Craig Simmons: From Record-Breaker at Gordon to Big Bash Legend Part 1
Gordon District Cricket Club | March 21, 2026
When Craig Simmons arrived at Gordon for the 2005/06 season, the left-handed batsman from Western Australia brought with him considerable promise. Having represented Australia at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, where he smashed 155 runs from 115 balls against Kenya, Simmons had already shown his ability to dominate bowling attacks.
His move to Gordon coincided with his transfer to New South Wales for state cricket, and the arrangement worked perfectly for both club and player. In his first season, Simmons made an immediate impact with 711 runs, tantalisingly close to a record that had stood since before the Great War.
The following season, 2006/07, would etch Simmons' name into Gordon's history books. With fewer NSW commitments that year, he had more opportunities to play grade cricket, and he made them count. The moment came against Randwick Petersham at Chatswood Oval when his score of 105 in Gordon's total of 324 took him past Charlie Macartney's seemingly untouchable mark of 824 runs, set in 1914/15.
The parallel between the two innings was remarkable. Both players scored two centuries and four fifties in their record seasons. Charlie averaged slightly higher (51.50 to Craig's 43.73) from fewer innings, but the essential achievement was the same - sustained excellence throughout a long summer. Charlie's record had been set just as he departed for three years of service in France during the Great War. Ninety-two years later, Craig had finally surpassed it.
Major highlights of Craig’s final season at Gordon was a devastating 113 off 97 balls before lunch in a quarter final against Sydney University featuring Test bowlers Stuart Clark and Greg Matthews. This was followed by a score of 102 in the final against St. George.
After just three seasons at Gordon, Simmons' grade cricket path took him back west when Cricket NSW didn't renew his contract for the 2007/08 season. He returned to Western Australia and continued to play district cricket, first for Fremantle and later for Rockingham-Mandurah in the WACA competition.
At state level, opportunities remained limited initially. He had broken into the Western Australian side for his first-class debut in December 2003 against Victoria at the WACA Ground and managed only sporadic appearances in 2008/09 and 2011/12. But Simmons' talent for explosive batting would find its perfect stage in the Big Bash League.
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