SOCIAL GAME v VICTORIA BARRACKS XI FOR THE BARRACKERS’ CUP AT VICTORIA BARRACKS OXFORD STREET ON WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2025 REPORT BY LUKE HOLMAN
(Editor’s note) It was the Victoria Barracks player who in the 1850s, originally developed what became the SCG; they also claim that their soldier spectators who came from the Barracks and supported them are the originators of the term “to barrack” as used in Australia. (This is disputed by etymologists who ascribe the term either to Melbourne or Ireland)
C.C.N.S.W. was invited by Cricket NSW to represent the civilian population of NSW v the Army at the SCG to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the SCG. Arising from that game C.C.N.S.W. and the Army jointly bought “The Barrackers’ Cup” which is kept in the Army Museum at Victoria Barracks and occasionally at the request of the C.C.N.S.W. Match Manager brought out on the day
The ball with which C.C.N.S.W. bowled in the150th anniversary game can be seen in the SCG Museum.
To quote from the Army web site
“Victoria Barracks is one of the best-known examples of military architecture in Australia. The Regency-style Victoria Barracks were designed by Lieutenant-Colonel George Barney, who also built Fort Denison and reconstructed Circular Quay. Most of barracks was constructed using locally quarried sandstone between 1841 and 1849. The barracks were occupied by British troops up until 1870 and then taken over by the New South Wales colonial forces. After the Federation in 1901, Victoria Barracks housed the various headquarters responsible for administering and co-coordinating the military. Between 1931 and 1936 the barracks was home to the Royal Military College of Australia and from July 1938 to July 1940 it also housed the Command and Staff School. Today, Victoria Barracks is home to the Headquarters of Forces Command. The Barracks are widely considered to be one of the best examples of a military barracks in the world”
(The cup had been mislaid by the Army for about 6 years but has just been rediscovered at the Barracks)
(Ed note: the game was 25 overs p side but rain delayed the start and the game was reduced to a T20)
Vic Barracks doesn’t host many T20s, but when it does, it puts on a midweek spectacle that feels half sport, half military exercise.
The quadrangle outfield was soft and lush, the kind that welcomes a full stretched dive. The wicket though was all business. Freshly prepped, a green tinge on top, hard enough to keep you honest. Full credit to the Vic Barracks curator. Overhead, Sydney played its usual end of spring game: 31 degrees, dry enough to sweat, storms circling like they’d seen the forecast too.
CCNSW arrived with the energy of a team ‘technically’ working from home. Enough urgency to suggest everyone was “between meetings”, cricket, conveniently, was the background noise. CCNSW won the toss and did the only proper thing, choosing to bat first at Vic Barracks. The radar wasn’t promising, but tradition prevailed.
Runs on the Board, Blazers on the Bench: CCNSW set 138.
Rob McMahon and Josh Heldarskard opened. One observed, the other attacked. Rob, all composure and footwork, played like a man getting to know the wicket with 18 singles. He retired (30*), completely buggered after 51 minutes at the crease, and wondering if he should’ve played more attacking shots.
Josh went his own way. He played with complete freedom, and exited for a punchy (21) in 26 minutes. First wicket down at 1-45. Perfect launch pad.
Enter Rhys Longbottom. Zero warm-up. No shadow batting. Just good vibes. Three sixes in an eight-minute blitz for (18). Brief, and highly effective.
Ryan Miller was run out for (5), the result of some funky Army fielding (Ed note;- direct hit on stumps from square cover with one stump to aim at) and a lesson in why you never assume officers won’t dive full-length to cut off a single.
Leonard Volkov’s dismissal (0) was the moment of the day for the Army XI. A thick edge off Sequeira, flying low to second slip (yep, second slip in a social game), where it was snatched one handed by a diving Army skipper, Lt-Colonel Nicholas Duff, in what can only be described as full combat mode.
Michael Carman (13) and Luke Holman (10) looked to rebuild. Both were comprehensively dismantled by Jones, a bowler seemingly running a dual target strategy: aim at the armpit or fire in a yorker. Effective, uncomfortable.
Jason “The Great Man” Keane, always the crowd favourite, fell for yet another (0) chopping on to Jones. His noughts are becoming familiar. But the nickname remains undefeated.
