Our first game of the season was played under blue skies at Moore Park, the guys playing to defend last season’s winter championship title.

We batted first and Charles Sharpe and Shahzeem Ajani got us off to a tidy start, knocking singles around and picking off the bad balls, Charles was caught out for 15 which brought Mick McGrath to the crease who proceeded to smash his first two shots for 6! Shahzeem and Mick ticked the scoreboard over at a good rate early, including scoring an impressive 20 from one over before Shahzeem was adjudged lbw for 36 off 27.

Wade Butler played his shots and seemed solid before being caught for 23 off 11.

Joel Uddstrom came to the crease with the opposition’s best bowlers coming back into the attack, the boundaries became hard to hit but the runs continued to accumulate. Mick brought up his 50 off 31 balls, an important contribution to the team on the day and a great start to his season.

Sanjeet Bhandari (8) and Joel Uddstrom (14) faced the death overs and moved the score onto 5-153 before both being dismissed in the final over to end the innings.

With 153 on the board Craig Fordham (“Fordo”) took the new ball and started well with a tidy first over, Sanjeet Bhandari at the other end was hit for consecutive fours but got his man the next ball to grab the first wicket of the season. Fordo followed suit picking up an important wicket; he bowled his four straight with a very economical opening spell at 5.25rpo.

Charles Sharpe came into the attack and kept the pressure on the batters, not allowing them to score freely. Mick McGrath bowled a one over spell at the other end, picking up the key wicket of Schoeffer for 9 (Ed note: LMS career average over almost a hundred games  of 82.84 at a strike rate of 183.16) to leave the opposition reeling.

Batters number 5 and 6 tried to consolidate but the pressure became too much as the run rate climbed above 10. Will Jacobs  was excellent with the gloves taking a catch and handy stumping. 

Sharpe, McGrath, and Uddstrom  all picked up wickets and successfully bowled “Stumped!” out for 113  in the 20th over securing a CCNSW win by 40 runs.

This was an excellent way to start our winter season, and hopefully we can end round 2 with a similar result! Awesome stuff from everyone involved!

The Team was: – Shahzeem Ajani 36, Charles Sharpe 17, Mick McGrath (c) 50*, Wade Butler 23, Joel Uddstrom 14, Sanjeet Bhandari 8, Craig Fordham 0*, William Jacobs (w) 0*

The Result was:- 

CCNSW: – 5-153 (20 overs) (M. McGrath 50*)

Defeated

Stumped: – 8-113 (19.1 overs) 

By 40 runs.

The Bowling was: – C. Fordham 4-0-21-0; S. Bhandari 4-0-17-1; J. Uddstrom 4-0-32-1; C. Sharpe 4-0-30-1, M. McGrath 2.1-0-6-2; W. Butler 1-0-4-0

The Fielding was:-

Stumpings: – One to W. Jacobs

Catches: – One to W. Butler and one to M. McGrath

Run outs: – Nil

Player points (awarded by captain): – 3 points to M. McGrath; 2 points to W. Butler; 1 point to S. Bhandari 

See: https://www.lastmanstands.com/leagues/scorecard/1st-innings?fixtureid=385123

LMS T20 (8-a-SIDE) EASTERN SYDNEY MIDWEEK DIVISION 2  ROUND 11 v ‘JOHNNY CASH MEMORIAL’ AT CP5 CENTENNIAL PARK PARADE GROUND, MOORE PARK ON TUESDAY 31 JANUARY 2023: REPORT BY SCOTT WILLIAMS

CCNSW fielded possibly the strongest LMS team it has ever put together. After seeing our line-up the Jonny Cash Memorial team suggested that CCNSW should bat first so that we could get a decent game. This turned out to be a good decision as CCNSW put on 3-202 and kept Jonny Cash to 119. 

Steven Sheakey and Rob Shone got CCNSW off to a good start with some quick runs before Sheakey missed a full one to be out for 25. As Sheakey departed, James Bonkowski arrived…. and then departed an over later. Scott Williams came in swinging and put together a quick fire 43 off 17 balls. Rhys ‘Wild Thing’ Longbottom took over where Scott left and smashed the ball over the place. Rhys retired 50* from 20 balls  and Rob Shone, in  keeping with his current form of being undissmissable,  retired at a run a ball 50*. Dan May came in with 6 balls left and managed to destroy those 6 balls for 28 runs which include a home run 12 on the last ball.

