Club Cricket

For the past six months, I have been thinking of starting a thread on club cricket. Most on here follow test cricket, first class cricket & limited overs matches at those levels. But I also follow first grade in Brisbane. I check on the progress of those players considered to be future Shield cricketers. Or others who are making runs or taking wickets.

Unfortunately, I have left it to the final weekend of the season. I promise to be more efficient in 2021/22 season.

Also, this thread could be used for club cricket played by forummers. Or Umpired.

One of the best posts I have read on here or C4 was when Tom told us how his dislike of the opposition team led to him batting 40 overs & scoring 8 runs to force a draw & stop them winning. I think he mentioned something like "That's proper cricket!" I agree!

Anyway, the Brisbane First Grade final is currently being played between University & Norths. Very little play was possible last weekend because of rain. Yesterday, University batted & were struggled at 6/123 & then 7/177 but a 184 run partnership between James Grady & William Sanders saw Uni finish with 370. It was a bit unexpected. Grady, a specialist batsman, debuted this season & had only batted a handful of times with a highest score of 47*. Sanders is a promising teenage pace bowler who played for Qld U19 in 2019/20 & Qld U17 the previous season. However, his previous highest 1st grade score was 40.

For Norths, Connor Sully took 4/80 with his RFMs & Nathan McSweeney 3/88 with his offies. Both have represented Australia Under 19 in recent seasons & McSweeney has played a few Shield matches as a batting allrounder but disappointed so far. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the bat on Sunday. He has hit more than 1,000 runs in all formats of 1st grade this season.

In one game earlier this season, Oliver West bowled an over to Jack Wildermuth that went for 37 runs. One delivery was a no-ball & 6 of the 7 balls he bowled were full tosses. In West's defence, he is a specialist batsman & was probably asked to provide some declaration bowling. It was the only over he bowled all season.

The carnage starts around the 5:06 mark on day 2.

https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/match/12832-3449675/scorecard/?period=3262177&liveStream=true

I know this is pathetic, but I'm just doing my best to lift the post count.

WideWally wrote:Also, this thread could be used for club cricket played by forummers. Or Umpired.

Is there anyone on here young enough (apart from for the latter)?

Obviously a bit different to here if club cricket feeds the Shield. In the UK I’d imagine if you don’t get a county contract at an early age you’re destined to just be a “village” amateur, though Minor Counties sit in between and potentially offer players a route back to the top level. Lancashire and Yorkshire leagues used to be strong and attract overseas players, but the recreational game seems to be struggling these days, as with most organised team sports. People just don’t have the time and inclination I guess. There may be regional pockets of strength, but I think posh schools and Yarpie imports largely sustain our national summer game...

There are a lot of competitions at different levels, but in Brisbane the main competition has 12 teams each playing 6 senior grades. First grade is fairly strong & supplies the Sheffield Shield players. e.g. This team has 7 members who have played first class, List A or T20 cricket (inc 3 internationals).

http://mycricket.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/cricket/battingav.aspx?id=CBA&save=0&entityid=13720

I would think most capital cities have a similar structure.

Years ago, the Queensland State team often had players who were based in the country but these days they all come through Brisbane first grade. I think the last country or regional based cricketer was Ray Levingston in 1971/72.

Nice work, WW.

Wozzie final looks Claremont Nedlands will cruise home vs Wanneroo

Wanneroo all out 119

CB 3/55 in reply

Travis Birt playing his last game for Wanneroo...Kelvin Smith may be returning to SA

CN has Nick Hobson (wozzie one day team) Brad Hope (another wozzie all rounder) Tim David (Singapore and Big Bash) Cameron Steel (Durham ...I think) and Jim Allenby (ex everywhere CC )

Paris and Kelly are playing in the shield and are both CN players

It's the 1st Grade semifinals this weekend.

Ladder ended:

1. Sydney
2. Sydney Uni
3. Manly-Warringah
4. Fairfield-Liverpool

Halfway through each game (finish today I believe):

Manly-Warringah 8-319 dec. v Sydney Uni 5-134

Sydney 4-370 v Fairfield-Liverpool.

FMD

CN bowled out for 111

Norths were all out for 180 so University are the winners. Kendel Fleming top-scored with 65 & former Qld player, Michael Philipson took 5/29 with his offies.

It's not club cricket, but I am still playing in a local hard wicket 40 over comp. Both of my sons have played in the same side at times, which has been most enjoyable.

"one more season" is the mantra yet again this winter.

Remarkable.

My body aches just thinking about running around on a cricket field again.

It's only 40 overs S, and I can just about manage to wheel through 8. The returns are diminishing though.

The Sydney 1st Grade Final will be between Sydney and Manly-Warringah next weekend.

Brisbane First Grade batting stats for all formats. Nathan McSweeney & Sam Heazlett both scored more than 1,000 runs.

https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/statistics/batting/

Brisbane First grade bowling stats for all formats. Christopher Knight was leading wicket-taker with 55 wickets. Nathan McSweeney took 43 wickets to complete a very good allround season.

https://matchcentre.premier.qld.cricket.com.au/statistics/bowling

In Brisbane, the first two rounds of the season have been completed, both 50 over a side.

The Queensland top order from last season have been poor in those 2 matches.
Labuschagne - 6 & 13
Burns - 9 & 0
Street - 6 & 0
Khawaja - 58 & 1
Renshaw - 40 & 7

Fortunately #6 & #7 have fared a lot better.
Peirson -92 & 121*
Wildermuth - 113 & 102*

Harrison Wood has also been in fine form scoring 115 & 121* as well as taking 3/29 with his medium pacers. He is 22yo & has been a consistent rungetter in First Grade throughout his career & also very useful with the ball. Wood has also played some games for Qld 2nd XI & Australian Under 19s a few years ago so it would not surprise to see him debut in Sheffield Shield in the near future.

There have also been a few interstate players appearing this season. I'm not sure if they have relocated permanently or if it is a temporary thing due to COVID restrictions. Hayden Kerr made 111, Ryan Hackney 61 & 116*, Conor McInerney (SA) 75 while Nick Larkin & Nick Bertus have also played.

Marnus was rubbish in county cricket too. Has his bubble burst?

My cunning plan has worked a treat. After being publicly shamed on a well respected international cricket forum, the Queensland top order have found form today. 497 runs for once out between them!
Burns - 134*
Street - 140*
Khawaja - 117*
Renshaw - 67
Labuschagne - 39*

Sadly, Harry Wood couldn't live up to the wraps & was dismissed for 6.

Western Suburbs batsmen were on fire today. Sam Truloff hit a double century. He scores runs for fun in grade cricket (5 tons this season) but has failed whenever given a chance at Shield level. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see him recalled if some spots open up when the Australian team tours Pakistan.

Also Isaiah Snell also hit his second century of the season. He is a very well regarded wicketkeeper who I expect might be selected for Queensland sometime in the future. His younger brother, Tobias, is the current Australian Under 19 keeper.

The course of Truloff has never been easy.

Little Sam Truloff made 97 on the weekend & has now been brought into the Qld squad to cover for Joe Burns who has COVID. Can he improve on his FC record of 10 matches 278 runs @ 17.37 with a highest score of 45?

Poor Sam. He looked good making 37 in difficult conditions before being given out LBW to a ball that struck him outside leg stump. It could have been the innings that turned around his first class career. Maybe he is destined to just remain a star of grade cricket.