Stumps A magazine for SACA members - Issue 1 May 2013
Young Guns
The future of cricket
Adelaide
Oval
Shapes up The voice of SACA Our members speak up
Contents
Redbacks Web Adelaide Strikers
WELCOME
3
BUPA SHEFFIELD SHIELD
15
McLACHLAN FINISHES ON A HIGH
4
STRIKERS READY TO BOUNCE BACK
16
FROM THE CE
6 7
SCORPIONS WANT MORE STING
18
ARTISTIC STROKEPLAY ON DISPLAY
19
CRICKET’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE
8
SCHUTT DARES TO DREAM
20
THE CHANGING FACE OF ADELAIDE OVAL
10
MEMBERS’ SOCIAL EVENTS
12
TIM’S CHARGES EMERGE FROM THE PACK
22
SACA’S HISTORY WELL CARED FOR
13
THE OVAL’S ‘GUIDING LIGHTS’
23
BACKING THE REDBACKS RYOBI ONE DAY CUP
14
SOILS AIN’T SOILS
24
@SACAnews @WestEndRedbacks @StrikersBBL @ScorpionsSA
West End Redbacks Adelaide Strikers 2
A SACA SNAPSHOT YOUR VOICE
26
COFFEE AND A CHAT WITH FERG AND RICHO
30
CRICKET ACROSS CULTURES
32
TESTING TIMES FOR CRICKET
34
GRASSROOTS CRICKET A WINNER
36
COUNTRY COACHES COVER THE STATE
37
PREMIER LEAGUE LAUNCHES
38
USEFUL INFORMATION
39
www.saca.com.au www.cricketsa.com.au www.redbacks.com.au www.adelaidestrikers.com.au
“Welcome to the first edition of Stumps” Welcome to the first edition of Stumps, the first issue of the new-look South Australian Cricket Association member magazine.
the broad range of ages, backgrounds and regions, to talk about what is special about being a member of SACA.
It’s been a busy couple of years for SACA Members, with Adelaide Oval undergoing a $535 million redevelopment, and a range of highlights – on and off the field.
There is also a spread on the redevelopment – a pictorial history to keep as the new Adelaide Oval takes shape.
We hope this edition will provide our members with a snapshot of SACA – from our many cricket initiatives to what is in store for the coming Ashes season. We also talk to you – and hear from the ‘voice of SACA’. We’ve spoken to seven members, representing
From a cricket perspective, state coach, Darren Berry, reflects on a season of missed opportunities for the West End Redbacks and Adelaide Strikers, and we reveal extra coaches are about to be deployed to regional areas to find the next generation of elite cricketers.
Curator Damian Hough talks about the process of producing drop-in wickets for the first time. Damian and his team have been working on the wickets for more than a year on Number 2 oval, and it’s almost time to roll them out into the middle of Adelaide Oval.
It’s also the last year of Ian McLachlan’s term as SACA president – after 30 years on the Board, including 14 years as President. He reflects on the massive changes which have taken place during that time – including the first lights at Adelaide Oval, the start of T20 cricket and the return of AFL.
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We hope you enjoy reading about season 2012/13, and what we have planned for the coming summer of cricket. Keith Bradshaw SACA chief executive Pictured: SACA’s next generation of home-grown talent from left: Sam Raphael, Alex Carey and Travis Head. Cover: Kieron Pollard celebrates with Kane Richardson looking on. Inside cover: Captain Johan Botha in full voice.
McLachlan finishes on a high
Ian McLachlan has overseen massive physical improvements at his beloved Adelaide Oval, watched SACA membership grow from just a few thousand in the early 1980s to more than 28,000 ticket holders today and has been a part of reuniting AFL and cricket. Ian McLachlan Timeline
1954/ 64 South Australian cricketer.
1954 Granted membership of SACA.
4
1984 Appointed to the SACA Board.
1988/ 89 Demolition of Cresswell Stand; building of Bradman Stand.
He’s been a driving force behind one of the biggest changes to the South Australian sporting landscape, and when he retires as SACA president later this year, he will walk away proud of his achievements off the field.
Test cricketers. That is my greatest regret. We’ve tried a number of different courses and in recent years have surrounded the players with strong support but more needs to be done, and by the players themselves,” he says.
Known as a tough cricketer, Mr McLachlan played alongside greats such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Les Favell, Ian Chappell, Neil Dansie, Barry Jarman, Ken Cunningham, John Lill, Rex Sellers and Neil Hawke. He was a member of South Australia’s victorious 1963/64 Sheffield Shield team.
“I’m extremely worried about our batting – I think we have serious technical batting problems in South Australia and Australia for that matter. So while we have done well in the short term, it is not enough.”