Set 204 to win, the Johnny Cash Memorial VIII was always going to be in trouble and Mick McGrath swinging the ball around corners,  wasn’t going to help them. Mick picked up a wicket in his first over and from there the wickets tumbled with no partnership ever getting set. Wickets were spread around with all the bowlers having great economy rates and Dan May even bowling a maiden.

The win made it back to back bonus point victories and is putting CCNSW in a great position to sneak into the 4th spot and into the finals being currently only 3 points behind the 4^th place team

The Team was: – Steven Sheakey 26, Rod Shone 50*, James Bonkowski 4, Scott Williams (c) & (w)) 43, Rhys Longbottom 51*, Mick McGrath 1*, Daniel May 28*, Craig Fordham dnb

The Result was:- 

CCNSW: – 3-203 (20 overs) (R. Longbottom 51*; R. Shone 50*)

Defeated

Johnny Cash Memorial: – 6-119 (20 overs) 

By 84 runs

The Bowling was: – M. McGrath 4-0-19-2; R. Longbottom 4-0-21-0; R. Shone 4-0-20-1; D. May 3-1-11-1, S. Sheakey 3-0-23-1, C. Fordham 2-0-21-1

The Fielding was:-

Stumpings: – Nil

Catches: – One to each of S. Williams (w) and M. McGrath and D. May

Run outs: – Nil

Player points (awarded by captain): – 3 points to D. May; 2 points to R. Longbottom; 1 point to R. Shone

See:  https://www.lastmanstands.com/leagues/scorecard/1st-innings?fixtureid=370874

CITY AND SUBURBAN ROUND 11  v NONDESCRIPTS  AT CAMPERDOWN PARK, CAMPERDOWN ON SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2023: REPORT BY TOM ROBERTSON

(Editor’s Note: this match appears to have given rise to some tension arising from player-umpire decisions)

Glorious conditions met us at Camperdown beach for our game against Nondescripts. Jamie Murtha  was captain for the day.  ‘Nondos’ won the toss and batted. Tight bowling from Avi Bhandari and Soren Hughes had them going at only just over 2 runs per over for the first 10 overs. Wickets were not falling quickly but runs were like hens’ teeth.

The young opener to the eyes of the CCNSW fielders appeared to snick one off Avi but the (Nondo player) umpire did not apparently see or hear it. More controversy soon after, when their captain appeared to  nick one  off Matt Edge’s slow bowling which deflected into Declan Thomas’s leg, standing up as keeper, then spooned up to slip. Again the edge appeared clear to us but was given not out.

Their captain did not walk and a few words were exchanged. Their innings never really got going and they were restricted to 7-124 off 35 overs. All our bowlers bowled well with Jamie Murtha lifting and bowing some nice seam up to end up with 3-19.

Our turn to bat and we soon discovered they were very much a bowling side. Their opener bowled full and straight but as it often turns out, the other less threatening opener went and got wickets. Tom Robertson faced his first ball that went sailing over cover for 6. ‘This is easy’, thought Tom. Next ball, bowled! Matt Leon (0) and Harry Bridge (0) came and went. Avi Bhandari (12) showed good resistance till he copped a good yorker.

Nondescripts had us 6 for 38 in the eleventh over and in deep trouble. But we fought  back  thanks to Toby Forbes and Jamie Murtha. These two have been caught in bad situations many times and have really fought hard. Jamie (19), Adam Khamis (3) and Toby (32) got out within 9 runs as we slipped from 6-88 to 9-97. We were in a real pickle at 9 down for 97, needing another 28 to win with six overs to go.

 Little did they know we had a Soren Hughes and a Matt Edge at Nos. 10 and 11 and both could bat! Soren put the state of the game aside and played his natural game hitting the bad ones away hard with his 3lb monster bat. Matt too hit some beautifully timed boundaries.

Two overs left and six to get. The pendulum had swung. Matt took strike and the lads worked 3 singles off the first 4 balls. Can Soren finish this? The bowler pitches it up into Soren’s sweet spot. Boom! But wait, he’s smashed it straight at a fielder on the boundary, oh no! But justice has prevailed; it has burst through his hands and gone for 4.

