Edition 12 December 2013

South Yarra Club (The Yarras)

Como Park, corner of Two down, four to go Williams Road and Alexandra Avenue, South Yarra Hard to believe I know, but host of eye-catching MCA match committee. www.yarras.com we are already into individual performances. As always, we will Whilst we have not been Established: 1866 (?) December and the fat man in the red suit is getting his highlight the best of them 100% innocent in this area, President: Stuart sat-nav out as we speak. within these pages. (past or present), it has Norman been great to see the sense Editor: James Dixon From a cricketing November also saw one of passionate competition, perspective, that means of the highlights of the but not at all costs, that we [email protected] that we have already gone Yarras’ social calendar, have down at the Yarras. through the first two with Gid hosting his All our grades play hard but months of the 2013/4 annual cricketing book play fair, and it has been season and only have launch down at Como pleasing to see this Keep watching this another four to go Park. As always it was continue, in the main. space - Upcoming (assuming that we have great to see a fantastic Milestones some finals representation, turn-out from the Yarras’ I am not sure what most of which I am sure we will). players and guests. you are going to be asking Batting Thanks to the many Santa for this Christmas, Andy Campbell – 978 The second month of the current players and but for me I hope he brings runs season has carried on in the committee members who the Yarras plenty of good same vein as the first, with chipped in over the cheer (starting with the pretty much all Yarras course of the evening to Karaoke night) and no Gideon Haigh – 297 grades seeing some cricket ensure that the night shortage of success (and, washed out at some point went without a hitch. for me at least, a more even Bruce Haack – 47 during November. That Ashes series than we saw in wickets hasn’t stopped the On the field, over the past the first test), achieved in momentum building few seasons there has the right spirit. Matches played however, with each side been a growing number Tom Mullinar – 148 having won at least one of incidents reported by Merry December Yarras! games game during the month the umpires in their Andy Campbell – 146 and there being a whole match reports to the games Frazer Hughes – 49 games Ranjit Sundaram – 49 What’s coming up at the Yarras games John Scurry – 47 What When Where games Donald Elliott – 47 Outdoor training Every Tuesday and Thursday Como Park, South Yarra games night from 5.30pm Bruce Haack – 47 games Stonington Council Friday 13 December 2013 Como Park, South Yarra Event: Carols at Como Park

The Como Christmas Saturday 14 December 2013 Como Pavilion, Como Park, Karaoke South Yarra

Stay tuned for further details via e-mail on this month’s social events. Page 2 The Como Courier December 2013

Getting to know…

Anyone with a player ID on Statistics: MyCricket of 0000009 will obviously have been around Debut – Saturday 12 December South Yarra Cricket Club for a 1998, MCA B Grade Vs Reds long time. (according to MyCricket he opened the bowling???) Since making his debut for the club on Saturday 12 December Games played – 137 1998, this man has won a number of awards and has done Runs scored – 2,169 @ 15.95 the obligatory one season on the committee, serving as club Highest score – 93 not out Vs secretary for the 2000/2001 Canterbury, MCA A Reserve, season. Sunday 18 November 2001 Always a friendly face both on Wickets: 1 @ 62.00 the field and at training, and a regular at social events, he has Best bowling: 1/3 Vs Parkville been a true Yarra throughout District, MCA C Sunday, his 136 games with us. Sunday 25 October 2009 Let’s get to know the man known as CC, Chris Connelly… Catches taken: 58 (and 1 stumping?)

Talk us through your What brought you down the What are your cricketing past Yarras? passions/interests outside of I started playing at primary I was invited down to the Yarras in cricket? school (Cranbrook in Sydney 1998 by a mate who played a Family of course – I am married with then Canberra Grammar). couple of games and was never 2 kids. seen again. I played Under-16 and senior I also like to indulge in a bit of SCUBA cricket at South Portland while What has been your career diving. I have done 28 dives since at High School. Believe it or highlight to date? mid-October, including missing a not, I actually used to be able to The first one that springs to mind week or two of cricket to celebrate a bowl leg spin, and I got a few has got to be being part of the milestone birthday on a boat off the wickets. 01/02 A Reserve premiership side Queensland coast.

Having given up cricket for 16 After that, it would be my highest Staying on shore, another passion of years after coming to score of 93 not out, mainly because mine would be cycling - both Melbourne for uni and work I the batsman at the other end motorised and pedal-powered. then ended up at the Yarras. decided to block out the last two And the rest is history. overs and I couldn’t get the strike.

