1987 Other Ashes Tour - Penrith Cricket Club
Penrith Cricket Club | February 05, 2023
Image: Official business. Plate mementos all round upon arrival at ‘the other’ Penrith;
Our UK tourists. Back Row (l to r): Keith Hawkins, Steve Thompson, Peter Small, Steve Ryan, Ray Hudswell, Graham Price, Craig Gunton, Kevin Chevell, John Thomas, Greg Crompton. Front: Bob Thomas, Michael Van Nesch, Peter Demattia, Steve Small, Greg Gavin, John Stringer, Kevin Ivins
On Monday, June 15, 1987, seventeen players and officials departed Sydney on a five week tour of a lifetime to the home of cricket, England. In that period, Penrith played 11 matches, winning five, losing five and tying one. There were a number of tremendous moments on tour; unfortunately some cannot be recalled due to memory lapses that occurred once the plane landed back in Sydney in July.
Perhaps three matches stand out, two of which we lost. The first of these was against Penrith-Cumbria, where we were given an absolute hiding on the field and a great time off it. Anybody who goes to England must visit this beautiful town. I am sure if you were to mention you were from Penrith, Australia, you would receive a hearty welcome.
Obviously, our match against Essex Seconds was also a big occasion, and although we lost the match, it was one of the finest matches that many of us have played in. Greg Gavin scored a magnificent century, while Steve Thompson played every shot in the book (and some that will never make it) in putting together an undefeated 50. The other stand out match was played against Harrogate in Yorkshire. The Harrogate team was strengthened by Australian International Dave Gilbert, who even though bowling off a shortened run really made some whistle through. Harrogate batted first, scoring 191 in a laborious four hours leaving Penrith just 28 overs to win the match. Our youngest player on tour, Craig Gunton, scored an impressive hundred to lead us to victory with only five overs remaining.
I know the memories of this tour will last with us forever. From the places we saw to the hospitality of our English colleagues it will be unforgettable. As Manager of the tour I left England knowing that the name of the Penrith Club will be remembered favourably by our hosts and every member of the party is to be commended on the maturity of their behaviour and their efforts in promoting harmonious international relations. It must be stressed here that some members of the party did more in this area than others! Great to hear the blood tests were all clear.
Steve Small led the side well, and his experience as a tourist was invaluable in the success of the tour. Living so close, for so long can be a real problem but we managed to get through the five weeks without one major incident and arrived home a happy and harmonious group.
*The above was team manager Ray Hudswell’s official report on the Club’s historic UK tour. It appeared in the Penrith DCC 1987/88 Annual Report. On the following pages his ‘Tour Diary’, with photos, is released for the first time. It perfectly captures the range of emotions, and the moments that can make any cricket trip such a wonderful, enjoyable experience
WHAT HAPPENS ON TOUR …
June 15th, 1987: Departure a moment of nerves, excitement and a great sense of achievement. All the work, the worry and the hassles of the last few months are now worthwhile. Great watching the reactions of all the blokes, the cool and calm ones, the nervous ones. Amazed at the size of this plane and how smooth it is. Next stop Hong Kong.
Same day, 6.27pm: ‘Honkers’. I am in trouble! Have got myself into a shout with Kevin (Chevell) and ‘Jack’ (Steve Small). What started out as a quick round of three has now turned into a round of six. We have played 97 of our best innings and spun too many yarns.
June 16: Bahrain, weather fine, hot, 32 degrees—at 3.00am! Still six hours to London. Have just heard the expected max there is 10 degrees. Glad I brought all those cricket jumpers. After arrival at Gatwick the whole party was stuffed—31 hours in the plane! A shower and a bed, you beauty … five hours later we finally got into our rooms at the Barkston Hotel. Not good enough! Blokes tired irritable, hard to soothe down. And, rain looks like it has settled in.
June 17: Our hopes it would fine up before today’s match against Hayes were realised. The pitch was soft but the cricket excellent, an incredible tie, and their last batsman hitting ‘Jack’ back over his head for a four off the last ball!
June 18: Genuine hassles when we went to book out of the hotel. The manager had set things up so that two and three fellows had paid the same phone bill. A very bitter end … ‘Jack’ summed it up beautifully when, after a particularly heated exchange with the manager, he simply stated, “Sir you are an ignorant man.”