Down the order, Frank Baliotis (19*) and David Glenn (9*) blazed and brought the innings home with clever shots and clean hitting, pushing the score to a very defendable 7-138.
Mark Henwood, best-dressed on the day in full CCNSW touring regalia, waited patiently in the shade. Pads on, blazer unbuttoned. Unfortunately, the call never came.
Storm – Mission Aborted.
The Army began their reply with watchful discipline. A couple of early drives suggested this could be a proper old school run chase. But just as the third over began, the heavens opened with military precision. No covers. No más! The same field that hosts emergency landings was now hosting a tropical downpour. The wicket, now resembling the aftermath of a failed field exercise, was swiftly deemed unfit for further operations.
Match called off. Spirits intact. So we advanced to the Village Inn in Paddington for post-match analysis.
Notable Mentions
- Jed “The Finger” Wesley-Smith kept order as official umpire, without fear or bias.
- Ian Wright, legendary international scorer, had the scorebook filled out before the ball hit the rope, faster than 5G, with fewer dropouts.
- Adrian Hawkes, rarely sighted CCNSW Secretary, made a special guest appearance, possibly confirming the match’s legitimacy.
And very special thanks to Major Mike Lawry, a true statesman, who coordinated the Army XI and ensured both teams had their orders, the numbers, and a curated wicket at hand.
The Team was: – Joshua Heldarskard (w) 21, Rob McMahon 30* ret not out, Rhys Longbottom 18, Ryan Miller 5, Len Volkov 0, Michael Carman 13, Luke Holman (c) 10, Jason Keane 0, Frank Baliotis 19*, David Glen 9*, Mark Henwood dnb
The Result was: – No result (rain)
C.C.N.S.W.: – 7-138 (20 Overs) (Rob McMahon 30* ret not out)
Drawn vs
Victoria Barracks XI:- 0-9 (2.5 overs)
FoW: – 1-45 (J. Heldarskard); 2-64 (R. Longbottom); 3-72 (R. Miller); 4-74 (L. Volkov); 5-102 (M. Carman); 6-102 (J. Keane); 7-114 (L. Holman).
The Bowling was: – J. Keane 1.5-0-3-0; R. McMahon 1-0-6-0
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – Nil
Catches: – Nil
Run outs: – Nil
C&S JACK PACE ROUND 8 v KNOX OLD BOYS AT GILLESPIE FIELD, ON SUNDAY30 NOVEMBER 2025: REPORT BY TOM BARRETT
We were welcomed to an away fixture on a bright and sunny afternoon, the perfect conditions for cricket if not always for our nerves. Winning the toss, we elected to bat first, hoping to set a competitive total on a firm but green wicket.
The start, however, quickly became a lesson in caution. The Knox opening bowlers were steady and accurate on a wicket where the ball stopped a little. They waited for our batters to lose patience and were successful. Early wickets fell at 1-8, 2-20, 3-25, 4-25, and then 5-30, as some interesting, injudicious, perhaps even careless shot selections from the top order let us down. They had clearly been watching England bat! Even when timing was on, the ball seemed determined to keep us honest and generally went straight to their one saving umbrella fielders – with only one slip, and the opposition made the most of our lapses.
Into the chaos stepped our solidly built left handed batter, Rhys Longbottom at No 7, who anchored the innings with an extremely aggressive 61, showing patience and skill on a tricky deck combined with superb timing. He scored mainly in sixes! Off the first over he was in, CCNSW took 28 off a slow left armer! Soren Hughes cruised serenely in his wake and the score quickly advanced to 125 before Soren was caught for a well made 24. The lower order chipped in and CCNSW finished at 151 all out in the 32nd over. Jamie Murtha’s unbeaten 16* (batting at No.10!) demonstrating calm under pressure and clever placement at the end of our innings, was potentially match winning.
