The Bravest Innings - John Shattock
Gordon District Cricket Club | June 15, 2025
I was fortunate enough to see many great innings in my time in Grade cricket. However the one that stands out as far as courage is concerned was played by a Gordon batsman who played very little First Grade and, indeed, not nearly enough Grade cricket.
John Shattock had played for Gordon for a couple of years, starting in the lower grades. A workman-like opening batsman, in 1970-71 he set 5th Grade Aggregate record (which still stands!). He moved up the grades and in 1972, he was chosen to play his first 1st Grade game (my first game in the top grade as well). It was a quiet introduction with John scoring a handful not out against Mosman with the second day being completely washed out.
The next game (another two-dayer) was against our local rivals, Northern District, at Waitara (now Mark Taylor Oval). In those days, the Waitara wicket was usually a bit green and fast bowlers seemed to quite enjoy themselves up there. Gordon bowled first and rolled the strong side for 187, with Allan Poole taking 6 wickets. The great challenge was then to somehow counter the ND bowling attack, led by Steve (‘Brute’) Bernard and Mark Clews, both NSW opening bowlers, Ian Cooke, a more than handy medium fast bowler and former Test spinner, David Sincock.
Gordon had to bat out the remainder of the first day, about 45 minutes, and Johns Cosgrove and Shattock went out to face some fierce bowling. They managed to survive, despite taking numerous blows to the body. On returning to the changing room, we congratulated the batsmen on seeing the day through. John Shattock had worn some very solid hits and a team mate commented that it was lucky that he had a thigh guard. John’s response? “Yeah, I’m going to have to get one of them for next week!” John also wore those batting gloves with the green rubber spikes on them -- not the more modern sausage gloves. And of course, no helmets at that time.
Day 2 started and it was more of the same aggressive bowling. The two openers shared an excellent partnership before Cossie was dismissed. A couple more wickets fell before David Gray joined John and they also lifted the score. David received some heavy blows as well and eventually had to retire hurt, having been hit in the head, and ended up in Hornsby Hospital.
John kept batting on, oblivious to the pounding his body was taking. The fall of wickets didn’t seem to bother him as he moved towards his target – a win for Gordon. Up in the grandstand, we continued to feel every blow and be amazed by his resilience. The victory was finally attained with John falling just short of what would have been a much deserved century.
Back in the dressing room we were able to see the wounds he’d suffered in his innings. The whole left side of his body was a mess of red/blue/purple bruising. He’d been hit on the head three times but he’d continued to bat on in his phlegmatic style as if it was just another innings.
I don’t remember many shots he played. There might have been a few belligerent pull shots but no stylish cover drives or deft back cuts. My lasting memory is of a batsman standing up to some ferocious bowling and doing his job with the minimum of fuss.
He only played a couple more 1st Grade games and retired from Grade cricket the next season. However, he had played one of the most wonderfully courageous innings I have ever seen.
Author: Michael Falk
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