Beat up! Locals were invited to think Geoff Lawson and Allan Border would be turning up! History would show that Penrith’s 1985 tourists had more to smile about than Border’s, who were put to the sword by Gower & Co.
June 19: Our second match, versus Ashton, but no-one seems to care much about the cricket. The most wonderful people we have met. Had a fabulous evening at the Artichoke Inn and as the night wore on and the drink became more plentiful I accepted an invitation to play for Ashton in a match the next day!
The next day: Had lunch in the garden of a house that was 700 years old, then off to the game and back to the pub. By this time, my eyes were ready to fall out of my head but that was just the beginning. Went to a barn dance, the whole community was there from babies to grannies.
June 23: Good game against Bilbroughton, usual pleasantries afterwards and returned to the hotel about 10.30pm. Slipped downstairs to the bar area while the rest went discoing. Spoke with a couple of locals at length. Didn’t buy a beer all night.
June 25: Visited The Beatles museum in Liverpool, then down to North Wales. No ‘giggle cricket’ against Brymbo, just a hard, aggressive draw after we fell two short chasing 180 in 35 overs. Most of the boys kicked on but I went to bed early. I don’t know how they keep it up.
June 26 to 28: Penrith. Walked the streets with Kevin Ivins. A much larger town than I’d imagined, similar in size to our own Penrith. Obvious that this match is going to be special. Radio interviews, front page story and editorial and posters proclaiming “Australian cricketers come to Penrith”. The greeting when we walk down the streets has been phenomenal. Very enjoyable to be celebrities for a few days. Met all the civic leaders, soaked up the atmosphere of several hundred spectators who were all ‘terribly British’, but also very encouraging. How we managed to get a game in between showers I don’t know. Badly beaten, but who cares? It was all such a fabulous experience.
June 29: Edinburgh, Scotland. The people are difficult to understand. Finally got a game in on a good pitch. Wish we hadn’t! Got the wrong information on the Stenhousemuir team and rested some of our best players. Unfortunately we played against no fewer than four Internationals, including Omar Henry, the first coloured South African cricketer. They absolutely walloped us. Had a long talk to Omar after the game. He really gave me an insight into South Africa, that sporting associations are really into mixed sport. However the government is a different thing. Sad to hear that he is now considered a traitor by blacks and coloureds. A real shame for a little man with a big heart and a love of humanity.
July 4: Four-hour bus trip to London. Different hotel, The New Barbican, brilliant, modern, delightful staff. Spent Sunday exploring London. Great. Landed in a pub called The Greyhound. Unbelievable. Stripper, comedian and Fosters beer. We wonder, what more could a man want, except the company of his loved ones?
July 6: Rang home today. Only wish I could hold them all for a moment. Can’t wait to see the family and the rest of my friends. A letter would be great. Had today’s game off.
The manager celebrates with a tilt at the ‘yard glass’ record
July 8: Visited Westminster Abbey and stood in awe. Over 3000 historically significant people are buried here. Humbling to stand on the graves of such great people, kings, queens, poets … mind-boggling! Team to play Essex announced. I’m really looking forward to that match. Ankle still swollen and sore but am sure I’ll be fit enough to play.
July 9: Chigwell, Essex. Hot, 32 degs. Fabulous match. Real cricket at last. We were beaten in the last few minutes but achieved our aim of being competitive. Greg Gavin 102 not out, Steve Small 75. Bowled 22 overs myself so I really ache. Ankle has blown up again. Still, only two matches left.
July 11: London. Out on a walk came across a street party so sat for a while and listened to the brass bands and a pop group. Very happy place dominated by West Indians who I have found to be the friendliest of people.
July 14: Final day in England. Appropriate that today’s match should be rain-affected, the way we started. Beaten again. This time by nine runs. Some personal success but really would have loved to end on a winning note. Not to be. Final evening a bit of a haze. Fellows presented me with a pewter, which was both a surprise and an honour. Funny feeling now. Almost over. Can’t wait to get home. Missed everyone so much. Home, school, friends. Love ‘em all.
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