Our opening bowling combination of the medium fast left arm over of Theo Joy-Page and the right hand medium fast of Rhys Longbottom, surprisingly quick off a very short run up, contained their opening batters, and bowled very few bad balls. At the end of 14 overs, Knox had only scored just over 40 runs and needed a run rate of over 5 an over. However the experienced Knox Nos. 1 (Surendra 78* with 10×4 and 2×6) and No3 (Bijanwela 34 with 3x 4 and 2 x6) first consolidated and then increased the run rate. The bowling effort was tidy and disciplined and the team fought hard in the field but a few dropped catches allowed the Knox batters to remain on track and they won by 8 wickets with 11 balls to spare
It wasn’t a perfect day, but the highlights were clear: Rhys’ extraordinary batting and all-round heroics, the lower order’s resilience, and the side’s determination to keep going despite early setbacks and a knee injury to Zeke Hughes in the field. Had all the chances been held, the story could have been different — but for an away game in bright conditions, there was plenty to be proud of.
The Team was (playing 12): – Ryan Lynch 0, Roman Hughes 12, Ezekiel Hughes 11, Sam Miller 3, Thomas Barrett 0, Soren Hughes 24, Rhys Longbottom 61, Declan Thomas 0, Nathan Austen 9, James Murtha 16*, Adam Khamis 0 and Theo Joy-Page dnb
The Result was: –
C.C.N.S.W.:- 10–151 (31.4 Overs) (R. Longbottom 61)
Lost to
Knox Old Boys: – 2-152 (33.1 Overs)
By 8 wickets
FoW: – 1-8 (R. Lynch); 2-20 (Roman Hughes); 3-25 (Ezekiel Hughes); 4-25 (T. Barrett); 5-30 (S. Millar); 6-125 (R. Longbottom); 7-126 (D. Thomas); 8-126 (Soren Hughes); 9-151 (N. Austen); 10-151 (A. Khamis)
The Bowling was: – T. Joy-Page 7-1-21-0; R. Longbottom 7-0-18-1; J. Murtha 7-0-40-0; A. Khamis 6-1-26-0 ; T. Barrett 2.1-0-17-0; N. Austen 4-0-23-1
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – Nil
Catches: -One each to D. Thomas (w) and S. Hughes
Run outs: – Nil
CCNSW Player points: – 3 points to R. Longbottom; 2 points to Soren Hughes; one point to Nathan Austen
MASTERS ROUND 5 v ROSEVILLE C.C. AT SPRINGWOOD OVAL, LOMATIA PARK, SPRINGWOOD, ON SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2025: REPORT BY JASON KENN
Due to the Roseville home ground being double booked, we had a very late shift of venue to Lomatia Park in the lower Blue Mountains. There are few better places to spend a Sunday than the picturesque surrounds of Lomatia Park in Springwood. The ground was looking a treat as the Cricketers’ Club of NSW arrived for their hit-out against Roseville, and all eyes were on debutant skipper Jason Kenn as he strode out for the toss. From the sidelines, his body language told the story before he even returned – the shoulders slightly slumped, the knowing half-smile – and sure enough, we were bowling first.
Roseville’s Classy Middle Order
We knew Roseville (premiers from last season) had a powerful batting line-up, but they were without a few big guns today so our mood was relatively optimistic. The opening combination, after a bit of a slow start, got off and running. A combination of good leaves, quick singles, punishing boundaries and the odd slice of luck was the result. After a retirement, Jason Keane and Ryan Miller both picked up a wicket each – both bowling a good line and were rightly rewarded. That brought in the two middle order powers for Roseville, and they produced a master class through the middle overs. Solid contributions across the board kept the scoreboard ticking. While our bowlers created chances, we were guilty of offering a few too many charitable full tosses.
I don’t want to single anyone out so I won’t mention that Sherville (“Wes”) Hall bowled an eventful over. He was left ruing what a second over might have produced (just quietly, Dan Turner did also go for a few in his third over). It is rumoured that Wes was suffering from the Springwood altitude, as he was heard to say ”Are we at the top of the hill” when arriving at the ground.
Despite the challenges, it was largely a committed fielding effort from the Cricketers’ Club. Ash Perrott came on and bowled well for 3 overs. Jason Kenn took a beautiful wicket, clean bowling another run machine from Roseville for a golden duck. Mick Tarrant and Ben Stanic kept charging in, and it has to be said ‘The Great Maaan’ Jason Keane, bowled well without much luck. But the pick of the bowlers was Ryan Miller – off his sick bed it should be noted – with 2-43 from 8 overs of off-spin. All in all, the innings was kept as controlled as possible against a well-drilled Roseville batting unit. Scott Wells kept up the standards behind the stumps with two catches, and Ben Stanic made some quick work on the last ball of the innings with a run out.
