side and was selected to make his Grade debut in the 3rd Grade team. That was the beginning of one of Sydney’s greatest Grade Cricket careers, as Alan would go on to play for another 40 seasons.
In 1950-51, Alan hit 152 in 2nd Grade against Sydney University and earned a call up to 1st Grade. The following summer he was one of the leading lights in the 1st Grade 1951-52 premiership win, with his 110 against St George a highlight of the season. His performances that summer were noted far and wide with an offer coming for him to play in Western Australia, which he did for the following two years. During that time, he played two games for the WA State side—the first against South Africa and the second against the touring Australians on their way to England. WA was not in the Sheffield Shield competition at that time.
Returning to Sydney in 1954-55, Alan, who was a real dasher in those days, set a new club record with 792 1st Grade runs at an average of 52.80, which included 151 against Waverley and 137 versus Sydney University. It was also the highest aggregate in the Sydney competition. He also featured in five century partnerships which caused his captain Jack Chegwyn to comment that his success was “a glaring example of attention to net practice”. In years to come, Alan proved the validity of that statement by being one of the keenest trainers in the club, even in his final seasons.
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“Corky” Cripps, as President Bill Beath dubbed him after his father who had the same nickname, remained one of Sydney’s most consistent batsmen over the following years. In 1963-64, he and Stan Banwell put on 172 in 157 minutes for the first wicket against Bankstown at the SCG and again that same season, they put on 133 in 130 minutes against Balmain. In 1964-65, the 1st Grade team scored more runs than it had for the previous 14 seasons yet struggled to win games because the runs were scored at a slow pace. While Cripps was solid in defence, he still managed to top the batting with 662 runs at 47.28.
In a shock decision in 1967-68, Alan announced his retirement after scoring just 57 in four innings. The winter must have been kind because he was back on deck the following summer, scoring 600 1st Grade runs in a forceful and entertaining manner to again take out the aggregate. Two seasons later in 1971-72 at age 41, Alan stepped down from 1st Grade to take over the captaincy of 3rd Grade and help groom younger players for higher honours. “Corky” led by example, taking out the batting honours that season and the two which followed.
Over the next 17 seasons, Alan played in the lower grades captaining many of them. He was a member of the 1978-79 premiership winning 4th Grade team, top scoring with 68 in the semi-final won by one wicket, 9-304 to 302. In 1984-85, he became the club’s highest run scorer when his career tally of 12,099 runs passed Jack Chegwyn’s record total of 11,943. Jack was on hand to see his great record toppled and was the first to shake “Corky’s” hand. He also received a standing ovation in the Randwick Rugby Club that night while a congratulatory telegram from the Minister for Sport followed shortly after.
At the end of the 1988-89 cricket season, Alan Cripps retired. He was 58 years of age and had been playing for Randwick for 42 seasons with another two spent in Western Australia. He finished his career with 12,494 runs in all grades, the most by any player in the history of the club. He scored 7,012 in 1st Grade and 5,482 in the lowers. He hit six centuries and a massive 37 half-centuries in 1st Grade. His best was 151 in 1sts, with 152 his only ton in 2s. With his under 21 Poidevin-Gray and Shires figures, his total runs for the club increase to 12,907. He was made a Life Member of Randwick in 1981.
Alan was regarded by all as a shining example to young players on and off the field with his courteous manner, immaculate cricket attire and his willingness to pass on his knowledge and experience. He was always particular about his fitness and was one of the last to leave practice which he attended dutifully. “Corky” was also one of the keenest Harness Racing followers in Sydney rarely missing a trotting meeting at Harold Park which many regarded as his second home. As one who was present for the first night trotting meeting in 1949, there was a common belief that they wouldn’t open the Harold Park gates on Friday night unless “Corky” was there!
Lyall Gardner OAM
Randwick Petersham Historian
