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The City and Suburban Cricket Association 112th Annual Report 26 CADOGAN STREET, MARRICKVILLE NSW 2204 PO BOX 253 CROYDON NSW 2132 TELEPHONE: (02) 9550 4055 FACSIMILE: (02) 9550 3403 Season 2014/2015 EMAIL: [email protected] CITY AND SUBURBAN CRICKET ASSOCIATION 1903 INCORPORATED Office Bearers – Season 2014-2015 Patron His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) President Mr. R. G. Marshall Vice Presidents Messrs. G.E. Reed, R.A. French OAM, J.R.R. Simpson Secretary Mr. B.G. Breakspear JP Assistant Secretary Position Vacant Treasurer Mr. G. Winney Delegate to Sydney Cricket Association Mr. E. Smith Executive Committee Messrs. R.G. Marshall, B.G. Breakspear, G. Winney Management Executive Committee together with Committee Messrs. R.J. Sadler, and J.R.R. Simpson v v v v v v v v v v Active Life Members Messrs. R.G. Marshall, J.R.R. Simpson J.R. Russell, R.J. Sadler, Deceased Life C.A. Fairland, N.I. Blue, J.R. Gillam R.K. Matthews, Members K.O. Johnstone MBE, K.M. Gracie, C.R. Hogue, J.Pace W. Ray, J.A. Thompson, E.A.B. Webster, B.R.W. Bavin. A. Law. Legend Members J. Pace, W. Douglas, B.R.W. Bavin, R.A. French OAM, G.E.Reed, J.R. Russell, R. Glover, M. Halliday. Hon. Auditor Mr. E. Weine PRESIDENTS REPORT The 2014/15 season for the City & Suburban Cricket Association was a success if nothing more than it saw the number of participating clubs increase after a slow decline in past years. The increase involved the revival of the Scots Old Boys team after some years of being a non-playing club due to the lack of players. Congratulations to those involved in making this happen For cricket in general the season saw some tremendous highs, and one terrible low incident. The highs saw Australia win the 50 over World Cup for the 5th time with a convinc- ing win over New Zealand in the final in front of 94,000 people at the MCG. The tournament, jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia, was a huge success with sell-out crowds and some fantastic cricket, including upset results such as Bangladesh defeating England which meant that the England team did not qualify for the quarter finals. Prior to the World Cup Australia had defeated India 4-0 in the summer test series and then whitewashed them in the limited over matches. Stars for Australia were Steve Smith, who not only captained Australia in the last 3 tests after regular skip- per Michael Clarke was injured, but also plundered century after century in all forms of the game. The other stars were the fast bowling battery headed by Mitchell Johnston and Mitchell Starc – the latter being named Man of the tournament for the World Cup. The low incident was the tragic death on 27 November of Australian Batsman Phillip Hughes after being hit in the head while batting for South Australia against NSW at the SCG by a ball from Sean Abbott. He was 63n.o. at the time and look- ing for a recall to the test team for the first test against India. Phillip’s death three days before his 26th birthday shocked the whole nation, not only the cricketing fra- ternity, and resulted in the postponement of the first test against India and a re- vamp of the whole series while the Australian players in particular regained their composure. Michael Clarke, the Australian Captain, really showed his leadership qualities during this difficult period. Besides the first test being postponed, Phillip Hughes’ death resulted in many cricket matches throughout Australia being cancelled on the Saturday following the tragedy. The C&S Association left the decision as to whether matches should go ahead to the respective clubs with a number of teams opting not to play. For the second year in a row the Jack Pace Shield Knockout final was played in dif- ficult circumstances with several storms and torrential rain during the afternoon forcing the result to be decided on count-back. Congratulations to Barker Old Boys who defeated neighbours Knox Old Boys in a closely fought contest. Knox Old Boys unfortunately have had the worst of the conditions in the final for each of the last 2 years. The official umpires for the final did their best to enable the final to be played over the maximum number of overs but the rain delays in the end made this impossible. Taking nothing away from Barker’s deserved win, it also showed how important and timely it will be for the C&S Association to adopt the universal count- back rules that will be implemented in 2015/16. The season was important in respect to the grounds that the C&S Association has at its disposal. Goddard Park at Concord, used by the Yaralla Cricket