My best grade team – John Saint 1986 to 1998
John Saint | May 09, 2023
“The People you meet, the players you play with and life time friendships forged”. That’s Gold!
I started my grade cricket career in 1986 with Penrith in the Sydney Grade competition before moving to Sydney University. I moved to Tasmania and played for North Hobart Cricket Club
My team consists of the best who I had the pleasure in playing this great game with at grade level and witness absolute brilliance consistently.
In Batting Order:
1. Todd Pinnington North Hobart CC and wicket keeper
“Toddy” was an exceptional opening batsmen with grit and flare. I twice saw him carry his bat chasing big totals and win with big 100’s. A stylish stroke player who wasn’t deterred by short fast bowling and knew his blueprint to build innings and often took his teammates with him. Loved bowling to him behind the stumps as he was a great motivator who possessed anticipation and movement. Very unlucky not to play more 1st class games, but he had to do a hell of lot to dislodge Mark “Bomber “Atkinson.
2. Brian Wood - Penrith CC
“Woodduck” – Brian was probably one of the guys you look up to as a 15 yr old coming from Blacktown. He was lightning in the field and was a thrill to watch, but as a batsmen his heart and passion was twice the size of himself. Didn’t give his wicket away as was the mentality at Penrith in those days with a very strong team including Steve Small, Trevor Bayliss, Ken Hall, Rod Bower, Barry Coad and Phil Blizzard. (A few of these guys gets a mention later on)
3. Michael Di Venuto - North Hobart CC
“Diva” – Michael played 9 ODI for Australia and many Australian A games as a reward for his consistency in Mercantile Mutual Cup and Sheffield Shield games over the years and deserved his elevation. I played a lot of cricket with Diva in my short time particularly on tour, but every time he came back to North Hobart he scored heavily. His 60 odd v Clarence in a Grand Final who had Rod Tucker, Andrew Dykes and Mark Colgrave who were pretty handy seamers and were in the state squad was remarkable. I don’t think he middled one all day but showed a second string to his bow to get us over the line. I also witnessed a ton of about 40 balls, most were pull shots but quick to punch on the cover drive if opportunities knocked. I think it was against his brother’s (Peter) team Kingsborough CC who also in my eyes was the quickest going around in Gerard Denton.
4. Rod Bower - Penrith CC
“Logs” –Oh yeah he could hit a ball alright much in the mould of Justin Avendano these days for North Sydney UTS. Often he didn’t wear a helmet and could play the short ball, cut, pull or hook but not to be underestimated in the field. I saw him take a screamer on the boundary one day, I think it was Graeme Beard against Waverly at Waverly Oval and it was similar to the left or right handed catch by Glen McGrath at the Adelaide Oval. A flat hard pull shot with not much time to re-act and running 10m or so before diving full stretch grabbing it between his idex and middle finger an inch off the turf just behind square leg on the boundary. Total brilliance. A great motivator and you always listened to him in the sheds, no codswallop when it came to Logs.
5. Trevor Bayliss - Penrith CC
“TB”- Trevor obviously was driven by his passion to mix it with the best as a top order reliable batsmen. Along with his fielding probably he was unlucky not to play higher. If he was given his opportunity earlier, things might have been different, but that was the sign of times back in the late 80’s. Australian Cricket was building and strong when at the time NSW led the charge. His technique was as sound as they come, quick on his feet, no limitations to TB. A gun anywhere in the field and the 150 odd 6th wicket partnership we shared on my debut as an 18 yr old v Waverly was a real learning experience.
6. Ken Hall - Penrith CC and Captain
“ Emu” – I’m pretty sure I was one of the first to experience his punishment. I remember bowling an ordinary over against Fairfield to Steven Barry Smith and Paul Calvert. I think 18 runs were scored in the over on the Hume Highway at Howell Oval, and yep it was fine leg to fine leg for 6 overs straight which meant a 200m sprint in between overs in 40 degree heat after bowling 5 overs straight initially.
Why am I including this bloke into my team? … Well, if you don’t learn by your faults, you keep getting the same disappointing result. It honestly fired me up to prove him wrong but I admired his tenacity and love for the game. Mr Natural I referred to him as, Michael Hussy “Mr Cricket” may have been challenged by Emu for that reason alone. Great reader of the game and because of his longevity he knew his opposition. A great leader by example and an old lesson learnt which these days it’d be unheard of. Emu would be one of the 1st picked in many best of grade teams.
7. Myles Harry - North Hobart CC
“Flash” – Could move like a bolt of lightning, in fact could’ve challenged any 100m Olympic Sprinter. He had great hands 2nd to myself of course and would challenge Trevor Bayliss as one of the best cover fielders I’ve seen. In fact one at cover one and one at at midwicket would fit perfectly. Myles could change a game in an instant with his bowling of slow talking mediums, but his batting was his prowess, many 150 run 3rd or 4th wicket partnerships with Todd Pinnington. He loved to win but was equally acceptable to losses if the opposition played a better game than we did. A true competitor. Tremendous ability and played a handful of 2nd XI games for Tassie.
8. John Grimble - Sydney University CC
“Grimbo” – An O’Reilly Medal winner, great stats over a long period, and could bowl 30 overs straight if required. He had the ability to play mind games with the opposition and back it up with execution. I enjoyed bowling to plan with this bloke. I’d like to know how many 1st class players he dismissed in Sydney Grade Cricket. Perhaps he or his brother Paul will tell me one day, Great friend over many years.
