| Questions and Answers

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When Geoff Hickman gathered ten teenagers together in 2001, he wasn't just starting a cricket academy. He was betting on an idea that would reshape Gordon District Cricket Club.

Most cricket clubs talk about "pathways." Gordon decided to actually build one.

With Paul Stephenson joining Geoff in the management team, the Academy created a concept was deceptively simple: stop hoping talented youngsters would figure it out themselves, and start investing in their development properly. But the execution? That required vision, money, and a willingness to think differently about what cricket development actually meant.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3568/building-champions-how-gordons-academy-changed-the-game

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7 months ago

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8 Followers

WARATAHS CC of Armidale played in their first semi final, the A grade game v Uralla, on 23rd February 1952. It was only Waratahs second season in competition but their were outplayed by the strong Uralla side, with Alan Gray (#26) the only batsmen to prove he was good enough. Eleven years later, on the same date, he would set the A grade opening partnership record with Allan Cox (#160)
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3565/on-this-day-23rd-february

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7 months ago

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8 Followers

WARATAHS CC of Armidale have some old memories to remember on this day, 21st February.

In 1953, Laurie Cooper and Ross Ridley rose to the challenge, adding a century partnership when A grade was in trouble against the strong Uralla side. It proved to be more than half the score and was just enough to beat Uralla - by 2 runs - and just sneak into the semi-finals.

In 1953, Tony Morris took 7-32, including the hat trick which gave B grade a dominant set up for an outright. In 1998, Ryan McDonald became only the third player to pass 150 in 4th grade as he dominated Easts bowlers and enjoyed James Harwood's mastery of the Easts batsmen in the outright win.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3562/on-this-day-21st-february

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7 months ago

St George Cricket Club

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54 Followers

The Scourge Of Bodyline

He may have been born in Cootamundra and raised in Bowral but in the white hot Bodyline summer of 1932-33 it was the St George District Cricket Club, which possessively lay claim to Don Bradman.

At twenty four Bradman was the world’s foremost batsman providing both solace and inspiration to a country racked by the Great Depression.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3558/the-scourge-of-bodyline

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7 months ago

Penrith Cricket Club

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20 Followers

1987/88 at Penrith Cricket Club: the Bicentenary, the Big Wet and an International Clash.

Pictured: Barry Coad hits out in the match against a visiting Indian team. The wicket-keeper is the Indian Test player Syed Kirmani.

The Bicentenary coincided with the season of the ‘Big Wet’ (1987/88) for Penrith Cricket Club. President Trevor Wholohan, who’d been with the Club since its inception, thought it ‘probably the worst in our history in regard to inclement weather’. At Howell, six full playing days were lost to rain.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3557/198788-at-penrith-cricket-club-the-bicentenary-the-big-wet-and-an-international-clash

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7 months ago

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WARATAHS CC of Armidale have a busy history on 20th February.

Centuries to Graham Patterson (#346) and Glen Schaefer (#373), near misses for Geoff Marshall (#156) and Lachlan Bennett (#587) and four century partnerships.

Bucking the trend were that great Tahs alrounder Eric Smith (#82) with a 7fa and Mark "Spanner" Tanner, who after smashing fifty in a lacklustre tail, subbed in as wicketkeeper and took 6 catches in one afternoon!

Here's the full story ...
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3561/on-this-day-20th-february

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7 months ago

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Daniel Ryan scored his breakthrough century in Waratahs CC of Armidale 1st grade victory over Easts, on the day in 1989, adding 91 with Phil Melville when Waratahs were facing defeat.

Eleven years earlier in 1978, club stalwart David Tilbury (pictured) set up A-Res grade for victory with career best figures of 9-52. On the second week of the same game, future Country Firsts and St George DCC player, Michael Connolly, made a breakthrough 92.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3560/on-this-day-18th-february

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7 months ago

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8 Followers

WARATAHS CC of Armidale had some stiring action On This Day, almost thirty years apart.

Eric Smith bowled A grade to victory against Churches, defending a low total in 1962 and in 1990, Tim BIndley hit a rapid hundred setting up an unexpected victory in 3rds, adding 127 with Bob Barwick and the young 5th grade side avoided the outright thanks to veteran skipper Tony Bennett and youngster Derek Brotherson, who added 132.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3559/on-this-day-17th-february

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7 months ago

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8 Followers

ON THIS DAY (almost) in Waratahs history, two great efforts by all rounders, 29 years apart all but to the day, as the two best performances by a Waratahs player across a match happened in the middle of February. Geoff MacDonald (pictured) took 8-35 before scoring 106 not out a week later in the same game. Nearly thirty years later, Shamus Robertson took 7-29 and scored 160.
There were also hundreds to Ross Ridley, Tim Muldoon and Bede Ryan's only 1st grade ton for Waratahs, done in style, with a grade record partnership with Warwick Eather. Christian Quaife had a near miss and Roy Smith returned his best bowling figures for Waratahs in a brief half season that netted 40 wickets!

