Legacy of 1st Grade Wicketkeepers 1999-2014
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | October 09, 2025
Over the years, the Manly Warringah District Cricket Club has been home to numerous players with first-class experience. However, a particularly unique statistic stands out: between 1999 and 2014, the club had five first-class wicketkeepers don the gloves at various stages.
The first in this distinguished line was club legend Craig Glassock, who served as both captain and wicketkeeper throughout the 1990s and was a cornerstone of Manly’s first-grade side. His final season with the gloves was the 1999/2000 campaign, though he continued to contribute as a batsman in subsequent seasons—albeit intermittently. Glassock represented New South Wales in four Sheffield Shield matches and compiled an outstanding record for Manly: in 207 innings across all grades, he scored 5,428 runs (including six centuries) at an average of 31.20, while also recording 325 catches and 31 stumpings.
Next came Englishman Jamie Pipe, who joined the club in the late 1990s and played into the early 2000s. A veteran of 82 first-class matches in the English County Championship, Pipe represented Manly in 50 innings, scoring 1,305 runs at 28.37. He also effected 82 catches and 11 stumpings. His most notable contribution came in the 2000/01 Limited Overs Grand Final, where he scored a pivotal 69 runs to help secure the premiership.
In the 2003/04 season, Manly welcomed Mark Atkinson from Blacktown Cricket Club. Returning to Sydney after a distinguished first-class career with Tasmania, Atkinson quickly became one of the premier batsmen and wicketkeepers in Sydney Grade Cricket. During his three-season stint at Manly, he served as both club coach and first-grade captain, playing a key role in the club’s 2005/06 Limited Overs premiership triumph. In 62 innings, Atkinson amassed 1,896 runs at an average of 37.90 and claimed 114 catches along with 11 stumpings.
After a challenging period in the late 2000s, Manly rejuvenated its first-grade side with the high-profile signing of Adam Crosthwaite from Victoria. A seasoned first-class cricketer, Crosthwaite brought a professional and competitive edge that played a significant role in transforming Manly into a regular finals contender. His contributions were immense: 6,696 runs at an average of 41.33, 176 catches, and 13 stumpings. He was also instrumental in the club’s 2009/10 First Grade T20 premiership and the 2014/15 Belvidere Cup title.
Jay Lenton succeeded Crosthwaite as wicketkeeper in the 2014/15 season and has since gone on to represent New South Wales in three Sheffield Shield matches. Lenton has built an outstanding career at Manly, becoming the club’s all-time leading century-maker with 16 hundreds. To date, he has scored over 7,000 runs at an average of 40.17, alongside 293 catches and 49 stumpings.
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