Steve Smith's first game in first grade

Gordon District Cricket Club | December 20, 2024

Congratulations Steve Smith. We remember that 91 in your first game! November 2005.

Steve Smith was appointed as captain of the Australian Test team for the match against India starting on December 15, 2015. At the time the Gordon District Cricket Club congratulated him on his achievement.

The announcement was made within a story in the Sydney Morning Herald on December 15 under the title: “Steve Smith goes from teenage club sensation to Australian cricket captain” included a description of Steve’s debut in first grade which happened to be against Gordon at Killara Oval in November 2005. The article commented:

His first appearance in the top grade came in round seven of the 2005-06 season. "A very hard and very green wicket awaited us at Killara for the match vs Gordon," the annual report said.

"Again, we batted poorly and found ourselves behind on the first innings, but a new star was unearthed on day two in the second innings - 16-year-old Steve Smith.

"We smashed their attack to all parts to set up an outright game, then bowled them out inside 27 overs!"

The highlight was "Smithy in his first first-grade game hitting a six then smugly blocking the next ball before the bowler challenged him to hit another six - so he did ... even bigger."

For the historians the game was at Killara and Sutherland were bowled out for 146. It should be added that Sutherland won the toss and batted, so the wicket must have been OK. Ed Zelma started proceeding and had 2 for 4 off the first over and the first innings of Steve Smith is explained by none other than Damon (Reg) Livermore in his match report after Day 1, quote

“The next few overs saw Cupcake introduced, cake bowled tight and was immediately rewarded with the wicket of Smith, bowled under his bat. The Poor kid Smithy is only 16 and the Cake was all over him like a fat kid on a Wagon wheel”

The innings finished on 146 with Julian Stephenson (4), Matt Michael (3) and Ed Zelma (2) sharing the wickets. The report said also “Ed Howitt returning to first grade wasn’t required to bowl”.

Gordon then replied with 194 with James Packman scoring 59 and Craig Simmons scoring a quick fire 48 with the debutant Steve Smith having to duck for cover on several occasions. The Sutherland captain had put him into silly mid-off in his debut first grade game with Craig Simmons batting! For those who have seen Craig batting for the Perth Scorchers when he scored the fastest century in BBL history and subsequently the Adelaide Strikers will know that fielding there is not an occupation one would like to maintain.

Reg went on to say in his report:

Reg was looking good out in the middle until he was given out LBW first ball. He never had a chance really, Umpire Owen (aware of Reg being mates with Goldy and Mason) pulled the pistol out fired away and even gave Reg a send off.... Apparently?

We eventually passed the Sutherland score 6 down and struggled to finish with 194.

Reg continued in his description of his captain Ed Zelma:

The former Richie Richardson wannabe continues to both grind and bosh his runs. Massive 6 over cover into the bus, runs to all parts of the ground. His 43 got us over the line. It’s always a pleasure to watch Edmund bat and it’s even more pleasurable to listen to him recreate every shot in the change rooms afterwards. We lacked a bit of discipline with our batting, and with the players we have, we should be 250 at stumps with wickets in hand, taking the game well and truly away from the Sharks".

Would you believe during the week before the second day Reg had a fall at his work and ruptured his spleen and we were one short for the day. In the end that didn’t matter. (Except maybe for Reg).

The second day was a disaster for the Stags with Sutherland after a shaky early start got on top and posted 3 dec. for 297 with still 40 overs left in the day. We were then bowled out for 118 off 27 overs as reported in the article with John O’Neill Fuller scoring 31.

Steve Smith scored 91 and indeed hit the Gordon attack all over Killara Oval, and the 6 million dollar question of course is: “Which of the three fast bowlers was hit for six and challenged Steve to hit another one”? Ed Zelma (2 for 69 off 18), Julian Stephenson (1 for 78 off 17) or Matt Michael (0 for 64 off 11)? Your call to have a guess… but it wasn’t Zelma or Michael.

For those who know Killara Oval the first six by Smith went into the trees along Rosebery Road to the west of the Oval. The second one went over the trees along Rosebery Road and travelled about 100 metres down Wattle Street. Julian Stephenson might have been the first bowler to be hit for six by Steve Smith but he certainly wasn’t the last.

The team was:

·      Craig Simmons

·      Brad Rasool

·      James Packman

·      Damon Livermore

·      John O’Neill- Fuller

·      Ed Zelma (C)

·      Matt Michael

·      Brett Rosen

·      Ed Howitt

·      Brendan McDonald

·      Julian Stephenson

 

Paul Stephenson

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