A career of many highs; James Packman Gordon DCC 1996 to 2014.
Gordon District Cricket Club | May 24, 2025
I am sure that James would concede that he may not have completely fulfilled his potential over 18 years of playing for Gordon from 1996 to 2014, but I am sure everyone would agree that to finish your career with a total of 8661 runs at an average of 29.38 and be fourth overall in runs scored in a Sydney grade club that started in 1905 is a magnificent effort by any standards.
James also scored 6705 runs in first grade at an average of 28.78 to be the third highest overall behind Charlie Macartney and Sid Carroll.
By scoring 555 runs in his final season James moved above Basil Sheidow (8387 runs) into fourth position just behind his team mate Damon Livermore, as well as Sid Carroll and Rob Lowing.
The stats will also show 14 centuries with a highest score of 204 in second grade in the 2000-2001 season when he shared a club record partnership for the 5th wicket of 256 with Ed Howitt who scored 107.
James played his first game for Gordon in fifth grade near the end of the 1996/97 season at the age of 17 and then intermittently in the 1997-98 season in fifths, fourths and thirds. Over the next three seasons he mixed study and cricket but was still able to score 4 centuries including the double century mentioned earlier.
Two seasons then followed in first grade with 562 and 730 runs respectively, however a slump in 2003-04 saw him dropped to second grade.
In a newspaper article released in January 2005 after his selection for NSW, he reflected back to that time and how Matt Nicholson had said to him: “You are not a kid anymore, make the most of the talent you have and reward the club for the time and effort it has invested in you and show them the respect they gave to me”. Harsh words possibly by his mate Nicho but ones that hit the spot and saw him score a century in seconds and then start the next season in blistering form to be selected in the NSW 2nd XI and score 165 against Victoria in Melbourne.
The words of another mentor NSW Chairman of Selectors Brian Taber at the time were also to the point: “James didn’t put a foot wrong at the Albert Ground. He has always had the talent and we are very happy for him”.
James was a mercurial batsman where something was always happening when he was at the crease. When he was at his best with a fine-tuned work ethic and a genuine hard-nosed desire there was no better batsman than James in Sydney Grade cricket.
James finished that season as a Sheffield Shield champion, with a fine century under his belt in Perth and the stunned silence of plenty of his critics. He was on his way, or was he? Unfortunately, injury struck and his next season was curtailed somewhat, limiting his appearances and ability to play pain free. The spectre of being the hunted not the hunter was also a new experience for James and while he learnt plenty through this period, it just wasn't to be.
According to all his team mates James is a great clubman and a top bloke to play with. He always did his absolute best every time he played for Gordon and that is what really matters.
Another player at that time who played with James both for Gordon and NSW was Beau Casson. On James’s retirement in 2014, Beau added the following insight about his mate.
“Surely one of the best struts in world cricket as he stroked a cover drive to the boundary at Chatswood Oval as his dad Ian would shout “Shot Jammer”!
The memories that standout about ‘Packers’ is the way he made the game look so effortless at times. I was lucky to watch James make his first-class hundred at WACA dispatching some of the best fast bowlers on the Australian cricket scene at the time.
Due to James’s likeable and relaxed approach I believe his fight for a contest is sometimes overlooked, but it mustn’t be understated. An example of this was during the Sheffield Shield final for NSW against QLD. James scored important runs for NSW in a tricky situation and I’ve heard from his team mates at the time that he was a huge contributing factor in getting his side over the line to claim the title. Another time was in the first grade final when James batted for majority of the day to score a gutsy hundred and help his much loved stags almost get over the line against St George.
Congratulations James on your cricketing career, I’m looking forward to sharing a beer to relive the memories. Enjoy!”
The next five seasons up to the 2008-09 season followed with 710, 586, 772, 565 and 671 runs in the season with 7 centuries on the fringe of higher selection but just not enough to gain sufficient attention.
Having watched a fair percentage of James’s centuries throughout the years with the camera at hand, there is no doubt in my mind that his 122 against St. George in the 2007-08 losing final at Bankstown was his best. James had come off a run of some low scores and we were facing the mammoth total of 6 for 478 and about 150 overs to either force a draw or win. With only Craig Simmons contributing amongst the other batsman with 102, James faced 365 balls in 414 minutes, or 6.9 hours of batting against an attack that included Trent Copeland, Moises Henriques and Liam Zammit.
There was one particular period of play when obviously Moises felt they needed a wicket and conventional approaches were not working. The section of my wrap after the game read as follows:
Throughout this time however the spectators were experiencing one of the finest ever Gordon innings by James Packman. James held the batting together with a display of compete concentration against an attack that decided to bowl a 'leg side' theory with 5 overs of short, pitched deliveries and bouncers to James from around the wicket with 3 fieldsman positioned near the bat on the leg side. No doubt his first class experience saw him through the barrage.
James was eventually last man out and I can’t ever recall seeing a player so disappointed with the result of a game. He was totally drained.
While the following four seasons up to the 2012-13 season didn’t reflect his true talents, he continued to work on his game and always provided excellent advice to the younger players that joined him in first grade.
These seasons included taking over the captaincy from Matt Nicholson and trying to build a new team to reach the heights of the 2007-08 side.
James announced at the start of the 2013-14 season that this would likely be his last and handed over the captaincy to Harry Evans. A lack of early runs meant he spent the main part of the season in seconds but true to the fine person James is and the respect he had for his beloved club he didn’t complain, fought hard for the season and was able to pick up two centuries for a total of 555 runs.
Unfortunately, seconds were unable to give him a premiership to finish, having to bat in the semi-final on a rain affected wicket, but the appreciation of both his team mates and opposition was shown when he was afforded a guard of honour by both the Gordon and Northern Districts players at the end of the match.
They signalled the end of a fine career, one devoted to doing the best he could for Gordon and always providing advice to the many younger players that entered the field with him urging them to respect the Gordon cap and the vast history that preceded them.
I will close the story with a comment from the one player who has been with him at Gordon from the start, Ed Howitt Jnr.
The curtain has been drawn on a great career. James was a batsmen you enjoyed watching. He was elegant, oozed class and had all the shots. He played many wonderful innings over the years, however like the others have said his innings in the 1st grade final against Saints will always be remembered. I do recall he also made a double hundred in 2nd grade and understand his batting partner that day guided him to this very unique milestone. Packers. ...it has been a pleasure.
James always showed much appreciation for his Mum and Dad, brother Tim and Tony Wilson for the great support they gave him over all the years he played for the club. They were an inspiration for him and an example of the fabric the club is made of.
Paul Stephenson
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