Stories

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Bill O Reilly in Sydney 1st Grade Cricket

With the Annual O'Reilly Oration event held last Friday in the Booth Saunders Pavilion at Hurstville Oval we thought we would take the opportunity to celebrate the life and times of one of The Saints greatest representatives. Over the next week we'll feature a number articles outlining his amazing accomplishments on and off the field.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3247/bill-o-reilly-in-sydney-1st-grade-cricket

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9 months ago

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Very tall and rather gangly, Peter Clough could be a deceptively quick and bouncy fast-medium bowler. Because his action looked awkward, even ungainly, a tangle of arms and pumping legs, batsmen often underestimated the genuine threat posed by his immaculate line and length. In 1978/79 he played for a Combined Universities team against the England touring team and struck the famous Geoff Boycott in the head with a bouncer.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3244/peter-clough-penrith-cricket-club

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9 months ago

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Jack Treanor – A Leg-spinner of the highest order

Jack Cassimar Treanor was born on 17th August 1922 at Darlinghurst and died on 7th November 1993 at East Ballina, NSW. He was a right-hand leg-spin bowler and moderate left-handed batsman.

Treanor bowled in a similar manner to the former great Test leg-spinner Bill O’Reilly, pushing the ball quickly through the air and bowling with great accuracy. Not being a big spinner of the ball, he relied on trapping the batsman around the crease line – utilizing a combination of the accuracy, nip off the pitch and a bouncing top-spinner to detonate the batsman’s downfall. A dedicated bowler he had ‘scant respect’ for batsmen – ‘they were his sworn enemies’.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3243/jack-treanor-ndash-a-leg-spinner-of-the-highest-order

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9 months ago

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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.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3238/penrith-cricket-club-team-of-the-first-decade

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9 months ago

Gordon District Cricket Club

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As part of its ongoing Youth Cricket Development program, the Penrith Club promoted a match against Parramatta Club at the famous Bradman Oval, Bowral. The match, between the Penrith Cubs and the Parramatta AW Green Shield Squad, will be played annually on the second Sunday in October. Organisers think there can be no better venue to increase the awareness of the boys to the true traditions of the great game of cricket. The nearby, newly refurbished Bradman Museum is a great attraction for boys and parents alike.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3234/penrith-youth-cricket-at-bradman-2010-11

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9 months ago

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The Day Victor Trumper Changed his Name

One afternoon in early September 1960, I was changing before net practice at Chatswood Oval. A rather tall, strong-looking fellow was doing the same. I hadn’t seen him before, so I introduced myself; he said his name was Vic Turner, and we started chatting pleasantly for a few minutes. He then said his name was actually Vic Trumper but, because of expectations people might have and to save embarrassment, he preferred to be called Vic Turner.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3233/the-day-victor-trumper-changed-his-name

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9 months ago

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The curious case of Nat Hill

There are certain teammates who, when you think of them, simply make you smile - and Nat Hill was undoubtedly one of those. A talented cricketer and an exceptional team player, Nat brought energy, humour, and a genuine love for the game to every Saturday. One of his trademark antics was the now-famous ‘Oh’ play - a moment of light-hearted gamesmanship where he would signal teammates with an “O” above his head, prompting the entire team to bellow “Oh!” the next time a batter shouldered arms. It was a harmless bit of mischief that often-sowed seeds of doubt in opposing batters and gave his teammates a much-needed laugh during long spells in the field.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3221/the-curious-case-of-nat-hill

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9 months ago

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Hayden Goulstone is a spirited young spinner, still developing his trade with the bulk of his cricket lying ahead of him, but he has already joined a select band of Parramatta District Cricket Club off-spinners who played important roles in helping the club to win the coveted NSW Premier Cricket’s First Grade Premiership - former Test bowler W.P. ‘Old Bill’ Howell (1899/00), State player W.H. ‘Young Bill’ Howell (1932/33), the club’s highest wicket-taker Bobby Aitken (1964/65) and Hayden Goulstone (2022/23 & 2024/25).

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3232/hayden-goulstone-ndash-a-spirited-off-spinner

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9 months ago

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Michael Bevan

While it’s rare today for international—and even state—players to participate regularly in grade cricket, this wasn’t always the case. Up until the early 2000s, it was common to see Australian representatives turning out for their grade clubs a few times each season. Bankstown boasted the Waugh twins, Northern District had Mark Taylor, UNSW fielded Michael Slater, Mosman had the Lee brothers, Sutherland had Glenn McGrath, and at Manly, we were fortunate to have the original finisher - Michael Bevan.

After transferring to Manly from Campbelltown—where he had already established a reputation for match-winning performances—Bevan became a key figure for the club over several seasons.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3223/michael-bevan

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9 months ago

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At start of the 2021/22 season Ryan Hackney, then a young NSW contracted player, transferred his allegiance from the Penrith District Cricket Club to Parramatta, in search of a new challenge and to enhance his prospects of NSW first-class selection – in both these pursuits he was ultimately successful.

