Phil Jaques - Sutherland Cap No 178, Australian Cap No 395

Sutherland District Cricket Club | November 24, 2023

On 12 July 2015 at the Sutherland District Cricket Club Annual General meeting for the 2014/15 season Phil Jaques was nominated for Life Membership of the club

Here is Phil Jaques Nomination for Life Membership as presented by Tom Iceton 

NOMINATION OF PHIL JAQUES FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Phil Jaques joined Sutherland from Wollongong in 1996-97, having played for NSW Under 17s the previous season. He was selected in 2nd Grade and was immediately successful, scoring 593 runs at 37.1. He also scored a century in his first season of Poidevin-Gray Shield. He made his 1st Grade debut on 4th October 1997, but struggled early on and was dropped back to 2nds. He showed what he was made of, responding with a score of 208 just before Christmas and that was the last time he was seen in 2nds. Over the next five seasons from 1998-99, his season aggregates in 1st Grade were 788, 775, 548, 717 and 902 (3730 runs at 41.0), as he first reached Sheffield Shield selection for NSW and then established himself as a regular member of the team.

Once Phil was an established member of the NSW team, his first grade appearances became less frequent. However, he certainly made the most of them, scoring 2342 runs at 66.9 from 2003-04 to 2006-07 with 9 centuries. This included the memorable day at North Sydney Oval on 3rd February 2007, when Phil scaled heights only once seen before in the history of Sydney grade cricket. He pulverised the North Sydney attack in amassing 321 runs off 257 balls, with 31 fours and 12 sixes. The only score above this on the list of highest scores in grade cricket is 335 by the legendary Victor Trumper in 1902-03. At the time, he had a four innings sequence for us of 183*, 23, 131 & 321 - 658 runs at 219.3.

Having made his Test debut for Australia in 2005-06, Phil became a regular member of the side in 2007-08, playing 6 Tests against Sri Lanka & India and scoring 561 runs at 56.1, with 2 centuries & 4 half-centuries. He then toured West Indies where he played all 3 Tests, scoring 245 runs at 40.83 including a century in his last innings. He subsequently suffered a debilitating back injury on the tour of India at the start of the 2008-09 season, which saw the end of his all too brief Test career. In 11 Tests, he had scored 902 runs at an average of 47.47 with 3 centuries.

After undergoing back surgery, Phil was faced with a long, arduous rehabilitation period. Whilst he was unable to pick up a bat in anger, he spent this time working with our batsmen in all grades in the old practice nets, helping to refine techniques and approaches to building an innings. This was done without fanfare or recompense and resulted in Phil being awarded the Club Person of the Year Award at the 2009 presentation night.

In 2009-10, Phil fought his way back into the NSW team on the back of an outstanding season for us, scoring 766 runs at 85. I. He continued to play 1st Grade until his retirement at the end of the 2013-14 season. His final 1st Grade career record stands at 203 matches (fifth highest) and 9383 runs (most for the Club) at an average of 45.8, with 22 centuries. He also took 112 catches in lsts (most for the Club). He has also scored the most runs for the Club in Poidevin­ Gray Shield, with 1027 run at 46.7, including the record score for P-Gs of 170*.

In all grades, he played 258 matches and scored 11512 runs (second most) at an average of 45.3, with 25 centuries. He captained the Club in 57 matches, including 40 in lsts. He was a member of premiership teams in 1st Grade in 1997-98, 1st Grade Limited Overs in 2002-03 & 2009-10 and 2nd Grade in 1996-97.

Phil made his debut for NSW in 2000-0 l, batting at number l O due to a late call-up on the morning of the match and making an urgent flight to Brisbane, where he arrived in the lunch break with NSW in trouble at 8/70. He scored 40 in difficult circumstances and went on to have a magnificent first class career. He played 200 first class matches, scoring 16,035 runs at an average of 48.30, with 8 double centuries and 36 centuries. This included 106 matches in county cricket over nine seasons, where he took advantage of his British passport to play for Northamptonshire, Yorkshire, Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Phil was Club Coach in his last two seasons with the Club in 20 l 2-13 & 2013-14. He gave the job total commitment and was subsequently appointed as an assistant coach of the NSW team plus coach of the NSW Under 17s in 2014-15. He has recently been appointed as Head Coach of Queensland for the next three seasons.

Phil's contribution to Sutherland DCC has been tremendous. He is the best performed batsman in our 1st Grade history, recognised by his selection in the "Best Team of the Half Century" at the 50th Anniversary Dinner. More than that though, he always made himself available to play 1st Grade whenever possible, even though other NSW players declined the opportunity to play for their clubs due to their first class workload. He also withstood offers from other clubs early in his career to stay with Sutherland. His efforts as Club Coach were much appreciated, as was his voluntary assistance during his injury recuperation period. It gives me much pleasure to nominate Phil for life membership of Sutherland DCC and I urge you to give him your unanimous support.

TOM ICETON

Only 4 months early on 6 March 2015 at the Sutherland District Cricket Club 50th Anniversary dinner Mark Chapman was selected in the clubs “Team of the first 50 years.”

Here is the team with the caps presented:

From left: Mark Chapman, Steve Smith, Phil Jaques, Steve Rixon, Stuart Clark, Tony Clark, John Dyson, Lisa Griffith (Ted Cottons daughter), Kristen Davidson (Norm O'Neills daughter), Rodney Davison. Absent: Andrew Hilditch, Glenn McGrath