It was Sir Donald Bradman who first approached Mr McLachlan, and encouraged him to nominate for the SACA Board in 1984. He was appointed President in 1999, and then in 2004 he was also appointed a Board member of Cricket Australia. Although South Australia has had five chairmen of CA – Bradman, Col Egar, Creagh O’Connor, Phil Ridings and Jack Clarke, and therefore plenty of influence at a national level – he remains concerned about the “Melbourne-centric” state of Australian cricket. “Centralising administration and decision making, the money and expertise I believe is a big mistake. And the centralising of coaching in Queensland has hardly been a riveting success. Notwithstanding all that, SACA will be in a better financial position than ever before and has a great opportunity to change many things,” Mr McLachlan said.
children, as well as discovering lots of talented local players, so it is something I am quite proud of,” he said. After making his first class debut while studying at Cambridge University, he returned to his native South Australia to carve out his cricket career. He scored a total of 2120 runs, including a highest score of 188 not out. Post cricket, he moved into a career in business and politics. He has great memories of playing at Adelaide Oval, alongside Sobers, in particular.
Mr McLachlan says good work is being planned in SA regional and junior cricket, as well as an intention to reform Grade cricket through the new Premier League, and a renewed focus on boosting facilities and coaching resources.
“If I had to name my number one player, it is obviously Gary Sobers – he could open the bowling and serve up two types of spin, and could completely dominate when batting. But although he was the best player, we won the Shield because all the rest of us, at that stage, were about equal. Some went on to bigger things later but at that point, nobody was king,” he said.
“We are now a cricket organisation that can focus on just cricket – and that’s all. What needs to be done now is to continue to direct more money into all of these resources – into grade cricket, country cricket and junior cricket – to provide the best nursery for cricket in Australia,” he said.
Mr McLachlan has watched as cricket has grown into a multimillion dollar business, where players are superstars and cricket fans want more than just a “wooden bench in the sun”.
“We need to surround our players with the best expertise we can. There is still a way to go. We’ve been winning at junior under 17 and under 19 level, but we can’t seem to keep those results going at a more senior level. We don’t have a financial problem now, but what we do have is a problem of how to make ourselves the best cricket nursery and the most successful one.”
“Back in the early days the public area was shocking and the members’ area wasn’t much better. We could see other states were moving on, and we were not,” he said.
For a man who played 31 first class matches for SA, with a batting average of 40.76, and was 12th man for Australia in an Ashes Test in 1964 – cricket is everything – and he wants better performances.
It is improving, but his eye is not just on elite cricket – encouraging greater participation and growing the fan base is something Mr McLachlan has been passionate about since he first became a member of SACA in 1954.
So with the support of fellow Board members, driven by Phil Ridings, the Bradman Stand was built in 1989 and the Chappell Stands in 2002, followed by the most recent addition – the western stand in 2010 – to bring the oval up to a world-class venue.
“While I have been President, we have failed to produce the required results in SA cricket, especially in the Sheffield Shield, which is the pre-training ground for
“We’ve made a lot of progress over the years – finding new ways to bring people to cricket, like T20 and offering different formats of the game to entertain families and
“We have disrupted our members terribly; they have been incredibly patient; they voted over 80 percent to bring football back. I have nothing but admiration for them,
1999 Elected President of SACA.
2000 Permanent lighting towers erected.
2010
2002 Building of the Chappell Stands.
5
Building of the western grandstand.
for they knew there would be another massive disruption, but this had to happen,” he said. He is proud SACA members voted 80.3 per cent in favour of changes to the SACA constitution, to enable the $535 million redevelopment to proceed, believing it was the right thing to do, and that the end result will be spectacular. “Full credit also to our Board for sticking to their guns – it was not an easy one. Looking back, some of the decisions were risky, but sometimes you have to say “no risk – no win”. You can be totally conservative and get nowhere. I’m very proud of the Board. It has been a professional risk-taking Board, under plenty of scrutiny, but when the crunch was on, we didn’t blink. They were people you could fall back on,” he said. Despite planning to stand down later in the year, Mr McLachlan has no intention of slowing down. “I’ve still got the family business, and I’m still chairman of the Stadium Management Authority for a few months, so I will be still at Adelaide Oval, hoping and watching our state sides do well. SACA can concentrate on our cricket now. It will be the best ground in the country, and the players will have fun playing there,” he said. “And our members, and the population in general, will also have fun. It will be a great experience to be a SACA member and come along to Adelaide Oval and enjoy your cricket, or even stand on the hill and watch. It will be the best ground in the country, in the best geographical location. And to the players – how can it be more enjoyable for them? Well, winning. It’s much more fun when you’re winning.”
2011 Historic vote by SACA members to enable the $535 million redevelopment of Adelaide Oval; return of AFL to Adelaide Oval with Port Adelaide v Melbourne in September.
