Phil Melville - keep on, keeping on

Paul Ryan | July 26, 2023

Phil Melville arrived in Sydney from Armidale in Northern NSW in 1989 to play Sydney Grade Cricket for Mosman Cricket Club. 34 years on and Phil continues to take wickets in both grade and veteran’s cricket.

Leading into the 2023/24 Phil has taken 710 grade wickets in Sydney. He took 440 wickets for Mosman Cricket Club and so far, has taken 270 wickets for Northern District Cricket Club.

Phil is a prominent member of Over 50s cricket in Australia and the very proud owner of NSW Blues cap number 30 and Australian Over 50s cap number 49.

Phil was selected in the Australian Over 50s World Cup team to your South Africa that was sadly cut short after a couple of games due to Covid.

Let's find out more about Phil's journey in the game.

How old were you when you started playing senior cricket?

I first played 4th Grade when I was 12 for Centrals Cricket Club, the club my dad played for in Armidale.

When did you come to Sydney and which club did you join?  

I was 20 and joined the Mosman Cricket Club where I played for 17 seasons. I then had 3 seasons for  Pennant Hills in Shires Cricket and now about to start my 13th season at Northern Districts.

A little bit about you personally, are you married and have kids?

Yes married to Catherine sicne 1994 and and we have two Tara and Chris

What is your Occupation?

Electrician

Let’s give the business a plug, who do you work for?

Synergy Fire and Security

North West Combined High Schools Cricket team - 1985

What year did you make your first grade debut at Mosman?

It was 1991 against Gordon at a fast and bouncy Rawson Oval. I don’t remember getting too many wickets but remember getting a second ball duck and nearly getting my head knocked off by a rampant Warwick Adlam with Mark O’Neill at gully reminding me how tough first grade cricket was.

After so many years at Mosman, why the move to Northern Districts?

I could see that there was a move to clear out some of the older players in the club in which I was one so thought I would give Shires a go. I spent 3 years there but missed the competitiveness of Grade Cricket so made the move to Northern Districts as they were a lot closer to home as we live on the Central Coast..

You’re playing Veterans Cricket as well as grade, what keeps you going?

It’s the competitiveness of grade cricket, working with the younger players, and the lure of winning another premiership. There’s now opportunities in over 50’s cricket but most of all I still love the game and the friendships you form.

Phil Melville receives his Australian Over 50s cricket cap from fellow veteran and good friend Tony Clark

Do you know how many Premier wickets you’ve taken so far?

710

Do you have a goal target in mind you’d like to achieve in grade cricket?

No limits but 750 and 800 sound like good round numbers if the body can hold out

Can you remember your first dismissal in first grade?

Strangely I don’t remember my first wicket, but batting yeah, Warwick Adlam scattered my stumps everywhere 2nd ball

What’s been the highlight of your Grade/Premier Cricket career?

The Premierships. The 3rd grade premiership for Northern Districts against Sydney in 2013/14 was probably the standout. The premiership win in 2016/17 against Mosman was pretty clinical and bagging 8 for 18 off 14 overs against Manly at Graham Reserve in November 2015 was pretty memorable.

Northern District 3rd Grade Premiers and Club Champions in 2016-17

Who was the best batsman you came up against?

I was fortunate to bowl to Jacques Kallis in a game in Wales, it didn’t go well, I just couldn’t bowl to him. In Sydney, it would be a young Moises Henriques when he was playing 2nd Grade for St George

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What or who has been the biggest influence in your career?

My Dad, Bede Ryan from Armidale and Bev Fowles from Glamorgan in Wales where I spent some time playing.

What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in grade/premier cricket?

We got locked in the sheds at Kensington Oval after a 3rd grade game against UNSW. We’d finished the game around 7pm and the Ranger didn’t realise we were still there and we didn’t realise we were locked in until we went to leave around 9pm. We had to use the SCA Handbook to find the Home Club Secretary to ring the Ranger to let us out.

If you sitting on QF1 to London, who’s the two team mates from your time in Sydney you’d choose to sit beside for the 24 hours?

Chris Muldoon and Chris Lea

What 2 words do you think people would choose if they were asked to describe you as a cricketer?

Old and Fit

What advice would you give to a 15 year old about to make their grade debut this season?

Work hard, earn your stripes, warm up well and stay humble.

Phil Melville - Australian Over 50s Cap Number 49