Ryan is the consummate opening batsman – in many ways the old style opener who blunts the attack – at the crease the left-hander is quiet in demeanour, fully switched on to the job ahead, unruffled, possesses loads of concentration and loves batting for long periods.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3228/ryan-hackney-ndash-the-consummate-opener

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9 months ago

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Nine-Wicket Hauls for Bradstreet and O'Keefe

Taking a five-wicket haul in any form of cricket is a significant achievement — even more so at First Grade level. To claim nine wickets in a single innings, however, is something truly exceptional.

Over the past 30 years, Manly has been fortunate enough to witness two such performances at First Grade level - both by club legends who also captained their state: Shawn Bradstreet and Stephen O’Keefe.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3222/nine-wicket-hauls-for-bradstreet-and-okeefe

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10 months ago

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Goodbye to a friend.... A Tribute to Bill Ball

Following World War II, Bill went to school at Hurlstone Agricultural College at Glenfield, where he played rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer.

After school, his first cricket “Club” was the Bungarribee Cricket Club, based on the Church of England Church that was located on the Great Western Highway at Blacktown. The land of that Church was adjacent to what is now known as the H.E. Laybutt Fields of the Blacktown Workers Club.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/3227/goodbye-to-a-friend-a-tribute-to-bill-ball

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10 months ago

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Manly PGs 2006/07

The Manly Poidevin-Gray team delivered a commendable performance during the 2006/07 season, finishing 7th and narrowly missing out on a finals berth.

Under the captaincy of Mitchell Cleary, the squad featured seven players who would go on to represent Manly in First Grade, including future South Australian Sheffield Shield player James Munting and future Australian Test cricketer Jackson Bird.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3220/manly-pgs-200607

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10 months ago

Gordon District Cricket Club

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Arthur Howell was the ‘black sheep’ of the Howell clan that played so successfully for Cumberland, his father Test player W.P. Howell and two brothers, State player W.H. Howell and Norman were all off-spinners, he broke the mould being a fast-medium bowler.

Arthur crafted a magnificent playing career with Central Cumberland as a bowling all-rounder and across all grades he plundered a remarkable 706 wickets @ 18.97 to reign as the Club’s second highest wicket-taker (Bob Aitken holds the top slot)

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/406/parramatta-district-cricket-club/blog/3225/arthur-howell-ndash-a-bowling-allrounder

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10 months ago

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Phil Emery

Sport was in the Emery family’s veins. Father Neville had played rugby union for Australia and Grade cricket. His mother Helen was a representative and extremely competitive squash and tennis player. It was only going to be a matter of time until the Sydney Church of England Grammar school student turned to sport. The question was, which sport – cricket or rugby union? Whilst enjoying rugby he chose cricket and it was his prep school cricket coach Mal Howard who, according to Emery, said at a practice, “‘You’re going to keep’ and pushed me straight into it.”

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/297/gordon-district-cricket-club/blog/3224/phil-emery

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10 months ago

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22 Followers

The incredible rise of Pete Jacka

During the 2002/03 season, left-arm orthodox spinner Pete Jacka - widely regarded as one of the most genuine and well-respected individuals to represent the Manly club - achieved the extraordinary feat of progressing from 5th Grade to 1st Grade within a single season.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3219/the-incredible-rise-of-pete-jacka

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10 months ago

St George Cricket Club

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In Between Balls with Paul Francis

Fell in love with the game after watching the 2006/07 Ashes. I was 10 and immediately wanted to start hitting balls in the backyard. I wasn’t the superstar I thought I was going to be and was immediately brought back to earth in my first game at Gannons, bowled first ball by Luke Bartier. A humbling experience.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/275/st-george-cricket-club/blog/3218/in-between-balls-with-paul-francis

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10 months ago

Gordon District Cricket Club

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One of the most entertaining aspects of playing for Manly during the 2000s was the fierce and often fiery rivalry with Sydney University. This competitive relationship was marked by high-stakes encounters, strategic recruiting moves, and a fair share of drama - both on and off the field.

The first real flashpoint came ahead of the 2003/04 season when Manly’s prolific opening batsman, Matt Phelps, was recruited by Sydney Uni. His move helped form a formidable top order alongside Greg Mail, Ed Cowan, and Ian Moran, setting the stage for several intense battles in the years to follow.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/338/manly-warringah-district-cricket-club/blog/3216/the-manly-vs-sydney-university-rivalry-of-the-2000s

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10 months ago

Brad Murphy

Cricket Coach

Brisbane, Australia

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Rod Kirkaldie shares his treasured memories playing Warehouse Cricket in Brisbane.

Rod Kirkaldie played top-grade cricket and Australian Rules football in Brisbane in the '80s. He also moved around a bit after that, having stints playing at Nambour, Coomera-Hope Island on the Gold Coast and Pine Rivers in Warehouse cricket.

He also lived and played cricket in Vanuatu for a period. He writes a little story for us.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/173/brad-murphy/blog/3215/rod-kirkaldie-shares-his-treasured-memories-playing-warehouse-cricket-in-brisbane

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10 months ago