club since 1891, and St Lukes ground, also at Concord and used by the C&S Association, are both due to have their on-going licence decided by the City of Canada Bay Council before the start of next season. It is critical that these grounds be retained although there is strong demand by other sporting bodies, including Sydney Grade Club, for the use of Goddard Park. The retention of other grounds including Waterloo and Camperdown ovals are also essential if the C&S Association are to continue to enjoy matches played on turf wickets. The cost of maintaining turf pitches is a great consideration by all Council’s, howev- er the Phillip Hughes incident showed what an important part cricket plays in Australian society. It would be an absolute disaster if turf wickets were lost to the City & Suburban Cricket Association, and other cricketing bodies, simply due to cost. With such an emphasis on grounds it is essential the C&S Association member clubs occupy the grounds allocated to them each and every weekend during the season. While the number of forfeited matches has declined from the unsatisfactory level we had several years ago, there are still too many matches where clubs let their opposition team down at the last minute. I urge all club officials to do whatever they can to put a team on the park, even borrowing players from other clubs who may have a surplus. With the social media available there may be a way of players not required by their club on a particular weekend to make themselves available to other clubs that are struggling for a team I have again observed a number of communications by your Association Secretary for results to be provided or other matters that he should not have needed to chase. His is a thankless task with just the normal Association communications tak- ing many hours of his time. He shouldn’t have to spend even more time chasing responses or reminding clubs of their responsibilities. Please assist him and answer his requests quickly and accurately in future. At the time of writing your executive are in the process of arranging the next Association dinner to be held in July after a gap of several years. Club responses have so far been encouraging and this looks like being a successful and well attended evening. The C & S Association lost one of their stalwart’s, a past Vice President and Life Member with the passing of Alan Law on 24 April 2015. Alan was a member and Club Delegate of the Hunters Hill CC. for many years and it is understood that dur- ing his playing days he took three hat tricks in C&S competition matches. In conclusion I must acknowledge the fantastic efforts again of your Secretary Brian Breakspear and Treasurer Garry Winney. Their work and attention to detail ensure fixtures are arranged, that we have grounds to play on, umpires are in attendance at JPS Shield finals, that weekly results are published and that our finances are more than capably managed. Thank you Brian and Garry for your ongoing support and the significant contribution you continue to provide to our Association. Bob Marshall SECRETARY’S REPORT I submit my report for your consideration and adoption. The 2014-15 cricket season saw the passing of the Association’s 112th year as a long standing cricket association in Sydney. Reflecting on those past years, the Association membership, both past and present, have witnessed, former Test, First Class and District Grade Cricket Club players grace their presence on our turf pitches, with a number of our member Clubs. Looking back one hundred years ago, (1915 -2015) it is interesting to note, in the Centenary year of ANZAC, that World War I had cast its dark shadow upon the coast line of Gallipoli, then the Western Front, to which the latter, had stretch seven hundred kilometres across Europe. The Empire was at War with Germany and Turkey. After the 1914-15 cricket season, Sheffield Shield fixtures were suspended. During World War 1 the New South Wales Cricket Association effectively discouraged men from taking part in the game. It was believed that anyone fit enough to play cricket should be in uniform of khaki, being the preferred colour. The following is an extract from the Association’s Minutes of the 1915-16 Annual General Meeting:- “…In presenting the thirteenth Annual Report of the Association has to congratulate itself, that even in the present time of trouble and difficulties owing to the State of War, some useful purpose was served by being able to provide exercise and recreation for those members where duties caused them to remain in the Commonwealth.

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