What is your claim to If you could invite three Can you tell us something fame? famous people, dead or alive, interesting about yourself that Hard to believe I know, but I to dinner, who would they be nobody else down the club is once clean bowled one of the and why? likely to know? 1975/76 West Indies touring Aristotle - one of the great I led a group of over 300 people down party. philosophers the middle of Swanston St carrying rifles and other weapons. My dad was Head Einstein - knew a bit about science of Cricket at school and the You’ll have to buy me a beer to find Windies trained there. I got Temujin (AKA Genghis Khan) - out the rest of the story! to bowl a few overs at them created the world's largest land and got lucky. I can't empire with no modern technology (Ed: I’m sure someone will be happy remember who I bowled so I or communications (Ed: interesting to do that, knowing the Yarras might as well claim it was idol, coming from IBM’s head of balcony!). Viv Richards!!! cloud consulting!). Page 3 The Como Courier December 2013

Third Umpire: The Annual Book Launch by David Strachan

Like a back flip on a Liberal would all agree that Gid’s annual Year, both on and off the field. election policy, a book launch book launches are an exciting event from Gid comes around just as in the Yarras’ calendar, and his The raffle tickets were sold with reliably. generosity in holding it at Como great gusto, with the prizes ranging underlines why he is a Life Member from Hammers meat tray (err, from It was also a pleasant surprise and, for me, a legend of the club. his boucherie), to a session from to see so many Yarras getting domainHealth and to a voucher amongst the literati and The Mantis, aka Albi, had the tongs from Bendigo Bank. gobbling up Gid’s latest book, at full mach as the sausages, entitled Uncertain Corridors burgers, onions and chicken were Our lovely barrel gal, Cecelia drew (apparently it's not about cooked to perfection. This was each one and the big winners were getting lost in a mens room). especially 'special' as he had just those who won (read, I can't made a ton in the ones! remember), but myself, Jonny M So with the biggest social event and Pasquale sold the lot and I'm of the season in the offing, Not only was he Tong Master but sure Sumo will be pleased with Melbourne finally turned on he was also helping behind the bar everyone's generosity. the sunshine and the crowd and, after an epic innings, he gets thickened to enjoy Gid’s 2.5 my vote for Best On Ground at the Sue aka Stu aka El Prez was quite millionth tome. book launch! He will be sorely witty with his introduction of missed when he heads off on his GDubs (as I like to call Gerard Although I jest, I think we travels around Europe in the New Whately) and GDubs hit the deck

running. Alas, his wit and articulation was search and sharing of gold stars, it too cerebral for this SMH reader, so was actually little Miss Haigh who My first introduction to GDubs I just laughed along with everyone got the biggest laugh and clap for was when I was told some else. But not to be too frivolous, I the night. Priceless. palooka called Gid was on a TV was able to capture the vibe as I show, so my celebrity stalking was also taking a few photos, and I Apres said speeches, Gid got down had me watching Offsiders on a can guarantee the vibe was special to clearing, er signing, all his books. Sunday. (oops wrong broadcaster). Gdubs As always, Gid took the time to introduction to Gid was beautifully make meaningful commentary as Similarly to my first impression done, and it was over to the man of he signs away. In fact, I think his I found Gdubs to be a slick the hour. affectations to Jonny Morrison performer. He is articulate, were poetic. It said ' I love you. You witty, engaging and, more As always, Gid’s investment in are a ...' -and I'll leave it there as I importantly, happy to take the delivering a good speech can be turn off the cricket stump mic! piss out of Gid (Ed: Sounds like seen in the many notes he makes. a true Yarra to me – when is His is always faultless, As always, the book launch proved he available?). entertaining and pretty hard to be to be a fantastic success as a Yarras upstaged. Enter Cecelia. After her social function, with the Como Pavilion packed to the rafters and the food and drink flowing.

These events are put together by many volunteers, and I am sure that Stu will thank many of these guys personally, but as a roaming, freelance scribe for the Como Courier, I'd like to say thanks to Gid for (again) making a wonderful night happen, and well done on a cheeky 40 not out on Sunday too. Well played sir! Page 4 The Como Courier December 2013

The season so far: The Two Months to November

The end of the second month of the playing field, with several notable Significant performances from the season sees the 1st grade sitting on the performances taking place across all Yarras to date this season, as at 29 of the A grade ladder, whilst the grades. This has included the first November 2013, have been as 2ndgrade are up to sixth in the A tons of the season, coming in the 1’s follows: Reserve, the 3rd grade have moved up in the dual form of McClure and to seventh in B Sunday, the 4th grade Haack. Highest individual scores: are in sixth spot in C grade and the 1. Rohan McClure: 131 Vs 5ths are sitting in fourth in D grade. We should also report on some Powerhouse, A Grade, So all in all there is plenty to play for notable milestones that have been Saturday 2 November 2013 across the grades, with every grade in reached during November, with Alex with a shout of making the finals at Mckenzie passing 1,000 runs for the 2. Bruce Haack: 101 Vs Sacred this early stage in the season. club and Benny McLean sailing past Heart, A Grade, Saturday 23 the 50 mark. November 2013 From a personal perspective within the club, there have been some notable An even bigger milestone was 3. Bruce Haack: 87 Vs highs and lows within the 1st grade reached last Saturday, with Graeme Powerhouse, A Grade, squad, with the joyous moments of Patience becoming just the third Saturday 2 November 2013 Missy getting married, the Reidy’s Yarra to reach the 200 game mark, having their first child and the joining two other life members in 4. Varun Thalla: 81 Vs Sampson’s their second being offset by Gideon Haigh and Dave Neal in Youlden Parkville, C Grade, the loss of Tezza with a broken leg for, achieving this feat. It is a truly Saturday 5 October 2013 potentially, the whole season and Azza fantastic show of commitment and for a month with a fractured skull. support for the club that Sumo 5. Muhilan Sriravindrarajah: reaches this milestone and I am sure 60 Vs Maccabi Ajax, A There has also been much to celebrate we all congratulate him immensely in Reserve, Saturday 5 October from an individual perspective on the this achievement. 2013

