100 Moments of 100 years of St George First Grade Cricket 1951-52 to 1960-61
St George Cricket Club | June 11, 2025
We now explore the decade mainly covering the 50's in Part 7 of our 10 part series featuring 100 significant moments in 100 years of St George DCC First Grade cricket.
1. Arthur Morris becomes the second St George DCC player to score a double century in first grade. He scores an unbeaten 201 against North Sydney. (1951-52)
2. The club wins its fifth First Grade premiership, with Ernie Laidler and Ross Longbottom having played in each of the five premiership winning teams. (1952-53)
3. Brian Booth (692), Warren Saunders (678) and Bill Watson (590) all pass 500 runs in the same season. It is the first time in club history that three batsmen achieve the feat in the same season. (1954-55)
4. Following an innings of 155 for NSW against the MCC in his second first class match and after only four first-class matches, Bill Watson is selected to make his Test debut, becoming the sixth St George DCC to represent the country. (1954-55)
Bill Watson seen here batting for NSW
5. Norm O’Neill scores a double century against Northern District. His 201 not out matches Arthur Morris and Donald Bradman. (1957-58)
6. Norm O’Neill (862 runs at 123.14) and Bill Watson (706 runs at 100.8) establish a new club record in which two batsmen record a three-figure batting average in the same season. O’Neill also becomes the first player since Bradman to pass 1000 runs in a Sheffield Shield season in the same year. (1957-58)
Legendary St George local boy Norm O'Neill
7. Norm O’Neill (233) and Brian Booth (123) establish a new Sheffield Shield record partnership of 325 runs for the fourth wicket against Victoria. (1957-58)
8. Wicketkeeper Ernie Laidler retires at the end of the 1957-58 season. For 30 years Laidler “gave magnificent service of a character which would be difficult to parallel.” His tally of 320 catches and 237 stumpings for 557 dismissals remains a club record.
Record breaking wicket keeper Ernie Laidler
9. A “highly entertaining match” takes place at Hurstville Oval between St George and the Fijian cricket team. Flockton (142) and Booth (104) score centuries as St George win the match by 204 runs. (1959-60)
10. Warren Saunders becomes the fourth double centurion for St George DCC. His innings of 205 against Northern Districts becomes the second highest behind Bradman. (1960-61)
Compiled by Nathan Anderson
BeaconPoint Club Clips - How parents can teach their kids to embrace anxiety in a positive manner
