Penrith Cricket Club: Team of the first decade
Penrith Cricket Club | September 18, 2025
Penrith Cricket Club: Team of the first decade
When Penrith Cricket Club looked back on its turbulent but triumphant first decade, there was one question guaranteed to spark debate in ‘Half-A-Bar’: who makes the Team of the Decade?
Former First Grade captain and later national selector John Benaud (Australian selector 1988–93, NSW selector 1997–2002) offered his view at the time and admitted it was a side bound to get tongues wagging.
The spinner comes first
Benaud’s first pick is a no-brainer: Geoff Davies. A leg-spinner of immense talent, Davies embodied the long-held belief that no great Australian team has ever existed without a great leggie.
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Gloves behind the stumps
To keep Davies in check, only two wicketkeepers were in contention: Greg Gavin and Les Andrews. The contrast between them was stark—Gavin rugged and raw, Andrews polished and stylish. In the end, Gavin got the nod. He was a natural talent and, crucially, he had stood up to Davies at his peak without ever looking troubled.
The pace quartet
The fast-bowling unit almost picked itself. Peter Clough, the big quick who went on to Sheffield Shield cricket, leads the line. At the other end, Ken Hall – swing bowler, clever batsman, brilliant slipper, and lion-hearted competitor – charges into the wind. First change comes from Graeme Pitty, quick, hostile, and lethal when in the mood. The fourth seamer is Graeme Beard, probing and economical. There was a fleeting temptation to balance the attack with a second spinner. Gary Donlan’s off-spin, alongside Paul Thomas and Tom Shiner’s leg-breaks, came into consideration. But ultimately, none quite matched the balance or class of the main quartet.
The batting puzzle
If the bowling was straightforward, the batting was anything but. Six names were already pencilled in – Gavin, Clough, Pitty, Davies, Hall and Beard – all of whom brought genuine all-round ability. That left five specialist batsmen to be chosen, including a captain.
Leadership came down to two Premiership winners: Benaud and Ian Davis. Davis, incisive and elegant, would open alongside the aggressive Steve Small, forming the perfect left-right partnership. Benaud, who had batted at No.3 for NSW, slotted in next. Trevor Bayliss claimed the No.4 spot – his stint with the club was brief, but his talent and promise were unmistakable. Rounding out the top order was the hard-hitting Michael Cobcroft, a game-changer in an over and an outstanding fielder.
A side hard to beat
The batting depth extended well into the lower order. Davies, Hall and Beard were all genuine top-order players. Clough was far from a tailender, and even Pitty could hold a bat when required.
The final XI read: S. Small, I. Davis, J. Benaud, T. Bayliss, M. Cobcroft, G. Davies, K. Hall, G. Beard, G. Gavin, P. Clough, G. Pitty.
John Benaud, Captain of the first ‘Team of the decade’
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