Fifty years ago, Mosman’s Poidevin-Gray side won the competition undefeated in its six matches.
Eight members of that 1973-74 team enjoyed their 50-year reunion yesterday. Unfortunately, two members of the original 11 had since passed away and two were uncontactable.
Whilst several of the team went on to have long and illustrious careers with the MCC and at higher levels of cricket, one player achieved a feat in the competition which will probably never be replicated… and it was not Allan Border.
Alexander Racklyeft (‘Sandy’) was an opening bowler who swung the ball both ways and at good pace. He took an amazing 51 wickets at an average of 6.6 in six matches. ! Bear in mind these were one-day matches, (60overs each) but you could win outright, and the final was a two-day game over consecutive Sundays.
