Anthony Hale - a remarkable career that was over in a flash

Sutherland District Cricket Club | November 27, 2024

Anthony Hale played 58 matches for Sutherland and took 201 wickets at an average of 14.3, the second-best average of the 56 players who have taken at least 200 wickets for the Club (behind only Steve Edmonds, with 234 wickets at 13.8). The manner in which his brief career unfolded was quite remarkable. He was selected in 5th Grade in round 1 of 1985-86 as a middle order batsman who bowled handy left-arm orthodox spinners. In the first three matches, he had scores of 4, 27 & 24. He didn’t bowl in the first match, but then took 3-10 off 6 overs in the second. He then bowled only in the second innings of the third match, taking 1-16 off 15 overs.

Anthony was a late inclusion in 4th Grade for round 5. Due to a stronger batting line-up and his small stature, he was listed to bat at number 9, with the possibility of bowling a few overs. Tom Iceton wrote in his team report for the annual report (4ths lost the final) as follows:

Reviewing the season’s performances, it will be apparent from the averages that our strength lay in our ability to bowl sides out cheaply. When we bowled first, we usually dismissed the opposition cheaply, while when we batted first, even a mediocre total still gave us a good chance of victory. The main reason for this was the performance of Anthony Hale.

Only 14 years old, Tony was a late Saturday morning inclusion in fourths for a one-day game against Campbelltown, after a drop-out in the higher grades, with the expectation that he would not have much to do in the game. Two uneventful overs immediately before lunch soon changed that line of thinking and the course of our approach to the rest of the season. Kept on after lunch, Tony went on to take 5-34 from 15 overs of well-controlled left arm spin – this meant that he had to stay for the next match. He showed that this was not a foolish decision, with figures of 5-37, 6-8 & 5-24, 7-37 (in the next three matches) and 5-95 amongst his stints at the crease before the semi.

Although the selectors had been a little uncertain as to his ability to handle the pressure of finals cricket, Tony proved us completely wrong. Six wickets in the semi (4-19 & 2-14) and then an incredibly mature performance in the final. Coming on as usual just before lunch, he was confronted by two experienced batsmen in full cry. It was Tony who took the wicket before lunch, going on to finish with 4-46 from 20 overs – unlucky not to finish with the coveted 50 wickets in the season. It was an incredible season for the youngster and we will hear a lot more of him in the years ahead. He can also bat pretty well, but had limited opportunities this season – as he grows stronger, that will soon change.

Anthony’s bowling figures for the season were 49 wickets at 10.5 in 4ths (45 wkts in 11 matches)) & 5ths (4 wkts in 3 matches). He also took 17 wickets at 10.3 in AW Green Shield (5 matches) – a total of 66 wickets for the Club in his first season! 1986-87 was even better. In a season when Sutherland won the Club Championship, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade & AW Green Shield (joint premiers), he took 105 wickets across all competitions: 29 wickets at 13.0 in 3rds (8 matches), 39 wickets at 17.4 in 4ths (8 matches) and 37 wickets at 13.0 in AWG (9 matches)!! This included 10 five-wicket hauls: 7-30 and 5-20 in 3rds, 6-88 & 5-84, 5-12 and 5-31 in 4ths and 6-47, 6-50, 6-68 and 5-50 in AWG.

Barry Davison wrote in his 3rd Grade team report as follows:

Tony Hale snared 29 wickets in this grade and would have taken many more except for the selectors’ decision to give him a greater chance to develop his obvious batting skills in fourth grade. A talented cricketer who will do Sutherland proud for many years to come.

Tom Iceton wrote in the 4th Grade team report as follows:

After being dropped due to the impossibility of fitting 12 deserving players into 11 positions in thirds. He responded superbly to again lead the aggregates (nearly did so in thirds as well). His bowling came on superbly since 1985-86 – 105 wickets in grade and Green Shield are testimony to that. Has a superb batting technique and played some great pressure knocks. Caught 9 of his 10 catches off his own bowling.

Barry Davison wrote in the AW Green Shield team report as follows:

Darrell Mann’s selection in the NSW and Australian Under 17 teams left us without our most experienced leg spinner for the majority of the games. Consequently, the spin bowling duties were entrusted solely upon the shoulders of Anthony Hale. And did he respond! Thirty-seven wickets was his response! A new club record and he becomes the only player to take 50 wickets for the club in the Green Shield competition (in only two seasons). Anthony also scored 197 runs in the opener’s role and snared the most catches in the series (5). A magnificent contribution from this dedicated and unassuming young cricketer.

In 1987-88, Anthony played the full season in 3rd Grade. He took 27 wickets in 12 matches at 22.1. Kevin Humphreys wrote in the 3rd Grade team report:

Anthony Hale was our leading wicket-taker in his first full season in third grade. He found the going harder than in previous years, consistently playing against better opposition and in particular against opposition who had seen him bowl before. Despite this, his results were very pleasing. With the bat, “Bomber” was given a number of opportunities high in the order and he performed well. He must now continue to work hard at his all-round game. In the field, he was simply superb in any position.

At the start of the 1988-89 season, Anthony was studying for and then sitting his HSC exams. He filled in for 5th Grade in round 5 in mid-November, taking 3-62 off 16 overs, and then he was gone. After taking 201 wickets in 58 matches, Anthony Hale had retired – two months before he turned 18!