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Who is the one player from Sydney Grade Cricket who played between 1980 and 2000 you’d want as the first player selected if you had the opportunity to start your own NSW Premier first grade cricket team?
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Ken Hall - hard as nails, a winner and every team can do with a left arm orthodox who is as good as any middle order bat
Ken Hall - would have made a 1st grade team of the year for around 15 years of those two decades. Won a bunch of premierships from 1982-83 to 1999-2000. None better than Emu!
Shane Lee for sure. He was a hard hitting batting allrounder, who could also move the ball both ways. Great safe hands to match.
Shane was a game changer, whereby I witnessed that first hand.
Choosing from players I’ve played against rather than with, Brad McNamara. Scored 100s for fun and more than handy with the ball, all whilst playing hard on the field and off in teams that won
Gary Bensley. Terrific allrounder and a great leader to kick start a new team. Benso, closely followed by Phil Marks and Scott Thompson
Hi -long time lurker and first time poster :)
There were so many greats during the 80's through to the noughties in Sydney Grade. (Of course a pantheon preceded and I'm sure lots more have followed but, we're all happy captives of our own experiences, right?) Each and every club had some extra-special players who could and did single-handedly appropriate games with elegance and finesse; raw, violent force or sheer willpower or, (more likely) a combination of these things.
Every bloke mentioned here is a legend. I never minded too much about (often) being out-competed by any of them - it was mostly fun to be in the field watching them go about their work. Those I played with, including Billy Bang Bang, Emu, Sara - every one of them was inspirational - they all looked 10 feet tall to me - and in plying their trade facilitated what very good cricketers always do; they created opportunities for team mates to prosper - including angry legspinners.
That said, I had the pleasure and good fortune of playing for a brand new club (Campbelltown circa 85/86) and it was mind-numbing to observe what's actually involved in building a competitive first grade side. A rewarding but exhausting task that requires a skillset quite a bit broader than batting and bowling wizardry.
So, with the fully flux-capped DMC Delorean idling away, and having seen him go about it up close, Paul Bourke (Gordon, St George, Campbelltown and Sutherland) would be first picked for my new NSW Premier Cricket first grade team.
Just for the sheer pleasure of seeing him run in again and let fly, and in awe of his determination and never beaten attitude, Wayne Holdsworth. From teenage tyro to the matured and skilful fast bowler it was inspiring just to be on the field when Cracker was bowling.
But after Wayne, it must be Ken Hall: in his prime 400 runs a season and 40 wickets bowling left arm late swing at a nippy pace or teasing left arm orthodox, and catching everything within reach at slip or any close catching position.
Love this thread—so many great players chosen and great to see Tommy Shiner contributing—what a bowler!
Dave Chardon. Right arm quick who took more 1st wickets than any player throughout the 70s and 80s. Always got into the top order on any type of wicket.
Leadership/turn a game in the blink of an eye - Shane Lee
Tide riser/winner - made others around them play better - Graeme Rummans and Trent Copeland
Near impossible bit I'll go Gary Bensley for his all round game and sheer competitiveness.
Phil Marks, Brad McNamara and Scott Thompson very close behind.
Excluding test players, Ken Hall, attitude, bowls all day, vital middle order batter & catches pigeons at slip.
So many players come to mind but for mine, Gary Bensley. Always in the game with the bat or ball, or in the field. A great leader with a positive winning attitude that was infectious!!
If I was picking a player to compete in the 2024/25 Premier League with the mix of limited over and two-day games, I would pick Greg Hartshorne. Attacking batsman, able to bowl fast medium or spin an outstanding fieldsman plus a good leader.
I’d start my bidding gunning for Michael Bevan, Trevor Bayliss or Greg Rowell. Failing that, there were lots of influential allrounders ideal to build a 1st Grade team around in that era (aka Trevor Chappell, Brad McNamara, Neil Maxwell, Gary Bensley, Phil Marks, Shane Lee, Scott Thompson, Gavin Robertson, and Shaun Bradstreet, etc.) The standout allrounder for me though being Greg Matthews, the ultimate competitor, player mentor and motivator.
Ken Hall after a fair bit of thought. He could open the bowling with left arm swing, bowl very clever left arm ortho’s, scored runs more times than not and was a sensational slip fielder. Throw in his Captaincy and hard as nails attitude he is the one for me.
A toss up between Tony Clark and Scott Thompson. Both committed, gutsy, talented and “never give up” attitude.
Ken Hall. Hard to find a more consistent, competitive player over Old Man Emu. Great bloke to have a beer with after the game as well.
Gary Bensley, Dave Chardon, Andrew Jones, Darren Tucker, Phil Marks, Rod Bower, so many players to choose from. If I had to select one it would be Gary Bensley, he seemed to influence so many games .
He was my second pick. Outstanding player!