Albert ' Mick' Scanes - One Before Bradman
St George Cricket Club | February 17, 2025
St George DCC First Grade Player No.49 - Albert "Mick" Scanes.
Mick Scanes started playing for St George in the 1926-27 season which just happened to be the same season Sir Donald Bradman started with The Saints. Subsequently Scanes is now immortalized as the player one before Bradman in our list of First Grade Players.
He was born on the 6th of August 1900 in Erskineville and died on the 1st of November, 1969.
He played 10 First Class games for NSW between 1921-22 and 1927-28 scoring 434 runs at 25.52 with a highest score of 94.
Originally representing Petersham he started playing for St George after marrying and moving to Arncliffe in 1926. For St George he scored 2026 runs at 27.0 with 4 Centuries.
He was also considered a fine outfielder who had the honour of playing some of his cricket alongside Sir Donald Bradman (Saints player No.49) and on occasion was recorded as outscoring Bradman in some thrilling partnerships.
Outside of cricket, Scanes worked as a pastry chef / cake decorator.
The Following article appeared in the Daily Telegraph on Friday, 26th of September 1929 and was written by A Moyes.
St.George Club will miss A. Scanes - the little dasher, who, for business reasons, has decided to stand down this year.
Scanes to my mind, had more natural ability than ninety per cent of the youngsters who have appeared in recent years.
He possessed every shot known to the batting art, could hit with tremendous power, and, when moving, was a sheer delight to watch.
Of late years, too, he developed into a useful bowler, and was of course a delightful fielder.
That he did not reach the top of the tree was due probably to a tendency to take risks before settling down, but there could be no mistaking his exceptional ability.
For Petersham and St. George he has had many successful seasons; and one hopes that he has not retired for good.
Scanes made more than one appearance for the State, but for the last three years business calls have been too insistent.