From the CE I’ve been back in Adelaide for just over 12 months, and I’ve learnt two things – South Australian Cricket Association members are the most passionate in the world, and that cricket is a heartbreaking business. While the city-scape has changed forever, and the redeveloped Adelaide Oval is now emerging as a true engineering masterpiece that cricket fans are watching with a keen eye, I know SACA members are still hurting over our lack of success on the field this summer. I don’t want to dwell on it, but I also felt that pain. Yet, I can also see how much improvement our players have made this year – particularly in the four day format. Coming from last season, when the West End Redbacks finished on the bottom of the ladder with just two points, to this year – collecting 26 points, including four outright wins – was a real improvement. There is much more resilience within the group, and I know coach Darren Berry and his high performance coaching staff are pointing the ship in the right direction. I am confident we can bounce back, and give our fans and SACA members something to celebrate next season. Aside from cricket, there are many facets to the coming summer which will excite cricket enthusiasts – an Ashes tour in December, the return of the KFC T20 Big Bash League, and of course the launch of the first phase new-look Adelaide Oval in November. Many of you will have been monitoring the progress, and are watching how the southern and
eastern grandstands are taking shape. It is truly a mindboggling demonstration of architectural expertise – a unique stadium design, capitalising on views onto the playing field, out to the parklands, over St Peter’s Cathedral and across the city. Full credit to Baulderstone during this project.
membership grow to mean much more than that – I want to develop a true club that rivals the best in the world and celebrates our shared passion for cricket. The two-year period incorporating the 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years are among the most challenging in the Association’s history and I would like to think that we now have a solid financial foundation in place.
I have been very lucky to have been employed at two of the best ovals in the world. I have always believed that Lord’s and Adelaide Oval are without doubt the most beautiful Test cricket grounds in the world. They stand as a true testament to the longevity of our great game and are synonymous with its ability to appeal to the modern fan, while staying true to its heritage and traditions. Since returning to Australia and moving to Adelaide last January I have become even more acutely aware of the responsibility that entails.
Preparing for the future has dominated the agenda in the past two years. For the first time in its history the Association is not responsible for the management of Adelaide Oval. Instead this responsibility is now with the Stadium Management Authority (jointly controlled by SACA and the SANFL). Without the venue, our new focus this year sets the tone for the next decade and during the past six months we have formalised a strategy where SACA Members, growing participation levels, and attracting new fans to the game will join on-field competitiveness as key measures of success.
I also heard this first hand when I met and talked with many SACA Members as I walked around the members’ gates from 6am each morning of the Test. These opportunities were a great way to meet you, talk about the things that were on your mind, and spend some time at the start of the day when all is quiet and calm.
Similarly, across Australia the KFC T20 Big Bash League has been launched to attract females, young people and Australians from non-cricket playing cultures to the game. The Adelaide Strikers’ management team have been charged with this job in South Australia and have been asked to ensure the new 50,000 seat Adelaide Oval is a sea of blue by 2014/15.
Now is an exciting and challenging time for cricket. Developing a winning culture and champion teams will always be a priority but ensuring cricket is attractive to all Australians and increasing participation levels are integral to the game’s future and must be key focuses for SACA. This must be matched with a focus on our loyal members. Adelaide Oval is your home but I want to see SACA
SACA’s commitment to cricket and SACA Members has also been
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honoured with approximately $700,000 having been invested in temporary facilities to ensure a full season of domestic and international cricket was played at Adelaide Oval during 2012/13. SACA has led the nation in the delivery of participation programs and is credited for developing the MILOin2CRICKET model now underpinning the national roll-out – arguably cricket’s most significant push to ensure cricket remains attractive and accessible to all Australians. Our new Premier League is another example of how we are prepared to invest in talent, and give elite players more opportunities for a first class career. We are also now rolling out more programs to regional South Australia, and the recent appointment of three Country Cricket Development Officers, in addition to the SACA Facilities Grants distributed in February, is just a start of our long-term commitment to cricket, and to building a cricket nursery here. SACA is in a solid position, and I am proud of the work undertaken in recent years to get us to this position. Our members have been – and continue to be – strong and resilient under the massive changes, but we can all see light at the end of the tunnel, and I am confident this summer will be worth the wait. Keith Bradshaw SACA chief executive
Artistic strokeplay on display It’s been the background for hundreds of social photos and has caught the eye of cricket legends Michael Clarke and Sachin Tendulkar, but for artist Richard Maurovic, his “cricket balls” artwork is something more – it’s his own special tribute to cricket at Adelaide Oval.
The painting, hanging in the Level 2 SACA Members’ bar since the western grandstand was opened in December 2010, remains one of the most eyecatching artworks on display at the oval.
“When we knew a few years ago that many of our old but revered buildings were going to come down, and therefore losing some of our heritage, we knew we needed to capture certain parts of the oval for posterity, and art does it well,” Mr McLachlan said.
Mr Maurovic says the idea for painting the balls came to him when asked by SACA President, Ian McLachlan, to produce some artwork to reflect the ‘posterity of Adelaide Oval and its history’.
“With the help of David, we have secured nationally-recognised artists from within this state to create several pieces of fine art that SACA can now have for the future. It is a program I think we should continue. Like our museum, we need to recognise things of great merit.
