Gordon District Cricket Club - Team of the 80s - Geoff Hickman

Gordon District Cricket Club | April 15, 2025

When I was asked to select my Team of the 80s for the Stags, my first thought was, “Who will I upset by leaving them out?” Having played throughout the decade, I have many fond memories of this era, coupled with ten years of Annual Reports to reference.

To narrow down my selection, I set the following criteria:

• Performances considered are exclusively from seasons 1980/81 to 1989/90.
• I also enforced a criteria that selected players had to play a minimum of three seasons in that decade to qualify. This excluded some fantastic players like Adam Gilchrist, Kevin Roberts, John Davison, and Warwick Adlam, who played at the end of the decade.

The 80s were an interesting time for Gordon. The club had enjoyed strong performances in the mid-to-late 70s, thanks to legends like Dick Guy, Brian Taber, and Marshall Rosen, supported by a stellar lineup of players. However, the early to mid-80s weren’t our strongest years. A turnaround began in the 1985/86 season, driven by talented young players and strong recruitment. It culminated in the 1st-grade premiership win in 1989/90 (followed by another in 1990/91).

So, here is my Team of the 80s (in batting order):

1. Michael Cant – 1,506 runs @ 39.6 (3 seasons) A natural leader, Canty went on to score 5,285 runs in 1st-grade. Joining Gordon as an 18-year-old from the country, he also captained the team to the 1990/91 premiership.
2. Rowan McGregor – 1,877 runs @ 23.8 A graceful batsman and occasional off-spinner, Rowan also captained the team during this period.
3. Phil Emery – 2,403 runs @ 28.6 A club and NSW legend, Phil’s contributions were crucial despite missing many matches due to state selection in 1987/88.
4. Mark O’Neill – 1,717 runs @ 42.9 "Sparky" was the catalyst for our growth in the mid-to-late 80s. He also took 53 wickets bowling his leg spin with performances also curtailed due to his deserved selection for NSW. He should like this team as he will no longer be the oldest player in the team!!
5. Trevor Chappell – 890 runs @ 34.2, 31 wickets @ 20.4 An all-rounder of exceptional quality, Trevor represented NSW and Australia and was a brilliant fielder.
6. Greg Evans – 1,785 runs @ 25.5 A class act on and off the field, Greg’s batting exuded elegance. Also an excellent field with a great arm.
7. Steve Day – 1,597 runs @ 25 Another catalyst for our mid-80s rise, Steve captained the team to the 1989/90 premiership. A classy batsman that could be relied upon to dig us out of trouble if needed.
8. Phil Antman – 149 wickets @ 22.7 Known as “Sugar,” Phil was the spearhead of the attack with 351 career wickets, an able lower-order bat, and a captain during this era.
9. Peter Murphy – 142 wickets @ 18.9 A fierce competitor, Murph’s exceptional average highlights his quality as a medium-pacer. Also a handy low order bat and good field.
10. Richard Stobo – 199 wickets @ 24.4 The lynchpin of our attack, Stobes went on to take 396 1st-grade wickets and represented NSW in 1989/90 and beyond. His batting order promotion is well-earned!
11. Sid Dowsett – 110 wickets @ 23.4 Our standout spinner of the 80s, Sid’s left-arm orthodox spin was well above any other spinners performances in this era. Sid gets the No. 11 spot ahead of Stobes.

Reserves:

• Michael Falk – 1,819 runs @ 23.3, 16 wickets A versatile player just missing the XI but a quality person that everyone would want as part of this team.
• Mark Aldridge – 106 wickets @ 22 “Needle” was underrated at times but could be very dangerous when his rhythm was on. Unlucky not to make the final XI.

I’ve left the captaincy undecided—six captains in one side should ensure a lively debate! This lineup combines excellence on the field with humor and camaraderie off it, creating a truly special team.

Geoff Hickman