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3555/on-this-day-16th-february

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7 months ago

St George Cricket Club

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

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54 Followers

Since the 2025-26 season recommenced in January for the all-important run to the finals there have been some wonderful team and individual performances. Along with this comes some amazing milestones achieved particularly by some of our stalwarts. We are proud to present our latest round of Magical Milestones.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3550/saints-magical-milstones-2026-so-far

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7 months ago

Gordon District Cricket Club

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19 Followers

Flashback - Trent Johnston inspires the Bears to a First Grade Minor Premiership

In 1998/99, the Bears won the First Grade Minor Premiership and were named Sydney Morning Herald First Grade Team of the Year, both for the second successive season. Agonisingly, they were defeated in the semi final by Randwick, but the team was one for the ages - in particular featuring Trent Johnston in the year he made his NSW debut, as well as Stuart MacGill.

Here we reproduce the report from skipper, Phil Marks, from the club's 1999 Annual Report.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/3554/flashback-trent-johnston-inspires-the-bears-to-a-first-grade-minor-premiership

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7 months ago

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33 Followers

Brother L Turns 90: Lloyd Wilson's Gordon Legacy

When Gery Elkan penned the Gordon song in the late 1960s, he immortalized four players in verse: "Roley" (Dick Guy), "Hedley" (Brian Taber), "Brother L" (Lloyd Wilson), and "PJ" (Peter Johnson). On March 1, 2026, the last line of that famous chorus rings especially true as Lloyd Wilson—now affectionately known as "Brolly"—celebrates his 90th birthday, with his Gordon mates already raising a glass to friendship and the good old times.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3548/brother-l-turns-90-lloyd-wilsons-gordon-legacy

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7 months ago

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8 Followers

THE TAHS ON THIS DAY - 14th February

Well apart from the Tony Morris and to a lesser extent Grant Harlow and Brian Joice, it was a batsmen's day in Waratahs history. Centuries to Brian Connolly and Ian Ellis (and Scott Murphy after he left us), near misses to Don Paul and Graham Frost and a couple of century stands. Some interesting names fetching the ball from the boundary for TAS from Smooth's bat.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3552/on-this-day-14th-february

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7 months ago

Cricket Insights

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59 Followers

Cricket Insights with Paul Ryan - Big Bash Privatisation: Some Questions Worth Asking

Revenue vs Losses

Recent broadcast deal reportedly worth around $1.5 billion over seven years.
Annual revenue in the vicinity of $450 million.
Reported accumulated losses of $50 million plus in recent seasons.
Question: If revenue is strong, is asset sale the only solution, or should cost structures be examined first?

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1684/cricket-insights/blog/3549/cricket-insights-with-paul-ryan-big-bash-privatisation-some-questions-worth-asking

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7 months ago

Penrith Cricket Club

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Penrith Cricket Club’s third ground, Rance Oval, is named after Tom Rance.

Tom was a well-known and well-respected member of the community, locally referred to as ‘The Mayor of Werrington’.

Tom’s involvement in sport, and its administration, was extensive. His first love was cricket, and he served the Nepean District Cricket Association over a 40-year period as Secretary.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3545/tom-rance-penrith-cricket-club

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7 months ago

UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club

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WARATAHS OF ARMIDALE - ON THIS DAY 12th February

Greg Russell made his second hundred in 7 days, yet Phil McCann would have been man of the match with wickets and runs. Terry Mackenzie got his third 10 wicket match haul and Michael Connolly (pictured) grabbed 7 against Uralla.
https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1223/armidale-waratahs-the-tahs/blog/3547/on-this-day-12th-february

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7 months ago

Gordon District Cricket Club

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19 Followers

Magic moment - Hedges and friends effect a brilliant run-out!

Back in November, the UTS North Sydney First Grade side took on Campbelltown-Camden at Bon Andrews Oval. The Bears ran out convincing victors, after bowling the Ghosts out for 202. The highlight was this magic moment - a run-out of Quinn Passlow thanks to a superb piece of fielding from Jamieson Hedges, and cool heads from Harri Lee-Young and Jordan Netto to complete the job.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/380/uts-north-sydney-district-cricket-club/blog/3546/magic-moment-hedges-and-friends-effect-a-brilliant-run-out

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7 months ago

15 Likes
33 Followers

Axel Cahlin reaches 5000 run milestone

Axel Cahlin, Gordon’s first grade captain and the third youngest Gordon player to make his first grade debut has reached the 5000 runs milestone in the 2026 season. At the time of writing this article Axel had scored 5,233 runs in First Grade at an average of 30.25 and 6,521 runs in all grades at an average of 30.47.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3542/axel-cahlin-reaches-5000-run-milestone

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7 months ago

Cricket Insights

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club

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Cricket Insights with Brian May - Cricket Australia Masters Over 50s cricket captain to tour New Zealand in February 2026

On Sunday, 15 February 2026, Australia and New Zealand’s Over 50s cricket teams will meet in Christchurch for the opening match of an historic series - three One Day Internationals and the first-ever Over 50s Test Match played over 3 days and playing for the Peter Solway and Adrian Dale Trophy.

We’re joined by Brian May, captain of Australia.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1684/cricket-insights/blog/3541/cricket-insights-with-brian-may-cricket-australia-masters-over-50s-cricket-captain-to-tour-new-zealand-in-february-2026

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7 months ago