“I wanted to do something a little different for Adelaide Oval; not just the infrastructure but take on the challenge of the balls and the complexion of it all,” he said.
“It is not smart to have all cricket memorabilia, or football memorabilia for that matter, in Melbourne. History should reflect its origins and that is what we are trying to do on this great sporting ground.”
“It is a subject that is so dear to so many people, and I am thrilled that this painting is popular with a wide audience. To know that SACA Members and the cricketing community like it is quite touching.”
Mr Maurovic, the South Australian Citizen of the Year in 1997, began painting full-time in 1989, after his career working at the Gepps Cross saleyards was cut short by a horse-riding accident in 1986. The accident left him a quadriplegic, and he says painting and drawing – and more recently writing - was critical in his rehabilitation.
Mr Maurovic was one of five leading South Australian artists commissioned by SACA in 2010 to provide pieces to display in the then new western grandstand. Mr McLachlan was the driving force behind the program, calling in renowned artist David Dridan OAM to assist.
Unable to hold a brush or a pencil, he straps them to his wrists with a splint and velcro. The “balls” piece took about two months to complete.
They engaged Mr Maurovic, Keith Cowlam, Alfred Engel, Geoff Wilson and Stephanie Crase to create pieces reflecting their favorite aspects of Adelaide Oval. The artworks complement a series of eight sculptures donated by Basil Sellers AM, which will reflect four cricket and four football legends. Two – Jason Gillespie and Darren Lehmann – are currently on display, with the remaining six to be installed over coming years.
“I relished the opportunity to work on something that is going to be part of our local history. It took a long time to get the cricket balls right, and the seams were very complicated to get the curvature right, but I’m thrilled with the result,” he said.
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Cricket’s changing landscape
The Adelaide Oval landscape may be changing, but for South Australian Cricket Association members there is much to enjoy about the view. With the redevelopment works having passed the halfway mark, the $535 million project is on track and cricket fans are seeing the shape of the future. The southern end will be the first to be completed, ready for operation by this summer’s Ashes test in December. The eastern stand will be finished in time for the start of next year’s 2014 AFL season. Hundreds of local jobs have been created by the project – one of the largest in South Australia’s construction history – with 47 of the 51 sub-contracts let to date going to South Australian firms. SACA Members will get their first chance to look at the new facilities during a special ‘members only’ tour, before the Test match.
Pictured: A panoramic view of Adelaide Oval in August 2012, prior to major works. 8
3 Giant replay screens.
By the Numbers
200
77
5000
10 2000 metre-wide concourses and multilevel atriums.
Local jobs supported by the project. per cent of the seats will be protected from sun and rain.
DINING SPACES. 7000 500
The number of seats the southern grandstand upper tier-contains with the ‘top’ seat sitting 35 metres high and 50 metres from the fence line – at least 10 metres closer to the action than the MCG.
pieces of turf from Adelaide Oval have been given away to the public.
9
The weight in tonnes of the mobile hydraulic crane being used to install the rakers and roof of the new southern grandstand.
A historic timeline The changing face of Adelaide Oval 2012/13
APRIL 2012
Remains of the Bradman Stand after its demolition.
MAY 2012
NOVEMBER 2012
WHAT’S TO COME
APRIL 2013
Workers drill deep into the ground to prepare the foundations of the southern grandstand.
Artist’s interpretation of the final Adelaide Oval footbridge.
10
Players continue through works during the Vodafone Test match.
A view of the Oval.
JANUARY 2013
FEBRUARY 2013
MARCH 2013
MARCH 2013
Early stages of building of the southern grandstand.
Adelaide Oval’s centre wicket is removed, with unique Athelstone soil saved for later use.
Progress on the concourse continues, at the south-east corner.
Oval outfield being cut for mementos for South Australian cricket fans.
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MARCH 2013
Various levels of the southern grandstand begin to take shape.
MARCH 2013
Adelaide Oval field being played on for the last time – West End Redbacks v NSW Speedblitz Blues, Bupa Sheffield Shield.
SACA’s history well cared for By Bernard Whimpress The story of South Australian cricket told in the Sheffield Shield Room at Adelaide Oval features a rich history spanning the years from the foundation of the South Australian Cricketing Association in 1871 to the present day. The association changed its name from ‘Cricketing’ to ‘Cricket’ around 1900.
While the state cricket story is told superbly it probably represents but a third of that relating to cricket at the oval. A Test cricket narrative is neatly featured in a narrow gallery at the northern end of the Members’ Bar behind the President’s Room and Adelaide’s association, district and grade competition demands space for its own history to be represented.
Key objects range from the precious to the bizarre. Undoubtedly the most important item is the Sheffield Shield, one of Australia’s most ornate and significant trophies for which competition between New South Wales, Victoria and SA began in 1892. The Dead Bird is the most bizarre – a swallow that flew across the pitch at the Oval at the wrong time, and only briefly, causing WA batsman John Inverarity’s dismissal, bowled by Greg Chappell.