Roseville closed at 6–244, with several of their batters retiring not out after handy contributions.
Cricketers Club Reply
In what required a strong start, we had to balance keeping out some good bowling, with taking a few risks to keep our run rate at a semi decent level. Early wickets fell and our run rate required kept growing. Dan turner (26) started to show a glimpse of form, finding the rope four times, before falling to ‘The Talented Mr Wood’ – one of his 5 wickets for the day. At 5-55, it was a tall order and we needed someone to produce something. Welcome back to the team – Ash Perrott – who answered the call. His unbeaten 55* off 63 balls, featuring seven fours and a cracking six, was the standout batting performance of the day. Composed, positive, and classy.
Wickets fell at steady intervals around Ash until Jason Keane (11)* joined Ash for what became a very handy unbeaten last-wicket stand – roughly 30 runs that added some respectability to the total and showed the fight that runs through this side. Jason proved there are runs in that new bat.
Cricketers Club finished at 9–142, short of the target but far from discouraged.
Still A Good Day Out
When stumps were pulled and the sun began to dip behind the gum trees, the team found themselves with a cold beer in hand, unwinding in the Lomatia surrounds. These are the moments that make a loss feel a little less painful, talking a bit of nonsense among teammates and having a laugh. Plenty of satisfying passages of play, plenty learned, and more than enough positives to take into the next match in two weeks’ time.
A final call out – we were reliant on our wider club player pool today so a very large THANK YOU to all players who stepped up and made themselves available, ‘Wes’ Hall coming all the way from Wollongong, Mike Weaver from the Central Coast, Valmik Ahire, Ash Perrott , Jason Keane. Without you we would have forfeited so let’s take some perspective on the game, and thank you.
A loss on paper — but a good day of cricket (and yes that’s right, we will call it a moral victory!!).
The Team was: – Mike Weaver 2, Scot Wells (w) 12, Jason Kenn (c) 4, Dan Turner 26, Ryan Miller 6, Ash Perrott 55*, Mike Tarrant 1, Sherville Hall 0, Valmik Ahire 7, Benjamin Stanic 4, Jason Keane 11*
The Result was: –
Roseville CC: 6- 244 (40 Overs)
Defeated
C.C.N.S.W.: – 9-142 (40 Overs) (A. Perrott 55*)
By 102 runs.
FoW: – 1-14 (S. Wells); 2-14 (M. Weaver); 3-30 (J. Kenn); 4-54 (R. Miller); 5-55 (D. Turner); 6-63 (M. Tarrant); 7-67 (S. Hall); 8-89 (V. Ahire); 9-113 (B. Stanic).
The Bowling was: – B. Stanic7-1-44-1; M. Tarrant 6-0-28-0; J. Keane 4-0-24-1; R. Miller 8-0-43-2; J. Kenn 6-0-32-1; D. Turner 3-0-30-0; A. Perrott 3-0-12-0; S. Hall 1-0-17-0; V. Ahire 2-0-12-0.
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – Nil
Catches: – Two to S. Wells (w)
Run outs: – one to B. Stanic
CCNSW Player points: – 3 points to A. Perrott; 2 points to D. Turner; one point to R. Miller
VINTAGE ROUND 5 v BALMAIN-SOUTH SYDNEY AT CAMPERDOWN OVAL, CAMPERDOWN ON SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2025: REPORT BY STUART RIDGE
The Vintage squad is starting to show its age with Ed Cross recovering from knee surgery, President Greg Brooks in for a second new hip this week and Mick McCormick and Joe Scarcella also on the waiting list for hip and knee replacements.
With the squad stretched, a couple of Saturday withdrawals from the usually reliable group left us scrambling to get 12 on the park for this week’s round against Balmain. Not sure who was living more dangerously with Frank Baliotis wielding a Stanley knife on top of a ladder and nearly removing a finger doing roof repairs or Sittampalam Ragavan (“Raga”) being reminded by his wife of a Sunday wedding engagement when shopping for afternoon tea the day before.