Best bowling performances: Highest aggregate run scorers: Leading wicket takers 1. Martin Reidy: 5-14 Vs 1. Varun Thalla: 206 runs at an 1. Frazer Hughes: 13 wickets at Parkville District, C Grade, average of 51.50 an average of 10.69 Saturday 2 November 2013 2. Bruce Haack: 197 runs at an 2. James Dixon: 13 wickets at an 2. Santosh Thuniki: 5-29 Vs average of 49.25 average of 13.38 Indigos, D Grade, Saturday 19 October 2013 3. Rohan McClure: 153 runs at 3. Santosh Thuniki: 11 wickets at an average of 76.50 an average of 10.64 3. Rick Derons: 5-37 Vs Eastern Flow, A Reserve, 4. Cameron Conwell: 123 runs 4. Rick Derons: 10 wickets at an Saturday 16 November 2013 at an average of 24.60 average of 16.50

4. Ben McLean: 4-10 Vs 5. David Neal: 103 runs at an 5. Martin Reidy: 8 wickets at an Monash Uni, B Sunday, average of 25.75 average of 5.50 Sunday 24 November 2013 Leading catcher: Leading keeper: 5. Scott Cruttenden: 4-17 Vs Monash Uni, A Grade, Andrew Fairman - 4 catches Ranjit Sundaram – 5 dismissals (3 Saturday 12 October 2013 catches, 2 stumpings)

Haacky tonned up against I think these boys earned a Jub Jub with 131 against the Hearters cold one table-topping Powerhouse Page 5 The Como Courier December 2013

The Back Page: The Como Comment by David Strachan

OK then, I’ll bite. The recent Freddie, stood at first slip after a Myself, it’s all a storm in a tea cup controversy is getting a bit wild swipe from the batsman and the media beat up just gives it of airplay. Everyone seems to have and chuckling to himself: ‘Mind traction. an opinion, for and against, and I do the windows Tino’ find it interesting in that it becomes These types of verbals are a part of enlightening listening to how Next ball, Tino Best comes cricket. It’s when racial vilification different players or commentators charging down the track to and personal attacks (not like to play/see the game. , tries to smash him including broken arms) start over the moon and gets , becoming the norm that a line Myself, I can’t see the benefit of much to the entertainment of the needs to be drawn. sledging. Personally I think many of English side. the opposition dig in and work A bit of verbal argy bargy is good harder and let their performance do Anyway, I digress… for the game, but what I would the talking in reply. Of course, there hope to read and see more of is the have been times that have proven The Don would be rolling over in hostile bowling being employed as otherwise – the Freddie Flintoff and his cricketing coffin with such a psychological warfare, rather than Tino Best sledge at Lords comes to captain’s performance as Pup the words. mind as one that worked to full showed recently during the effect. Brisbane test. But then again, It brings a smile to an old man’s The Don could let his eye as I recount the aggression the For those not aware of this incident, performances do the talking for Windies showed in their heyday, it goes something like this: him. not forgetting the mongrel we got

when we had Thommo and Lillee keep what’s said on the field as “The Spirit of the Game in their pomp. This is why it is simply that. involves RESPECT for your called a TEST, not tiddly winks…let opponents, your own captain, the ‘eye stares’ and blue collar Even though I don’t play this way, the roles of the umpires and the discussions continue. I reckon I might even throw in a game's traditional values. comment this weekend of ‘I’ll Both camps have acknowledged break ya f*cking arm’ as I bowl my It is against the Spirit of the that there are no personal agendas, own filthy little noodles. Game to dispute an umpire's simply cricketing agendas (although decision by word, action or with the subsequent Jonathan Trott Alas, with my pace I’d be lucky to gesture, to direct abusive scenario that is suddenly being break the bails off the top of the language towards an opponent questioned). f*cking stumps! or umpire or to indulge in cheating or any sharp practice.” With this in mind, let’s get rid of the I will leave you with the definition stump mics and let our own of the spirit of cricket from the Here’s hoping the MCA and the imagination furtively acknowledge MCC’s preamble to the Laws of Yarras can abide by the spirit of the battle that is going on and let’s Cricket: the above definition.