1999-2000, the year of the Bulldogs
Matthew Betsey | June 28, 2023
I was fortunate to start my 1st grade career on Australia Day in 1994 with Fairfield-Liverpool after Corey Doyle (RIP) was selected in the Australian Under 19 team. I went on to play three seasons with Western Suburbs (1996-1999) and then for Bankstown (including the 1999/2000 premiership) until 2005. I finished with a season back at Fairfield-Liverpool playing in the 2006 Grand Final against Bankstown.
To celebrate the mighty Bankstown Bulldogs winning the 1st grade Premiership in 1999-2000, I want to acknowledge my great Bankstown team-mates (see below) and in the absence of singling any out in ‘my best grade team’, I thought I would select a Sydney Grade Cricket XI based on the performances of our opposition in our 1999/2000 premiership season!
1. Brett van Deinsen (St George) – what a talent, but anyone who witnessed VD taking on Wayne Holdsworth in the Final will attest that it wasn’t the smartest display of his talent! He scored over a 1000 runs that season and went on to show his talent as a Player of the Final - Benaud medallist in 2001 and 2006.
2. Rodney Davison (Sydney University) – I’m not sure anyone could get Davo out in grade cricket – we couldn’t! A true competitor who could bat for days, especially when chasing a spot for the Blues.
3. Graeme Rummans (St George) – Rowdy had a magnificent year and was the wicket we were after in the final to break the Dragons back ... thankfully he nicked one early! A reluctant bowler, he’s the spinner for this team, a great bloke and he must hold a record for most 1st grade Premierships … surely!
4. Andrew Strauss (Mosman) – showed his class during his time with the Whales and scored 79 not out against the dogs in Rd 2. Relegated to 4 in this line up but one of a few UK players to perform in Aussie conditions and I was also lucky enough to play a Sydney XI game at the SCG with him that year.
5. Peter Procopis (Manly) – in a star-studded Manly line-up, who were Minor Premiers, it was a Peter Procopis one-day century at Manly Oval that knocked the wind out of the Bulldogs. It was great to bump into Peter recently and see that he spends his spare time coaching kids in Maroochydore.
6. Scott Thompson (St George) – there is no way you couldn’t have Thommo in your team! In his first year at the Dragons, Thommo led the Saints to the finals and probably swung the ball too far for the Bulldogs batters in a brilliant spell of bowling early in the final … much prefer being on his team!
7. Linton Ball (Sutherland) – Linton took 6 catches against the Bulldogs in a One-Day game where we were bowled out for 71 … we just kept nicking Stuart Clark (3-9) and Jason Holley (5-8) for fun!
8. Neil Maxwell (Balmain) – Maxi huffed and puffed and nearly blew the Bulldog house down in the Semi Final. What a competitor, he never gave up and offered so much on and off the field for the tigers.
9. Brett Lee – Binga bowled thunderbolts against us in Rd 2 and made Phil Alley the preferred bowler to face! Corey Richards and Vaughan Williams were up to the challenge – it was grade cricket at its best! No surprise that a month later Brett would take 5 wickets against India in his Test debut.
10. John Boulous (Fairfield-Liverpool) – this was the first time I’d played against my good mate JB. A great guy you always want around your team – he gives you more than wickets and runs! ‘He made two’.
11. Jack Whelan (Northern Districts) – Jack took 5 wickets against the Bulldogs early in the season and may have bowled ND’s to victory in the qualifying final if bad light hadn’t stopped play – still a sore point with many of the ND Rangers! No surprise he continues to contribute to our great game!
The 1999/2000 Bankstown Cricket Club First Grade Premiership team
Standing: Greg Trevena, Kym Beazleigh, Brad Roworth, Ken Hall, Matthew Betsey, Wayne Holdsworth, David Freedman
Kneeling: Vaughan Williams, Corey Richards, Anthony Smith, Kevin Roberts, Shane Duff, Nathan Bracken
