HL Numa - Champion of Carlton Cricket Club
Carlton Cricket Club | February 16, 2023
HL Numa (Bert)
Born - 22.6.1925
Died - 17.4.1984
Played 1941/2 - 1963-4
285 1XI Games
Carlton Cap No. 388
Victorian Cap No. 533
The son of a long-serving (53 years!) player and Club Secretary “Tracker” Numa, young “Tracker” rapidly rose to the 1XI after joining the Club as a youngster in 1939 to become acknowledged as one of the best players our Club has produced. His career commenced in the 1XI in 1941 and apart from Naval service in WW11, was never out of the 1XI.
During his 23 years with the 1XI he compiled 8351 runs, claimed 134 wickets, played in our Unofficial 1XI premiership in 1943/4 and three official 1XI premierships (1947/8, 1956/7, 1957/8) captained the Club’s 1XI for 11 years including two premierships, won the Club Championship a record 10 times, the Batting Trophy 10 times, and the Bowling Trophy once.
In the 1960/61 season he became the only player in the history of our Club to achieve the following first eleven honours in the same year –
• the Club Championship;
• the Captaincy;
• the Batting Trophy; and
• the Bowling Trophy.
Bert was a brilliant fieldsman, specialising in the gully, slips, and cover point and was the VCA competition’s leading fieldsman in 1947/48 (14 catches) and 1956/57 (17 catches).
He won State honours at a time when the Victorian team was a power in the Sheffield Shield competition. He played 16 first class matches for Victoria between 1946/7 and 1953/4, scoring 575 runs @ 23.95, with a top score of 77 against Queensland at the MCG.
Following his retirement from the 1XI, the Club was delighted that he was prepared to assume the captaincy of the 2XI in 1964/5 where his astute leadership immediately resulted in an emphatic outright premiership victory. He also led the 2XI to another premiership in 1968/9. He retired in 1969 - his outstanding career-highlights with Carlton reflect a litany of personal and Club successes and, importantly, shows what an integral role he played in the nurturing and development of our 1XI, premiership, state, and Test players over a long period.
He holds the Carlton Cricket Club’s 1XI games record with 285, and played in a record six Club premierships for our Club ie four 1XI (1943/44, 1947/48, 1956/57, 1957/58) and two 2XI (1964/65 and 1968/69). It is noted that his WWII naval service prevented him from being available to play in another two 1XI premierships (1944/45 and 1945/46).
“Tracker” was also an outstanding baseballer for the Carlton Baseball Club, was Captain/Coach for several years and achieved numerous state honors as a pitcher over many years.
“Tracker” was accorded a Club Testimonial in our 1964/5 Centenary year, an honour which has been bestowed upon only a few Carltonians in our history.
During and following his playing days he rendered many years of outstanding administrative service as a Club Committeeman, and as our Club’s VCA Club Delegate (1966-1983) serving on the VCA Pennant Committee (1968-1983), and also as a State Selector (1971-1983), the last two seasons as Chairman.
Bert was an inaugural inductee in 1982 into the Carlton Cricket and Football Clubs’ Hall of Fame.
Bert’s long and distinguished career with Carlton brought great honour and respect to himself and our Club.
We are indebted to his outstanding legacy - one of the best.
