• Fueling conversations and igniting meaningful experiences for cricket fans around the world
  • Fueling conversations, igniting experiences

Stories

Recent Activity

last year
Joe Maiorana
Joe Maiorana
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
2 Followers



Jack Potter (born 13 April 1938) is an Australian former cricketer who played 81 matches for Victoria.

Twelfth man three times for Australia without playing a Test, Jack Potter’s legacy will live forever in spearheading a vibrant set of innovative coaching structures pivotal in the advancement of many emerging champions including Shane Warne, Justin Langer, and Damien Martyn at the Australian Cricket Academy.

A dashing batsman, magnificent field and brilliant leader, Potter remains among the finest cricketers not to play a Test. He is also a Fitzroy – Doncaster CC legend.

But for having his skull fractured on a hard wicket in an otherwise inconsequential game against the Netherlands at the Hague, he would have made Test ranks as all those who didn’t play an Ashes Test on the ’64 tour were to be lifted into the XI for the Tests on the way home in India and Pakistan.

An astute and inspired captain at club and Sheffield Shield level, Potter was to establish the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide and mentor giants-to-be like Shane Warne and Justin Langer.

He even introduced a 20-year-old Warne to the flipper but was one to rail against Warne’s free spirit and all but expel him prematurely from the Academy after an incident around a swimming pool in Darwin.

‘He retired from cricket far too young,’ says the legendary Bill Lawry in his foreword.

Jack was a flowing strokemaker and a superlative fielder… he had balance, anticipation and could throw and catch even the hardest hit balls with stunning nonchalance.’

Besides holding the record for being 12th man for Australia the most times without winning a cap (thrice), he was the first prominent spinner to bowl a 'doosra' (a leg-break bowled with an off-break action)

Read More
View responses or answer (0)

Partner Sponsors

Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory
The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports

Partner Sponsors

Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory
The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
last year
Penrith Cricket Club
Penrith Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
18 Likes
20 Followers



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 his immaculate line and length posed. 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.

His love of life made him a popular player. He had a ‘quickie’s’ streak of aggression likely to stir any opponent, but not always understood by umpires and officials. His team-mates called him ‘Wingnut’ (prominent ears) but for most of his time with Penrith he was simply ‘Goober’.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/1889/peter-clough-penrith-first-grade-cap-number-39
Read More
View responses or answer (0)
last year
Penrith Cricket Club
Penrith Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
18 Likes
20 Followers



When management decided in 1988/89 to create, and financially back, a Development Squad for local Junior players aged up to 15, it would train on Tuesday afternoons from May through to August at the St Marys Indoor Cricket Centre. In March, about 30 youngster’s trialled and a squad of 17 was chosen. Head coaches were John Rennie and John Benaud, assisted by other senior players. The immediate aim was to strengthen the AW Green Shield, but long term to unearth players with First-class potential. In other words, a cricket production line.

A stand-out feature of the Development Squad was its balance, which was based around the ‘mix’ of an Ashes Squad. John Benaud had recently been involved in the 1989 Ashes selection and he and John Rennie agreed it was worth trying—a mix of seven bowlers, pace and spin, a minimum of three batsmen with potential to open, five other batsmen, and two keepers. There had to be at least one wrist-spinner in the mix, and all-round potential was encouraged. The coaches also had regard for age; some of the boys were as young as 12, but it was felt they were physically and mentally strong enough to cope against the older boys. The first squad was: Jason Benton, Garry Sheen, Todd Marshall, Russell Holley, Geoff Sullivan, Jason Bishop, Ben Rennie, Scott Roseby, Daniel Abercrombie, Ken Thomas, Brian Starkey, Murray Rayner, Brett Leathen, Brad Astill, Michael Nicholls, Adam Bowyer, Caine Bracken.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/330/penrith-cricket-club/blog/737/young-guns-penrith-cricket-club-1991-92
Read More
View responses or answer (0)

Partner Sponsors

Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory
The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
last year
NSW Premier Cricket
NSW Premier Cricket
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
49 Likes
56 Followers



Randal Green from North District Cricket Club and Kyle Thompson from Waverley Cricket Club were the joint winners of the 1992-93 Bill O'Reilly Medal for the best and fairest in Sydney Grade Cricket.

The top 5 point scorers in 1992-93 were:

20 points - Randal Green (Northern District Cricket Club) and Kyle Thompson (Waverley Cricket Club)
18 points - Tom Shiner - Western Suburbs District Cricket Club
16 points - John Davison - Gordon District Cricket Club
15 points - Greg Hayne (Gordon District Cricket Club), Richard Stobo (Gordon District Cricket Club), Steve Smith (Fairfield Liverpool Cricket Club), Ken Hall (Bankstown District Cricket Club), Adam Smith (Waverley Cricket Club)

Manly Warringah District Cricket Club won the teams award with 95 points just one in front of Gordon District Cricket Club with 94 points

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/1191/nsw-premier-cricket/blog/1883/northern-district-randal-green-and-waverleys-kyle-thompson-joint-winners-of-the-1992-93-bill-oreilly-medal
Read More
View responses or answer (0)
last year
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club
Sydney, Australia
40 Likes
43 Followers



An extract from Randwick Petersham Cricket Club 2021-22 Annual Report

What a great thrill for Randwick Petersham Cricket and its many followers, to see two of its favourite sons opening the batting in Test Match cricket for Australia! When David “Bull” Warner and Usman “Ussie” Khawaja walked together to the centre of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, it was history in the making. The occasion was the 1st Test between Australia and Pakistan–the first in that country for 20 years. And they supported their selection at the top of the order with a partnership of 156 for the first wicket. David scored 68 while Ussie went on to make 97, before being caught at short leg.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/258/randwick-petersham-cricket-club/blog/1881/ussie-and-bull
Read More
View responses or answer (0)

Partner Sponsors

Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory
The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
last year
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan
Founder
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
502 Likes
513 Followers



Former Australian Test cricketer Max Walker passed away 28 September 2016 at the age of 68. He lived a full and loveable life.

Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Walker went on to play VFL Football for Melbourne Demons (85 games), Shield cricket for Victoria and Test cricket for Australia.

He would often reflect on playing cricket for Australia, “My goodness, I’m a kid from Hobart Tasmania, what am I’m doing share a dressing room with Dennis Lillee, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Dougie Walters, Rodney Marsh, Ian Redpath, Keith Stackpole…..it was such a privilege.”

Off the sports field Max Walker, affectionately known as Tangles because of his tangled bowling action of “right arm over left earhole” became a popular and infectious TV personality, author of 14 books, an engaging storyteller and a much sought after public speaker.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/32/paul-ryan/blog/945/max-walker-lion-hearted-tour-of-the-west-indies-1972-73
Read More
View responses or answer (0)

Partner Sponsors

Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory
The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
last year
Shane Lee
Shane Lee
Founder
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
39 Likes
10 Followers



"Play the game for the game sake, and keep your eye on the ball.”

Bradman’s famous quote in response to a sporting journalist’s question on his secret for batting success. Bradman is a sporting enigma. No one in the history of any sport has been almost double the mean. That is, in the history of cricket most elite batsmen averaged in the ’50s (except for Steve Smith currently averaging 63), whist our Don Bradman averaged 99.94.

That is like someone running a five second 100 metres or someone winning 36 majors in Golf. Simply astonishing!

Forty seven years ago almost to the day, a good mate of mine Kerry Penfold from Oak Flats High school lost his eye when he fell on a knife aged three. When the doctors told his parents he was going to struggle in the future to play ball sports, they ignored the medical advice and enrolled him in cricket anyway.

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/538/shane-lee/blog/939/keep-your-eye-on-the-ball
Read More
View responses or answer (0)

Partner Sponsors

Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory
The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
last year
Dean Tuckwell
Dean Tuckwell
Travel Agent
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
70 Likes
20 Followers



We have been having a bit of fun lately with the greatest ever Qld XII and it has been very interesting speaking to a few old Queensland legends about their thoughts. For my XII I haven't picked any international imports (Wes Hall, Majid Khan, Viv Richards, Ian Botham, Graham Hick) as the players selected must have had significant careers for the state. Also despite mighty international statistics I have not chosen Mitchell Johnson and Marnus Labuschagne for the same reason.

The abundance of fast bowling talent means that some great bowlers miss out. Thomson & McDermott both had great Queensland & Australian careers so are first picked. Also how could you go wrong with one of Rackemann, Kasprowicz and Bichel?

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/69/dean-tuckwell/blog/372/dean-tuckwell-my-greatest-ever-queensland-cricket-team
Read More
View responses or answer (0)
last year
Rowan McGregor
Rowan McGregor
16 Likes
1 Followers



NSW Combined GPS First XI Cricket team - 1975

Back Row – B. J Ryan (St. Josephs), M. H Suttor (Scots), P. N Maddocks (Shore), P. Copeman (Scots), J. B Haydon (Kings), M. L Le Lievre (St. Josephs),

Front Row – A.C Crawford (Sydney Grammar), J. L Roberts (St Ignatious), R. A McGregor (Shore) Captain, M. A Ledgerwood (Scots) Vice-Captain, C. F Bird (St. Josephs)

Absent - P. Jennings (Kings)


The following players all played Sydney First Grade Cricket – Mike Suttor (Waverley), Peter Maddocks (Mosman), Murray Le Lievre (Syd Uni), Andrew Crawford (Waverley) and Rowan McGregor (Northern District and Gordon).

Bernie Ryan played 1st grade cricket in Newcastle.
Mark Ledgerwood played briefly for Waverley before becoming an A Grade Pennant golfer.
Peter Copeman and Hayden played Country cricket.
Quick bowler Craig Bird got injured and not sure he played again.
Jeremy Roberts a wonderful all round sportsman was sadly killed in a road accident not long after leaving school. A great loss. And Jim Hayden recently passed away. RIP.
From this team McGregor, Ledgerwood, Hayden, Copeman and Bird made the NSW U19 team that won the Australasian Championship in Perth. The first NSW team to do so.
Jim Hayden fell off a horse and broke his collarbone just before the trip. He was replaced by future Australian wicketkeeper Greg Dyer.
Andrew Crawford is also a Board member at Sydney Roosters Rugby League.

Read More
View responses or answer (0)

Partner Sponsors

Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
Doors Plus Quatra Sports Fast Fuel Meals Simplicity Loans and Advisory
The Adventure Traveller Kingsgrove Sports
More