The Summer of 1969-70 ; Trevor Osborne
St George Cricket Club | January 31, 2025
By Ronald Cardwell
It was a dry hot summer. Few games were lost to inclement weather, but a hurricane came across Hurstville Oval during that season. The hurricane was in the form of Trevor Michael Osborne, born 1948, a 6ft 2½ inch tall, 13½ stone fast bowler who took all before him that summer. For captain Warren Saunders there was a dilemma. How do I fit in the former Sydney CC and Sydney University law student wearing size 12½ cricket boots into the team ? Already in the powerful St George side were state bowlers Peter Leslie and John Martin. There was also Kerry O’Keeffe and Ray Davies to ply their trade as leg spin bowlers.
It was an embarrassment of riches for the captain. Osborne had arrived with a solid reputation. Three seasons in grade cricket where he took 48 wickets in his time in first grade with sound performances reflecting figures of three for 33 and 5 for 64. That summer he turned the first-grade competition on its head taking six five wicket halls including seven for 66.
Osborne was an interesting cricketer. He did it tough in his early days, brought up in the inner city but achieving well in his education at Sydney Boys’ High. His bowling was economical. He had a short approach to the wicket, an uncomplicated action, a solid pull through of his shoulder that delivered a smooth delivery. On fast wickets he was unplayable. Right in your face and accurate. It was a ‘dodgy back’ that perhaps held him back as a truly fast bowler. His first out effort, one for 13, against Petersham was no real indication of the summer ahead.
The state selectors were however keen on the new St George boy as he along with club mate Ray Tozer were selected in the NSW Colts squad. Whilst his wickets were few in the early rounds of the grade competition, he did pick up one point in the Sydney Morning Herald player of the year competition. Tom Brooks said of Osborne Aggressive bowling earned him two wickets in each innings as well as taking two fine catches. At least Tom Brooks did not have to consider and LBW decision for him. Saturday 8 November 1969 was a big pay day for the new St George DCC recruit. Six wickets for 12 runs against Gordon at Hurstville Oval including a hattrick. Newspaper headlines referred to him as the ‘wrecker.’
Recently I caught up with Gordon batsman Lloyd Wilson who said “he was sheer pace. I hung around for 0. There was nothing I could do except play the ball away from my body and I was walking off the oval before Peter Leslie had caught the ball.” At the bowling crease for 16 overs Osborne with seven for 66 against Mosman at Mosman Oval finished off a solid November.
Osborne has now been spoken about in the press as a possible state player. Sadly, it was not to be. There were another three points in the player of the year competition for his five for 28 off 11 overs in the match against his old club, Sydney, underneath the arches at Jubilee Oval Glebe. With 32 wickets at 11.50 in early December and the recalled NSW fast bowling teammate John Martin taking 27 at 13.04 St George were taking all before them in the competition. A patient and solid 5* by Osborne and Davies 6* preserved St George’s position as leaders over Cumberland after Christmas. There was a drought. Wickets for Osborne were now few and far between. It was one then none and maybe two. St George were routed in the last game of the season for 51 by Cumberland who won the first-grade minor premiership. Osborne returned to form taking five for 41 but all had been lost.
It all came together for Osborne, and St George in the semi-final against Western Suburbs at Pratten Park. Western Suburbs failed by 10 runs to chase down St George with Osborne taking five for 68 off 19.4 overs, a match winning effort, despite bowling five no balls. The final against Cumberland at the Sydney Cricket Ground turned out to be a match for the bowlers. It was a lively pitch. Osborne had trouble with his run up but ended up with five for 36, being ably supported by Martin with three wickets and Leslie 1. Phil Tresidder writing in the Daily Telegraph said that.
St George’s new ball attack, Osborne, and Martin toppled Cumberland’s batsman like toy soldiers. St George won easily. For the 22-year-old Osborne, now a police constable, it had been a wonderful summer. He had taken 58 wickets at 12.62 to be second in the averages to the off-spinner John McKenzie from Mosman who took 61 wickets at 16.67. As the season had progressed Osborne had reduced the length of his bowling approach, thus affecting his speed. He was now a more intelligent bowler, conserving his energy, more accurate and had the ability to now cut the ball in off the pitch to the batsman.
Not only was Osborne a solid opening bowler but he was s sharp fieldsman close in or at leg slip supported by soft hands. Osborne continued in first grade intermittently over the next six seasons. His wicket taking not as proficient but nevertheless a valued club man and player. In all he took 174 wickets in first grade, 126 for St George at 16.84, a not unreasonable average.
It was not until the 1981-82 season that Trevor retired. In those intervening years he had played second, third and fifth grade for the club. His batting improved, to see him score 1160 runs at 16.11 and take 187 wickets at 14.90. There were three first grade premierships and the knowledge that he had played the game with some of St George’s luminaries over his years at the club.
He had also been an encourager to some of the St George younger players when he dropped down the grades. Trevor is now semi-retired living at Katoomba with his wife. Ever interested in animal welfare he has been involved with the RSPCA for over thirty years. He is often seen at Hurstville Oval during the season. A few scrapbooks lie on his bookshelf at home recalling his days in grade cricket. Interestingly he was given Eric Johnson’s St George blazer after he died in 1984 by his wife, Jacqueline. And yes, the blazer still fits, 40 years later.
