Australian 050s cricket team first UK tour game vs Gloucestershire at Thornbury Gloucestershire on Sunday 16 July 2017.
Veterans Cricket Australia | April 29, 2023
Australian 050s first UK tour game vs Gloucestershire at Thornbury Gloucestershire on Sunday 16 July 2017.
Finally after many trials and tribulations the inaugural Australian 050s side played its first ever UK tour game. After the mandatory morning swim at 8am and a hearty English breakfast to calm first game nerves the team ventured off in a 5-car convoy on the M5 from Cheltenham to rural Thornbury.
Upon arrival we were met by local icon Phil Thorn who promptly beckoned us to the local Thornbury Castle which is the only Tudor Castle to presently operate as a Hotel. History has it that in July 1510 exactly 507 years to the day of our arrival this morning, Edward Stafford the 3rd Duke of Buckingham obtained a royal Licence to work at his manor on the edge of the Cotswolds. A descendant of the Plantagenet kings of England he had impeccable bloodline, was well connected and wealthy just like our Captain Paul Stenhouse. Akin to Paul his aim was to build the grandest noble home in the kingdom. Fortunately for Paul the favourable comparison ends there as the unfortunate Duke was summoned by Henry VIII in April 1521 and was executed on Tower Hill on 17 May 1510.
Cricket at Thornbury started well before 1850 and in 1871 the club was formed by Dr.Edward Mills Grace older brother of the famous W G Grace. All 3 Grace brothers played in the first test vs. Australia in 1880 and also played for Thornbury CC. In the early years the square was very small and the outfield manicured by sheep. There was no cricket played in the First World War as the oval was used making hay for the troops. In 1963 the sons of Dr EM Grace and the nephews of WG Grace opened the new wooden pavilion. The club’s most recent famous cricketer was off spinner David Allen who played for England 39 times between 1960 and 1966 but was smashed onto the hill several times by Alan Davidson in the Manchester Test to see Richie Benaud spin the Aussies to a famous victory.
The day commenced with the skipper Paul Stenhouse winning the toss and batting on a green hard wicket. The rules of engagement were 45 overs; bowlers 9 overs; 4 in the circle and the Australians to recycle at 45 but the Gloucesterians to bat unlimited.
Our team consisted of Paul Stenhouse (C); Alan Chellew; Noel Raymond; Warwick Hayes; David Crocker; Mal Coleman; Bob McGee; Rob Lloyd (Wk); Wayne Miles; Mick Munro and Ross Belstead.
Western Australians Noel Raymond and Alan Chellew opened the innings for the first time ever for the Australian 050s. Chewy distinguished himself by taking the first ball ever on tour and by smashing his 3rd and 9th ball for huge sixers with his new Impala bat over long off. Finally after bludgeoning some more boundaries, he was bowled for 31 off 37 balls when the score was 47 off 12 overs. “Boonie “Raymond was LBW for 30 off 71 balls and the score 2-111. Warwick Hayes scored 46 no off 42 balls with glorious drives down the ground. Despite Mal Coleman being run out for 4 whilst taking a short and square run and Rob Lloyd yorkered for 6, Queenslander Mick Munro belted 45 no off 37 balls. Some more big sixers from Bob McGhee and Wayne Miles saw the Aussies finish 8-219 off 45 overs. Gloucestershire’s best bowlers were Steve Bridge 2-6 off 8 overs and Rich Harding 2-34 off 9 overs. A satisfactory first time score against a handy attack.
The opposition started well being 1-30 then 2-30 off 10 overs when the Skipper captured 2 in succession. Former Gloucestershire County first’s player Captain Tony Wright displayed superior batsmanship when he powered his way to 44 despite pulling hamstring. His dismissal caught behind at the score 4-79 saw the Aussies power into the game but former England 060s player Keith Daniels and keeper Jeromy Brooks had other ideas. Batting steadily they took the score to 5-121 but Brooks 14 was caught and bowled by Miles and then Trembath was out caught Raymond off Miles at 6-130 off 30 overs.
Still Daniels and Baker fought back strongly with a partnership of 28 until Daniels on 52 mishit a sweep off Hayes and top edged the ball to McGhee at sort backward square leg. The hosts finally ended their innings on 185 and the inaugural Australian 050s secured their first win in the history books by 34 runs!