 What a finish! Beers were then enjoyed and tasted oh so sweet.

While there had been a degree of controversy and contention in the game with the odd hard word, next game the slate is wiped clean so I hope it is played in the spirit cricket should be played, especially when in most C&S games the players have to umpire their own batters and the fielding side can sometimes become frustrated.

The Team was: – Michael Carman 11, Tom Robertson 7, Matt Leong 0, Harry Bridge 0, Avinash Bhandari 12, Declan Thomas (w) 2, Toby Forbes 32, Jamie Murtha (c) 19, Adam Khamis 3, Soren Hughes 16*, Matthew Edge  12* (and 11 extras)

The Result was: –

Nondescripts: – 7-124 (35 overs) (J. Murtha 3-19)

Lost to

C.C.N.S.W.: – 9-126 (33.5 overs) (T. Forbes 32)

By one wicket

FoW: – 1- 8 (T. Robertson); 2-17 (H. Bridge); 3- 17 (M. Leong); 4-33 (A. Bhandari). 5-38 (D. Thomas); 6-38 (M. Carman); 7- 88 (J. Murtha); 8-96(A. Khamis); 9- 97 (T. Forbes).

The Bowling was: – A. Bhandari 7-1-23-1; S. Hughes 5-2-8-1; M. Leong 2-1-4-0; T. Forbes 6-0-22-2; A. Khamis 5-0-21-0; M. Edge 5-1-18-0; J. Murtha 5-1-19-3

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – Nil

Catches: – 2 to D. Thomas (w) ; one each to H. Bridge and T. Robertson

Run outs: – Nil

Player points (awarded by captain): – 3 points to T. Forbes; 2 points to S. Hughes; one point to M. Edge

CLASSICS  ROUND 9 v STRATHFIELD  AT AIREY PARK, HOMEBUSH  ON SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2023: REPORT BY SCOTT WELLS

On a lovely Summers day – mid to high 20s slight breeze, the team was eager to play on the magnificent Airey Park vs Strathfield being the Shires first grade ground with a well prepared pitch and a rarely seen carpet like couch outfield. So much so that the skipper had left his whites behind (blaming his mum for not packing them the night before). 

Two late withdrawals from our 12 man team (Ed Cross and Brett James both with injury) meant we headed into the game with 11 but still with very strong depth in the bowling and batting. With the skipper not there for the toss, Mike Pinter was anointed in that capacity. Mike lost the toss and Strathfield had no hesitation in sending us into the field on what appeared to be a belter. 

Mick Tarrant opened the bowling and was on the spot from ball one getting some good movement in the air and with the pitch seaming, some coming through with lots of bounce and others “Camperdown like”. Perhaps the good coverage on the wicket was hiding what lurks below. From the other end, Andy Bachelard returning from his great spell against Old Ignations a month ago, was  bang on with his line and length as well. This is where our team really does stand out from other teams with the seemingly abundance of good quality line and length bowling. We were without Stuart Ridge (currently in Barbados representing Australia in the over 60s) and Brett James for this game.

With one opener throwing the bat at anything short or wide and the other watching patiently, Mick Tarrant was the first to bring on a mistimed slog skying between mid-wicket and mid-on but it was unfortunately spilled. Another edge behind was also spilled to the frustration of all. Andy Bachelard  also had a skied chance dropped from their opener. Mick bowled his best spell this season continually beating the bat and eventually send middle stump cartwheeling. 1 for 24 off 7 – off to a flier but you could feel the momentum shifting now with continued pressure from the good bowling.

Their first drop was run out by some swift fielding from Mike Pinter back to the keeper and we were on our way. Andy picked up a clean bowled and Mick also picked up their opener with a classic outswinger nicked to the throat of Brooksie standing at first slip. The very next ball was followed by a beautiful inswing to the left hander knocking back to the top of middle – fair nut to get first ball. Their spine was broken.

Change bowlers Paul Nash, “The Prez” Greg Brooks and David Craig continued the pressure with great line and length 4 for 86 at drinks – we were now well in control. Brooks was rewarded with an lbw and Craig the same with the quicker ‘zooter’ trapping the batter back and in front much to his delight. Their number 4 batted well to make 30* and be back in the bank but others offered little in attack. Brooksie picking up another lbw and Dave Kent (debut CCNSW Classics) picking up another clean bowled as his first scalp. Andy B came back and made short work with of their returning batter, clean bowling him as well. Strathfield all out 148 with 5 bowled, 3 lbws, and no wides: a tribute to our great bowling on the day setting up a very chasing target. A couple of injuries from fielding with Andrew Davis copping one on the ankle (very swollen), David Benson pulling something that resembled a muscle in the thigh to groin area and Mike Pinter also hampered by a niggling gluteus muscle.