The SACA has wrestled with the establishment of a cricket museum at the oval since the early 1980s and in 1995 the South Australian Minister for Sport, Graham Ingerson, opened the Adelaide Oval Museum (AOM) on the first level of the Sir Donald Bradman Stand. The AOM was a room approximately the same size as the Sheffield Shield Room although bursting with objects covering wider themes. It remained open until mid-2007 when items were placed in storage before the western stand redevelopment. As curator of the museum between 1994 and 2009 my primary role was to expand and manage the collection. When the Bradman Collection Museum was relocated from the State Library in 2008 I reinterpreted that collection, working on the design with Hassell architects.
A colourful selection of caps and blazers unites players from the 19th century to the present and there are bats and balls aplenty. In addition are photographs of the great Sheffield Shield winning teams featuring names such as George Giffen, Joe Darling, Clem Hill, Vic Richardson, Clarrie Grimmett, Don Bradman, Phil Ridings, Gil Langley, Les Favell, Neil Dansie, Ian and Greg Chappell, David Hookes, Darren Lehmann, Greg Blewett, Jamie Siddons and Jason Gillespie. There are also Michael Klinger’s sides which won the Twenty20 Big Bash in 2011 and the Ryobi One Day Cup in 2012.
The Bradman Collection Museum is expected to return to the oval in time for next summer’s Ashes series, occupying a space in the new southern stand similar to its previous area in the Bradman Stand, with a fresh interpretation of the collection.
However, the story is not just about remembering the greats. A wonderful tribute is the Wall of Fame which records the names of more than 600 players who have represented South Australia in first-class matches since 1877.
It can be said that history is as recent as yesterday and ways of looking at history need to remain just as fresh. Everyone who visits the oval – members, guests, tourists – will gain a richer appreciation of the ground by noting what has gone before.
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Backing the Redbacks
Darren Berry and Johan Botha have a message for South Australian cricket fans – we are heading in the right direction. The two leaders of SA cricket say that – despite no silverware in season 2012/13 – there is much to like about the future of elite cricket in this state.
“I can guarantee all of our fans that when we are back into pre-season training in July, those missed opportunities are what will be driving us,” he said.
Berry, in his second year as state coach, and first year captain Botha, believe that big improvements within the playing group afford the West End Redbacks good reason for confidence going into 2013/14.
“We are aiming to be the most competitive and respected team in the country. This year we laid some solid foundations in earning that respect. “We still have significant work to do before our objective is realised. The brand of cricket we play is just as important as the outcome.”
“I’m enormously proud of the efforts of the playing group this season,” Berry said. “We had a chance to play in both finals going into the final game. No South Australian team has done that for a long time.
Botha highlighted standout performances by fast bowler Chadd Sayers and wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman, as two examples of reward for effort.
“This season was extremely positive for many reasons, with standout performances from our bowlers, and very impressive individual efforts by some of our players who went on to represent their country.
“These two guys have worked hard all year, quietly going about their business, and it’s a real credit to them both,” he said.
“But it was equally disappointing for us because we simply could not get over the line when it mattered. There were three or four big moments in the second half of the season that, had we taken our chances, would have seen us in the Bupa Sheffield Shield and Ryobi One Day Cup final, or in the mix at the end of the KFC T20 Big Bash League.”
“I’ve seen the team go through ups and downs this year, and I do believe some of the younger guys have learnt a lot about the pressures of first class cricket. We are certainly more resilient and mentally tougher now, and are making better decisions, so I’m confident that things are on the up.”
He said the players and coaching staff were “gutted at the end of the season” .
The addition of two key interstate recruits, Victorian all-rounder, Andrew McDonald and NSW leg-spinner, Adam Zampa, will further boost the squad next season.
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West End Redbacks Ryobi One Day Cup
As the reigning champions in the Ryobi One Day Cup, ending a 27-year drought, the West End Redbacks’ title defence began with much hope, but ended as a season of missed opportunity.
Michael Klinger was again a standout in the One Day format, leading the run scoring with 341 runs from eight matches at an average of 42.63. Phil Hughes was exceptional in his five-match stint, scoring 323 runs at 80.65 including two fifties and a century against the PKF Tasmanian Tigers. Callum Ferguson finished the season in a blaze of glory, scoring 110 against Victoria and 78 against NSW before being called up for Australia A duties.
A narrow loss against the Tasmanian Tigers in the re-match of last season’s dramatic final was followed by four consecutive wins, with the Redbacks establishing themselves in second place, only a point behind The Commonwealth Bank Victorian Bushrangers heading into the Christmas break.
With the ball, Kane Richardson was a clear standout, taking 21 wickets to lead the Ryobi One Day Cup wicket takers. With an average of 13.81, Richardson took 6/68 against the XXXX Gold Queensland Bulls and 6/51 against NSW at the SCG.
