Paul McCann - tearaway paceman from Illawarra
Sutherland District Cricket Club | November 28, 2024
In 1967-68, Paul McCann, a young tearaway pace bowler from the Illawarra area, joined Sutherland and experienced an amazing performance in his first match for the Club. Playing “B” Shires (6th Grade) at Sutherland Oval, he took one wicket as Geoff Glover finished with match figures of 8-6 & 7-34. Paul went on to take 22 wickets at 11.6 in four matches in “A” Shires after that match.
The following season, 1968-69, he was graded in 2nd Grade and he showed what he was capable of with 40 wickets at 17.8 in 13 matches, as 2nds made the final. The annual report read:
Despite indifferent early batting and mediocre fielding, the team fought back at crucial stages for outright wins. A particular example of this was the match prior to the actual final in which fast bowler Paul McCann in a memorable display of hostile bowling took 15 wickets in the one afternoon.
This was a match at Caringbah Oval against Central Cumberland. Starting at 1.00pm, Cumberland won the toss and batted. They were soon all out at 2.36pm for 38 off 19.6 8-ball overs. Paul took 7-25 off 10 overs, while Merv Black took 1-13 and there were two run outs. In reply, Sutherland made 2/44 off 7 overs in 34 minutes before declaring. Cumberland began their second innings after tea at 3.40pm and didn’t fare much better, being dismissed for 99 off 24 overs in 111 minutes. This time, Paul took 8-54 off 12 overs to give him match figures of 15-79. Sutherland were 0/12 at stumps and went on to win outright 74 minutes into day two, finishing on 1/94 off 25.7 overs. Paul’s match haul is still the third-best for the Club, behind Devlin Malone’s 16-138 in 2015-16 and Geoff Glover’s 15-40 in 1967-68. He finished the season with 40 wickets at 17.8 in 2nds.
In 1969-70, Paul had another dominant bowling display in 2nd Grade. In a one-day match at Manly Oval, Sutherland batted first after a delayed start and were all out for 158 off 28.4 overs. In reply, Manly were all out for 31 off 13.4 overs. Paul took 8-16 off 7 overs! Following on, Manly ended the day on 4/84 off 22.7 overs. Paul took 1-27 off 4 overs, unlucky not to get his second 10-wicket haul in successive seasons.
In 1970-71, Paul took 1-132 off 26 overs in his first four matches in 2nds. He was dropped to 3rds, but responded in amazing fashion. The annual report said “Paul McCann in his few appearances was in devastating form.” In his first four matches in 3rds, he took 6-45 (11 overs), 6-10 (8 overs), 6-76 (16 overs) and 1-23 (7 overs). In his fifth match, a one-day match at Sutherland Oval, North Sydney sent Sutherland in to bat and they declared at 6/223 off 47 overs. In reply, North Sydney were all out for 118 off 31.3 overs. Paul finished with 9-45 off 14.3 overs to give him 28 wickets at 8.5 in five matches in 3rds. He went back up to 2nds and took three wickets in each of his next two matches, before finishing the season in 1sts.
That was the end of Paul’s career with Sutherland as he moved back down the coast to concentrate on his teaching career. In four seasons with the Club, he took 23 wickets in 5 matches in 1967-68, 42 wickets in 15 matches in 1968-69, 45 wickets in 19 matches in 1969-70 and 36 wickets in 15 matches in 1970-71 – a total of 146 wickets at 176 in 54 matches. In 2nds, he took 85 wickets at 19.6 in 32 matches. There have been 50 instances of Sutherland players taking 8 or more wickets in an innings. Only two have done it three times – Paul and Martin Carroll (8-30 in 5ths in 1989-90, 8-37 in 2nds in 1994-95 & 8-36 in 3rds in 1999-00). Paul is the only player to take 9 wickets once and 8 wickets twice.