With the  ball swinging all innings, it was also going to be a tricky target. But a solid start from Pinter and Gerard O’Shea picking off runs in a very good opening stand of 38 off ten overs keeping up with the necessary run rate (with not a boundary hit) until Mike on 16 copped a questionable lbw from a right arm around the wicket slinger. Mike called for the DRS but he must have not got the signal in time. Paul Nash and Gerry continued to knock it around with Gerry playing a classy, flawless innings to retire on 30* and Nash putting the loose ones away with the score on 74 when he retired, having  set us up well.

At drinks we were 1 for 86 – well on target for the chase set up by our top 4 batters. With wickets in hand, the skipper set the goal of achieving the total within 32 overs which would gain 2 bonus points in a chase. Achievable at just over 5 an over. Post drinks Scott Wells and Nash went about their business knocking them around with the odd rush of blood from Wells (much to the ire of ‘the Prez’  – his displeasure heard well beyond the boundary causing flocks of birds to scurry from every tree within 2km). Knuckling down Nashy bought up his 30* with a typical Nash like pull well over the boundary at mid wicket.

With a few guys injured, this bought debutant David Kent to the crease still needing 42 for victory – showing his class with a watchful eye, picking off runs, good running between the wickets and a smoked cover drive until a misunderstanding bought about a run out on a misfield (what was that saying?) when he was looking at getting going on 9. This bought ’ the Closer’ to the crease (G Brooks) with 30 runs to get. Brooksie did what Brooksie does, putting loose and some good ones away and running hard on the twos and threes.

Wells retired on 32* with the scores level bringing in our pinch runner Andy Bachelard at the non striker’s end. Brooksie then hit the winning runs and we had achieved the goal of getting the runs within 32 overs with 2 bonus points in a comprehensive win.

Post-match hospitality was at its finest with lots of stories, Asahi beers, spiced chicken and noodles a plenty.

The Team was: – Mike Pinter 16, Gerard O’Shea 31*, Paul Nash 34*, Scott Wells (c) and (w) 32*, David Kent 9, Greg Brooks 14*, Andrew Bachelard 0*, Mike Tarrant dnb, David Benson dnb, David Craig dnb, Andrew Davis dnb

The Result was: –

Strathfield CC: -10-148 (37.5 overs) (M. Tarrant 3-28)

Lost to

C.C.N.S.W.: – 2-149 (31 overs) (P. Nash 34*; S. Wells 32*; G. O’Shea 31*)

By 8 wickets

FoW: – 1-38 (M. Pinter); 2-123 (D. Kent)

The Bowling was: – M. Tarrant 8-1-28-3; A. Bachelard 7.5-0-34-2; P. Nash 3-0-14-0; D. Craig 8-1-26-1; G. Brooks 7-0-29-2; D. Kent 4-1-13-1

The Fielding was: –

Stumpings: – Nil

Catches: – One to G. Brooks

Run outs: – One to M. Pinter

Player points (awarded by umpire): – 3 points to P. Nash; 2 points to S. Wells; one point to G. O’Shea

See: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/sydney-masters-cricket-association/classics-summer-202223/classics/game-centre/fe97c851

