A (second) tribute to Graham King - Jim Cattlin
Gordon District Cricket Club | August 07, 2025
It is a daunting task to give tribute to a true legend, Life Member and Club Historian who played 32 seasons with Gordon but when it comes to his statistics I am relieved because he is the one who compiled them over the years. A total of 5645 runs and 1122 wickets an outstanding record.
Graham was born 9th August, 1932 the eldest of four boys, Warren, Brian (1st Grade rugby for Gordon & NSW who died 2006) and Ross, who also played cricket and rugby for Gordon. Graham attended Artarmon Public School then SHS, as did his father and famous uncle rugby centre Syd King who played for Western Suburbs, NSW and 14 Tests for Australia, including the trail blazing 1927-28 Waratahs tour of Great Britain, partnering Cyril Towers as a classic pair – King the defender and Towers the attacker. Graham’s father Frank also played 1st Grade rugby for Western Suburbs RC and Syd 1st Grade for Petersham CC. Graham was in 1st XI 3 years and 1st XV his final year at SHS despite contracting polio in his first year.
The family lived in Artarmon which was within the Gordon residential area. He was raised and remains a Christian gentleman. Graham started in GS 1947-48 taking 14 wickets off 34.1 overs and Paul Harrison wrote in the AR ‘an outstanding lad who should go a long way in the game’.
His first of 32 seasons in Grade cricket started in 1949-50 in 4th Grade during school holidays scoring 147 runs in 6 innings and taking 5/60 as well as 192 runs and 8/192 in PG, the first of 4 seasons (Capt. in 52-53) . ‘This lad has definite ability and will be a valuable all-rounder’. ‘A player of promise … (with) a shrewd head and good personality’.
After leaving school he played the second half of the season in 3rd Grade, then promoted to 2nds for the last two games, picking up a total of 24 wickets as well as another 4 in PG. Bowls off breaks – ‘the type of bowler we need’ ‘should have been used more’.
1951-52 he took the most wickets in 2nd Grade (31) and PG (16) and was promoted to 1st Grade for the last 2 rounds. Back in 2nd Grade in 52-53 he took 37 wickets and 18 wickets in the 4 games of PG, which he captained for the second season, and again promoted for the last 2 rounds.
In 2nd Grade again 53-54 he came 2nd in the batting aggregate & averages with 417 runs and 34 wickets. The team missed the semis due to no play on 2nd day of Rd 12. He was elected to the Committee in November and was Hon Sec the next season.
He batted 14 innings in 1st Grade 54-55 for 163 runs and took 12 wickets - ‘’he should be a useful all-rounder for many years’. The following season he played 9 matches in 1st Grade scoring 82 runs and 2/107 plus 4 matches in second grade adding 27 runs and 10 wickets. In the 1st Grade match versus Balmain we needed 137 in 58 minutes. Sid Carroll made 50 in 32 minutes then later Graham partnered Jack Quigley to score 21 off the last over against State quick bowler Arthur Fagan to win by 2 runs.
He did not play the next season becoming disenchanted with cricket, there is no doubt more to that story. However he must have received a message from on high because from 57-58 he then played 25 successive seasons in lower grades. In all those seasons but one he took 20 wickets or more, 13 times 30 wickets or more, 50 or more 6 times, 60 or more 3 times with the highest 64 wickets in 71-72. He bowled the most overs in his team in 15 seasons. His strike rate for a total of 1122 wickets was a wicket every 4 and a half overs. His average of 14.36 compares well with Jack Prowse (13.33), Charlie Macartney (14.53) and Dick Guy (16.38).
He was captain of 3rd or 4th grade for 16 seasons so he decided who bowled, but he took wickets so why not? However he was a leader who encouraged young players to apply themselves and play at a high standard. He wanted batsmen to score at a run a minute and bowlers to concentrate on length and direction. Team spirit was something he and his long time batting hero Bob Lowing instilled in players. He was a help to captains when he was not one, giving insights into play.
An illustration is when Andy Falk was captain of 3rd Grade. He introduced a team goal that he would shout a drink at the Greengate after every game at Killara Park if the team won but they would each shout Andy a drink if they lost. Now Graham naturally enough was not a drinker but he showed up and had a soft drink. However Andy is not sure if Graham did or did not reach into his pocket when the team lost.
Graham won Player of the Year in 79-80 with 439 runs (including the elusive century (113) when he opened the batting) and 53 wickets, at the age of 47. We wish we had someone of his experience playing today. He is listed in 100 prominent players in the book Making the Grade, celebrating a century of Sydney Grade cricket and will no doubt feature when GDCC history is published.
Clip from the Captains Circle on BeaconPoint Cricket with Paul Ryan - setting the field for left arm swing bowlers