With three games remaining in February, just one win would secure a place in the final and a chance to go back-to-back. A heartbreaking loss to the Bushrangers at Adelaide Oval was followed by a disappointing loss to the NSW SpeedBlitz Blues at the SCG.
Redbacks captain, Johan Botha, was also a standout, taking 13 wickets at 28.38 along with Jake Haberfield who took 10 wickets at 22.8.
In the final game of the season at Adelaide Oval and in a do-or-die scenario, an 83-run partnership between Ludeman and Botha was not enough as the Redbacks lost another tight finish by 18 runs, ending hopes of back-to-back titles.
Pictured: Travis Head lashes a short ball.
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Bupa Sheffield Shield Much has been written about South Australia’s recent lack of success in the Bupa Sheffield Shield – the long-drought since the 1995/96 title. While a shift in success and culture can’t be changed overnight, season 2012/13 saw a significant step in the right direction with a young group and new faces.
The Redbacks then secured the David Hookes Memorial Trophy in another heart-stopper at Adelaide Oval against Victoria. Sayers was outstanding with the ball, as was Hughes with the bat. But the story of the match was emerging Redback, Sam Raphael, who returned to the crease after a James Pattinson delivery to the head to hit the winning runs with just one-wicket in hand.
It was a tough initiation for the team, coming up against the reigning champions Queensland at the Gabba in October. Phil Hughes and Sam Miller both debuted for South Australia, and the left-hander had an immediate effect, top scoring in both innings. But it was the Bulls who were victorious by 191 runs.
The Redbacks made it three wins in a row with their first win over NSW since 2006, defeating the Blues by four wickets. Sayers and Joe Mennie took 17 wickets for the match between them to lead the way. Jake Brown and Tim Ludeman were the heroes with the bat in the first innings in a match-winning 120-run partnership.
Coming up against the other finalist in the second match also was a tough assignment and it proved just that as the Tasmanian Tigers piled on the runs and defeated the Redbacks by an innings. In the third match it was a far different Redbacks outfit that took to the field. The match ended in a draw, but on the back of 164 from Callum Ferguson, the Redbacks had Queensland six down late on day four, narrowly missing their first win.
The Redbacks were in second position with two games remaining and in with a shot at the team’s first final in 17 years. It would finish as a season of missed opportunity as the Redbacks were this time on the wrong side of yet again another thriller, going down to the Warriors at Adelaide Oval by one-wicket. It was Johan Botha who led from the front with the ball and Brown with the bat, but a last-wicket stand would come back to haunt the Redbacks.
That elusive victory came in a heart stopper in Hobart, ironically the scene of South Australia’s last win. Young gun, Travis Head, made a match winning 75 and Chadd Sayers, Kane Richardson and Daniel Christian bowled the Redbacks to victory, breaking a 17-game drought. An away game in Perth proved a speed hump, as the Warriors notched their first win of the season. Head was again our best with the bat with 95 not out in the second innings but the home-side prevailed by 110 runs.
The plan against NSW at the SCG in the final game was a simple one: win and make the final. From start to finish the Blues were dominant and defeated the Redbacks by eight wickets, despite another outstanding bowling display from Sayers who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 48 scalps.
It seemed to be a season of drought breaking as the Redbacks had their most convincing win, defeating the Bushrangers at the MCG for the first time since 1998. Hughes continued his stellar form with 154, but it was Gary Putland’s match figures of 12/92 that guided the Redbacks to a comfortable nine-wicket win.
From two points last season to 26 points this season was a huge turnaround and positive for the team. While disappointment will linger over the winter, there can be much hope taken from the 2012/13 Bupa Sheffield Shield campaign. Pictured: Gary Putland celebrates a big wicket.
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Strikers ready to bounce back The second instalment of the KFC T20 Big Bash League, ‘BBL|02’, welcomed new faces to the Adelaide Strikers’ team and the return of some of old favourites.
The Strikers produced their best performance of the season against reigning champion, the Sydney Sixers, in game four at Adelaide Oval. Limiting the visitors to 135, Tim Ludeman produced a man of the match performance with 72 not out as the Strikers chased the target one wicket down.
A highlight of a busy player signing period in July was the lure to Adelaide of ‘the Wild Thing’ Shaun Tait, who made the move from the Melbourne Renegades and was joined by former Renegades captain, Andrew McDonald, and team mate, Nathan Reardon.
Hosting the Melbourne Stars in a big clash after Christmas, some big late hitting from Pollard (65 from 43) was not enough in the end, as the Strikers went down by eight runs. Botha was again economical with the ball, but Brad Hodge (88) proved the difference.
Queenslanders, Michael Neser and Cam Boyce joined the Strikers along with Hobart Hurricanes recruit, Matt Johnston.
The new year did not start well for the boys in blue, convincingly beaten by the Melbourne Renegades in game six. Spin-master Muttiah Muralitharan ripped through the Strikers’ middle-order with three wickets. Strikers’ skipper Johan Botha led the way with ball and bat.