MEMORIES OF JOHN RUSSELL IN MEMORIAM
1929-2018

Greg Brooks (current President C.C.N.S.W.): I first met John in 1994 when I began my first season with the C.C.N.S.W. John was a senior member of the Club and part of the management committee. I soon learned how involved he was in the Club and as the then President John McGruther’s words testify elsewhere he was a true club man.
Every Saturday JR would turn up to Camperdown and elsewhere to score the match and ensure the C.C.N.S.W. badge was well represented. A cup of black tea and some afternoon tea kept him going all day!
After the match we would all adjourn to the Camperdown Bowling Club for a drink and a few laughs with the opposition around the day’s events, good and bad. We won more than we lost, and JR was very proud of the team…indeed he was thought of as one of the team. After a whiskey and a soft drink JR would load up his white Subaru and be on his way home.
JR regularly joined us on tour, both to the country venues like Mudgee, Bowral and Camden, the interstate fixtures to Melbourne and Brisbane and of course overseas. He was present whenever we were privileged to play on the SCG and I know he was very pleased to receive his memento from the Governor of NSW, Marie Bashir when the Club was asked to play a match against the Army to celebrate 150 years of cricket at the SCG.
One of the highlights of our time together was the 2007 tour to South Africa, a trip made possible for John thanks to generous contributions from club members, particularly Steve Taylor who made a significant contribution. JR had a fantastic time, highlighted by several train journeys, one of which between Mosel Bay and George was almost missed but saved by the tour group to ensure JR’s bucket list was met! The trip to the Zulu village and the subsequent greeting ceremony was also remembered by John as a highlight…for entirely different reasons!
Even as age and illness caught up with JR and he could no longer attend our matches I would receive a phone call on Saturday or Sunday night to check the results of his beloved C&S team. All the details were required, and it was often a long call!
John was made a “Legend of the C&S” in 2010 and was a life member of the C.C.N.S.W.
There are many stories that could be told, and I do not have enough space here to re tell them all. Suffice to say that JR contributed to every aspect of our small Clubs’ activities and he will always be remembered as a great club man, a true gentleman and a wonderful friend.

Brian Fallon: John was one of nature’s true-gentlemen, one whose attitudes to life and practised-values, inspired you to do better.

Adrian Hawkes: John would have been 60 when I first met him in1989 with his playing days behind him. An initial gruff exterior hid a gentle man who was passionate about cricket and steam trains; loved to score with his “special” system and produce averages and quotients. He started the practice of writing weekly match reports on our C&S games which he scored and managed. His reports could be passionate; I remember his once writing that the opposition were “cowboys” but fortunately this was pre internet days. In his later years he liked to ring up for a chat and usually this lasted longer than an hour. I will miss him.

Joff Johnson: It is with a very heavy heart that I respond to the sad news about our beloved mate, JR. JR was highly respected and admired by all the C.C.N.S.W. family who came in contact with him. He was a permanent fixture at most of the games I played with the C.C.N.S.W. and we loved him being with us. I will remember him as a gentle caring man who could not do enough for the players and supporters – he will be sorely missed.

John McGruther: I recount some brief thoughts below by way of some Memoir contribution:
There are only a select few who, in life..whether in or outside of sports affairs…meet
the Biblical test of impeccable Stewardship. That is, of the true and faithful servant.
John Russell is the epitome of the ethic.
I should know. I worked with John, .affectionately “JR” to most…for periods on a daily basis, for over 12 years during my term as President, and a co- Director with him, of the Cricketers’ Club of NSW. That was only part of our affinity. From 1985 to now is 33 years for all of which I have held JR in the closest and affectionate regard.
Words cannot do justice to some Testimonies, this being one. This attempt thus can only be humble.
But JR’s Club Stewardship is potentially impassable. He organised Cricket Matches, he attended to Score them, he wrote Newsletters to Members about them whether whimsical, serious, or chastising, usually all three). He was a delegate of the Club at City & Suburban Association level, as well as being a C&S officer himself.
At the “old” Barrack Street Club, he collected the Pokie money from the machines, occasionally calling me from some losing Court case to help him carry the multitudinous coin- bags up the Club stairs. The penultimate finite Treasurer!
He helped organise Club Tours, a legacy for which CCNSW is still famous. Often, he arranged, or unsuccessfully tried to influence the design of, Club clothing, but usually
got right Players’ sizes right, even allowing for inconsiderate Player off- Season gorging.
All this, and more, despite, it might be added, intermittent health challenges occasionally challenging him.
Indeed, were there a Turnstile at the old Club entrance, it surely would have registered
daily, out of hours, and week-end entry. Such was also JR’s Club function attendance record.
The Testimony of JR is the very definition of Stewardship.
“Thanks JR” in one sense may not be enough…but in another, perhaps says it all.

John Anderson (Melbourne Cricket Club): Fond memories of JR. Man of integrity. Was never tempted to slip an extra run in the scorebook for CC of NSW in some of those close finishes we had at the SCG.