Tony Wilson (Tids) has been associated with the Gordon Cricket Club for many years, first as a player and then as a committeeman, a team manager, a selector and a photographer. He played through the late 60s into the 70s as a leg spin bowler and he has never lost his enthusiasm for that mode of delivery. He has always been willing to talk about leg spin and if possible, he would have about 5 of them in every team. Tony played 1st Grade for a number of years and faced many a first class batsman. In those days, Leg spinners were more prevalent. Gordon had three – Dick Guy, John Todd and Tony – and there would always be two of them in the side. These days, that would be a very rare occurrence.
Interestingly, of the hundred odd wickets Tony took in 1st Grade, a solid proportion of them were either Shield or Test players. (At the time, first class players played grade regularly as there were only 8 Shield games and a few Tests to make them unavailable).

One of his most prized wickets was Neil Harvey. Neil, playing for Northern District, had previously played for Gordon. Tony bowled him the perfect leg break, pitched outside the left-hander’s off stump, and spinning back sharply to hit the stumps. Euphoria, as the top batsman (who averaged over 50 in each of his four seasons with NDs and has always been considered one of Australia’s greatest batsmen) was heading back to the pavilion. Tony walked jauntily down the wicket, expectant of the hearty congratulations from his team mates. The glory, the poetry of the dismissal, something to be discussed, AT LENGTH, for many years to come. And the delivery would get better, spin more violently and drift further as time passed.

Marshall Rosen, the wicketkeeper, was the first to speak to Tony.

“Jeez, that was lucky!” was his only comment. Pfffssssssss. The sound of the balloon deflating.

(Footnote. The following season, the tables were turned. Neil played a dominant innings and Tony’s figures were not so flattering).

Author: Michael Falk - Gordon District Cricket Club