Brian Lara comes to town
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club | November 26, 2025
The Manly Bowling Club has long been a favourite venue for the Manly Cricket Club’s annual Christmas celebrations.
Traditionally, the evening features a few well-earned drinks in recognition of early-season victories, a classic pub-style dinner, and a few relaxed ends of barefoot bowls—often followed by a spirited exploration of Manly’s nightlife.
The 2006/07 Christmas Party followed this familiar and much-loved format, with one notable exception: the surprise attendance of none other than Test cricket legend Brian Charles Lara.
Lara was in Sydney doing some promotions, and club President and man about town Andrew Fraser had a connection with him. Lara also befriended Tim Cruickshank during the visit, with Tim able to provide a couple of wide eyed stories from the visit. Nothing that can be printed here.
His presence made the evening especially memorable for the Manly boys. No matter what grade they were playing, everyone was taking it all in.
Hopefully Brian enjoyed the evening just as much as we did.