In game one against the Perth Scorchers, the Strikers were victorious at the Furnace in a thrilling win. Overseas recruit, Saeed Ajmal, was brilliant with the ball and another new Striker, Phil Hughes, along with Nathan Reardon provided some big hitting to guide the Strikers to a crucial win.
The road trip continued to Hobart to take on the Hurricanes in a must-win clash and the Strikers delivered. Boyce (3/17) was man of the match with an inspired spell and Klinger (71 from 61) provided the platform for a big win. Kane Richardson took the catch of the summer to dismiss danger man, Travis Birt.
Game two against the Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval saw the return of fan favourite, Kieron Pollard, who missed BBL|01 with a hamstring injury. In one of the matches of the tournament, Pollard was at his big hitting best, bashing 48 off 23 balls and also producing two wickets and a run out. Callum Ferguson (52 from 36) also led the way, but a four off the last ball by the Heat’s Chris Hartley cruelly denied the Strikers a victory at home.
With the season on the line in game eight, it was unfortunately all one-way traffic as the Perth Scorchers booked a home semi-final and ended BBL|02 for the Strikers. Chasing an imposing 189, the Strikers never got going, dismissed in the end for 91.
Game three against the Sydney Thunder at ANZ Stadium was a convincing win by 51 runs. Klinger (60), Ludeman (46) and some big hitting again from Reardon (42 off 20) helped post 177 while Richardson, and Shaun Tait in his first game, snared three wickets each.
Pictured: Below left, Brad Young loved the return to the big league, and below right, Michael Klinger meets some young fans. (Right) Tim Ludeman in fine form.
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Scorpions want more sting
“The season was a stepping stone in the right direction” Women’s cricket in South Australia has always boasted two names, Karen Rolton and Shelley Nitschke. Following their exit in recent years, the South Australian Scorpions entered season 2012/13 with a new leader and an excited team ready to take SA cricket back to the top. The season was a stepping stone in the right direction as Lauren Ebsary led her young charges with assistance from newly appointed vice-captain, Rhianna Peate, and English import, Beth Morgan. Ebsary took the honours with both bat and ball this season and was a deserving winner of the Andrea McCauley Trophy in just her second season back in the red and black. In 12 games, Ebsary belted 445 runs, including a crafty 111 not out against Victoria. She also claimed 23 wickets, stamping her authority on both competitions.
The Scorpions finished in sixth place in the Women’s National Cricket League competition, recording a win over Tasmania on home turf. The win showed a glimpse of what the future holds for the Scorpions, a group full of raw potential.
The Twenty20 competition held a similar challenge for Ebsary and her troops, again accounting for Tasmania to finish seventh overall. True to the expanding Twenty20 format, seven players featured for the Scorpions for the first time during the season, including Kangaroo Island resident and Kensington young gun, Bridget Patterson. Falling just shy of her maiden half-century in her debut season, Patterson’s ability with the willow was complemented by her energetic fielding and she was awarded the Scorpions Most Improved Trophy at the annual State Players Awards.
Young leg spinner, Amanda Wellington, showed promise while Sturt’s spin sensation, Alex Price, finished the season with the most wickets, claiming seven scalps alongside Ebsary. Opening bat, Tahlia McGrath was a shining light, showing maturity and patience beyond her years with the willow.
Samantha Betts, Sarah Lowe, Kylie Rattray and Kiara Stockley were rewarded for dominant performances in Grade cricket by receiving their red caps.
Peate made significant developments in her transition from fast bowler to explosive middle-order bat, providing stability and strike power on numerous occasions.
On the national stage, Ebsary made her way back into Australian colours and was a member of
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the team that claimed the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 crown late in 2012. Opening bowler, Megan Schutt, had a break-out season with the new ball and was rewarded with selection in the Australian Southern Stars team. After making her debut during the Southern Stars’ successful Rose Bowl series against New Zealand, Schutt flew to India in February to represent Australia at the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup. The Southern Stars took the title from the West Indies in the final, with Schutt finishing the tournament as leading wicket taker. After three years’ of coaching the Scorpions, Russell Thompson has been appointed coach of the Northern Mavericks in the Premier League. Former Scorpions captain Andrea McCauley – who played one test Match and one ODI for Australia – has been named as the new coach for season 2013/14.
Schutt dares to dream Wind back the clock to late last year and South Australian Scorpion’s opening bowler, Megan Schutt, was gathering her belongings as she prepared to embark on her first international series in the green and gold. Taking on New Zealand’s emerging players was a mere stepping stone for Schutt who earned herself a call-up to the senior side, the Southern Stars, just a month later. Training alongside Ellyse Perry was all in the name of experience for Schutt who was more than aware match time was unlikely. Fast forward to February 2013 and Schutt’s journey had further progressed as the Southern Stars set foot in India ready to take on the world at the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup. Schutt, 20, was handed the new ball alongside Perry for game one, her in-swing complementing the pace of her opening partner. After claiming 1/7 from five overs,
Schutt went on to play every game, finishing the tournament as leading wicket taker having claimed 15 scalps.
new profile will help encourage more girls to become involved in cricket. “I’ve had so many different girls tell me they watched the games (at the World Cup) which is fantastic and will hopefully bring more girls to the game, which is what we want,” said Schutt.