An appeal for gear went out as the skipper’s house guest, Phil Knight, out from England for some Ashes cricket was co-opted for a run and a guilty Raga offered to drop by for a brief mid-afternoon cameo between social engagements.
Stuart Ridge put the pre-match dramas behind him to call correctly and give CCNSW first use of the one of the freshly grassed new strips on the Camperdown square. Gerry O’Shea and Dan Pellen opened up, Dan looking dangerous with four well struck boundaries before being caught behind. Joe Scarcella joined Gerry and kept things moving as the total passed 50 in the 11th over.
After the loss of Gerry for 19, first Joe Scarcella, then Greg Brooks and Andy Davis all cashed in on the erratic change bowlers with run a ball thirties. David Craig and David Glen both went down blazing as we entered the last 10 overs with 3 in the bank. Garry James then teed off with 30 off 15 balls supported by John Finucane with another run a ball 30 to add 50 odd off the next 7 overs before Phil Knight, late arrival Raga and Stuart Ridge all fell, swinging in the last over.
Raga had arrived straight from wedding duties resplendent in traditional dress and after a quick change and short knock warmed up to open the bowling with skipper Stuart Ridge.
The Balmain openers seemed content to just survive until an early change brought David Craig into the attack. A couple of looseners yielded boundaries before a chip to Raga provided the first breakthrough. The dangerous looking first drop was then finding the fence regularly until missing a wider one from Raga to be stumped smartly by John Finucane.
Raga then returned to his social engagements after a tidy spell and was replaced by Garry James. Both Garry and David were extracting turn and bounce providing John with a catch behind and a second stumping to leave Balmain 4-54 at drinks.
With the game over as a contest, the goal was to take all ten wickets to maximise bonus points. With Joe Scarcella and Andy Davis carrying injuries, our bowling depth was shown with David Glen thrown the ball for his first spell of the season. Straight away he broke the stubborn fifth wicket partnership with John Finucane taking another catch standing up.
Garry James then crowned a typically testing spell nipping the ball back past the inside edge twice for a bowled and then an lbw and David Glen picked up another couple in the next over, hitting the stumps and then giving John his fifth dismissal with another catch up to the wicket.
The final wicket was proving elusive but with the skipper warming up for a return spell, Gerry O’Shea teased out a false shot for a well taken catch by Andy Davis.
A strong win despite injuries and absences, getting good value with bonus points for runs and wickets. A host of good batting and bowling performances but the highlight of the day was John Finucane’s 5 dismissals, all standing up to the wicket on a track with variable bounce, as well as no sundries conceded – an inspiration for those awaiting surgical interventions after recovering from his own off-season knee surgery.
The Team was: – Gerard O’Shea 17; Daniel Pellen 18, Joseph Scarcella 33*, Andrew Davis 32* ret not out, Greg Brooks 33* ret not out, John Finucane (w) 31* ret not out, David Craig 8, David Glen 4, Garry James 30* ret not out, Philip Knight 4, Sittampalam Ragavan 1, Stuart Ridge (c) 1
The Result was: –
C.C.N.S.W.: – 7-236 (40 Overs) (G. Brooks 33* ret not out; J. Scarcella 33*; A. Davis 32* ret not out; J. Finucane (w) 31* ret not out; G. James 30* ret not out)
Defeated
Balmain-South-Sydney CC: 10-107 (33.5 Overs)
By 136 runs.
FoW: – .??????????????
The Bowling was: – S. Ridge 4-2-5-0; S. Ragavan 7-0-25-1; D. Craig 7-1-27-2; G. James 7-1-16-3; D. Glen 6-0-24-3; G. O’Shea 2.5-0-9-1
The Fielding was: –
Stumpings: – 3 to J. Finucane
Catches: – 2 to J. Finucane (w);One to each of A. Davis and S. Ragavan
Run outs: – Nil
CCNSW Player points: – CCNSW Player points (awarded by captain): – 3 points to Finucane; 2 points to G. James; one point to D. Glen