9. Michael Haire - Penrith CC and / Coach at Sydney University CC.
“Pubes”- Mick could move the ball both ways on a length, green or flat wickets. I remember one day at Pratten Park v Dirk Wellhams Western Suburbs team I’d arrived after an early win in 3rd grade at Blick Oval. I wanted to watch the first grade team and see how they went but really the attraction was the great Tom Brooks who umpired many Test Matches. Tom Brooks had umpired us in a Poidevin Gray game a month before. He was my main attraction to be honest and he was taller in real life trust me, a great man.
But on this day Mick was un-playable. I played 4 games in 1st grade at Penrith with Mick and it was all WOW factor. He didn’t tear in and try bowl flat out, it was all about control. A lesson also learnt later at Syd Uni when he suggested with 2 rounds to go with me oblivious in 1993/94 season) “Sainty your 4 points behind Shane Lee in the O’Reilly Medal”
“What’s that I replied”, ”Read the papers mate”. Enough said….. I managed to catch up with Mick Haire and Billy Anderson when North Sydney UTS played Randy Pete’s this year (I’m coaching North Sydney UTS). Great moment in my life that day!
John Saint and Bill Anderson
10. Michael O’Sullivan – Sydney University CC
“Micko/MOS” I don’t think I have ever come across a feistier competitor than this man. Stands very tall in all-time records with Syd University and in Sydney grade cricket.
Wonderful man by all standards, I know he had had a great women behind him in Judy as I did in Catherine. We both had 3 daughters which ran amuck in the University Grandstand Bar while we were playing. I remember every Tues and Thursday net sessions and we’d run 8 x 400m run throughs on the athletics track at University Number 1 before training at around 3pm in a bid to simulate our perseverance in the last session of a day’s play. (I tell a little porky there, actually Jane Flemming the Olympic track and field champion was training as well, so we thought if its good enough for her, we’ll just run behind and try and keep up. We never did but the experience looking back was incredible).
I was 22 MOS was 40ish. I also had the pleasure of playing with his brother Peter in the NRL at the Balmain Tigers. Peter later became a talent scout for the Roosters and Storm under Craig Bellamy.
But MOS was so bloody feisty in fact one day we’re playing a red hot Northern Districts team and we had them 4 for around 30 with Randell Green, Adam Gilchrist and his bother Dean back in the Pavilion. In comes Neil Maxwell who was a true competitor in his own right, but not on this day, well not for me anyway.
Now for those who played against MOS they know too well his dart ball being a left arm off spin bowler to right hand batsmen was lethal and he rarely missed after the set up. On this occasion I’m at square leg and ND’s were blocking everything as they just wanted to get to lunch, Maxi comes half way forward to MOS and half offers a shot. Now picture MOS appealing and he’s losing his voice half way down the wicket, you could’ve sworn there was a rooster somewhere close. Richard Bennison our keeper was running towards MOS ready to congratulate him with the rest of us before the umpire makes his decision.
We hear Maxi yell “how is that out, it’s outside the line”
Well that was enough for me with 2 years under Billy Anderson and Warren Ryan at the Tigers I had built up, I guess, a slight bit of aggression and suggested to Neil perhaps you should allow the umpire make the decision. Our captain Craig Tomko dragged me away as he felt I was in serious danger of being reported as was Maxi, it got heated in the moment and he was given not out. But long story was they beat us, and Maxi got his revenge on day 2. Just another day playing hard Cricket. Respect to Neil as a whole but not on this day.
11. John Gavagna – Sydney University CC
“ Gav/ JG/Hercules”- Built like a German Tank, heart of gold and could bowl as quick as anyone on his day depending on how much pasta he ate the night before. Reliability was his middle name could spank a quick 50 batting a little higher than where I have him here. JG who could intimidate some of the best opening batsmen in the early 90’s. His record doesn’t reflect on his character or ability, which is why I have included him, a genuine top person and always had positive responses whether losing or winning, in other words he let his actions speak, and it was all about effort. I admired that.
12. Anthony Kershler - Penrith CC
“Kersh” – I had the pleasure of playing with Kersh in 2nd Grade and a couple in 1st grade at Penrith CC. in 1986/87. I remember being part of a red hot PG’s side which I believe should have won a competition somewhere together. Perhaps it was we forgot about elevating our smartness at that time playing cricket as we were teenagers and things were simple. I don’t think we took cricket all that serious but rather enjoyed having fun. Kersh is an all-round funny bloke who always had a joke up his sleeve to break the tension and could play a bit, his record speaks for itself, but you can’t choose 3 left arm orthodox spinners in one team.
Scorer – Garry Saint (Dad)
Had the neatest writing, deaf as post, loved a couple of Big Macs at Lunch after putting his bets on the races and just loved his son doing his best. He was Syd Uni’s scorer for many years after I left for Tassie in 1995 which showed his love and loyalty to the club. I know his up there saying to me right now” You bloody idiot, did have to mention me” - Sorry Dad I had too!
Coach – Gavin Ridley – Sydney University CC
With his background as teacher his communication from coach to player was all class. He offered diverse training drills well before its time back in 1992 to 94 and didn’t criticize and would often ask how you could do better and allowed discussions for things to go forward. A mentality I carry with me today. Thanks Gav!
Manager – Greg Harris - Sydney University CC
Gave all athletes at Syd Uni Sports Union the best opportunity to succeed. He was linked to Ron Barassi at the Swans who often trained at Uni, which meant I got a taste of seeing real athletes train in 1993.
Special Mentions – Andrew Shaw (Syd Uni), Richard Bennison (Syd Uni), Greg Sheens (Penrith), Mark Denny (Penrith), Phil Blizzard (Penrith), Brett Geeves (Glenorchy Tas) and Andrew Saballlus (North Hobart).
