My grade cricket career in Adelaide started in 1966/67 and spanned 28 season to 1994/95.
I played what's now known as Premier Cricket for Kensington, Teachers College, Adelaide, East Torrens, West Torrens and Adelaide University
Over many years I had the good fortune of playing with and against some great players and it was a fun exercise and a challenge to select my best grade team
Here it is, in batting order. It’s an amazing team full of talent.
1. Barry Richards - Prospect.
Played a Grand Final with a broken hand and still played the cover drive of a champion
2. Sir Gordon Greenidge - Adelaide
Made Seven Hundreds in a row
3. Ian Chappell – Glenelg
Loved playing for his home club and committed to it
4. Greg Chappell – Glenelg
Elegant as always at the crease.
5. David Hookes - West Torrens and East Torrens
Only won one Premier flag and cherished it with pride.
6. Gary Sobers – Prospect
The crowds turned out to see the great man often described as 5 Cricketers in one.
7. Shane Warne – Glenelg
Played South Australia Premier Cricket while at the Cricket Academy in Adelaide.
8. Eric Freeman – Port Adelaide
Relentless fast Medium Bowler
9. Mike Hendricks – Adelaide
Excellent wicket Keeper
10. Rodney Hogg - Prospect, Woodville, Adelaide, Kensington
A serious batter hater even in Premier Cricket
11. Wayne Prior – Salisbury
As quick as anyone during the 1970’s and didn’t spare Premier Cricket batters.
I need to select a few reserves as most of the team would have been called up for national and state selections.
Nick Knight - East Torrens. Loved his Australian Premier experience
Barry Causby – Salisbury. Made well over a thousand runs one season
Joe Scuderi – Kensington and East Torrens. Great all rounder
Lance Gibbs – Prospect. In case Sobers or Warne weren’t available.
Coach - Howard Mutton
Manager - Peter Donaldson
Scorer - Trevor Mead
I do have a concerns of Sobers missing out on batting with the talent ahead of him and what mayhem would Warne and Sobers (bowling spin) have created after the quicks had caused havoc.