A humble cricketer from the southern suburbs of Adelaide, Schutt is still coming to terms with her recent successes and experiences. “It’s been a dream since I was a kid, so to live that now is just amazing,” Schutt said. “To win a World Cup and be leading wicket taker, I can’t ask for anything more.”
“The exposure will definitely help increase the number of girls playing and hopefully we can be role models for those girls starting out and coming through the ranks.” A senior member of the Scorpions side, Schutt will be looking to transfer her recent experiences with the developing South Australian side.
Initially catching the eye of selectors with strong performances for the Scorpions and her Grade Cricket side Sturt, Schutt’s rise replicates that of the underage talent pathway in South Australia, having first represented her state at the age of 12.
Scorpion’s captain and fellow Australian squad member, Lauren Ebsary, said it was exciting to watch her team-mate on the world stage and is looking forward to seeing the added values Schutt can bring to the team.
Already an ambassador for SACA’s girls only Super 6 Smash competition, Schutt is hoping her
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“Having someone as young as Megan as a role model amongst our squad and with the experience she has gained is massive,” said Ebsary. “Obviously having a squad member in and around that successful Australian culture and high performance structure is invaluable and means she can filter that down to a state level. “To see her come through the underage system and to go from Grade cricket to playing for Australia in just a few months sets a great example for up and coming cricketers.” Schutt is now looking ahead to Australia’s next series against England in July in which Australia will be hoping to retain the Ashes – and keeping an eye on a possible Ashes debut.
Members’ Social Events
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Tim’s charges emerge from the pack The challenge is daunting for Tim Nielsen. As the man in charge of the next generation of West End Redbacks, he’s got to know the numbers. That means skin folds, sprint results, beep tests, batting and bowling averages – you name it, there is a number involved. It all adds up to making sure the best are at the head of the line when the call-up comes. Players like Sam Raphael, Alex Carey, Carl Tietjens and Sam Miller have made the jump to the state’s senior list this year, having cut their teeth in Nielsen’s Emerging Redbacks program. They follow in the footsteps of Alex Ross and Tom Thornton, who were in the first development academy last season. “It’s pleasing to see the exciting young players coming through
– South Australian lads who are technically very good and who I can see as being first class cricketers down the track. My job is to make sure they are game ready and know what they need to do when Darren Berry wants a player to step up into his group,” Nielsen said.
League competition, where they refine their skills against other state’s emerging players. “The program gives these young players exposure to what is required to be an elite cricketer – the training, travelling, diet and so on. We hope that by getting the ‘next best’ players outside the Redbacks squad on a consistent basis that their training is of a higher quality and intensity on a regular basis,” Nielsen said.
The Emerging Redbacks group comprises 12 to 18 players, mostly Grade cricketers who have been identified through excellent grade performances, showing potential in underage National Championships (predominantly Under 19s) or fulfilling specific roles needing depth in the Redbacks squad, such as fast bowling or top order batting.
“Identifying and progressing young South Australian players is a priority. Our aim is to make the Emerging Redbacks program as complete as possible, introducing players to the fitness, strength, conditioning, dietary and training levels expected and required to be a consistently performing elite cricketer.”
They train with former Australian coach Nielsen twice a week, in addition to their club commitments. Some are chosen to play for SA in the national Futures
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The season saw players progress to the State team and play important roles, in both the four-day and One Day teams. “To see them compete and contribute for the Redbacks is the ultimate aim of the program, and when we see the players do this, it is a highlight for all involved.” Pictured: Tim Nielsen with some of his charges – Carl Tietjens, Kelvin Smith, Tim Davey and Alex Gregory.
The Oval’s ‘guiding lights’ Much has changed over the years at Adelaide Oval – but there is one thing that visitors to the Oval can always expect – a friendly greeting from a volunteer in a bright, striped blazer. The dedicated group of Adelaide Oval tour guides have been a mainstay since 1986, when the then SACA managing director, Dr Kevin Griffiths, decided to introduce tours to showcase the historic oval, its scoreboard and the memorabilia contained within the precinct. Bernard Whimpress, former SACA historian, also was instrumental in supporting the tour guides during their earlier days. Current tour guide president Roger Taylor is the 11th person to lead the group, having taken over from Jeff Roberts in 2011. Of the 16 tour guides, three are original members – Don Drake, Rex Hosking and Bob Zoerner. Since the first group started in January 1986, a total of 31 men and two women have donned the striped jackets – collectively volunteering more than 350 years between them.
In the past 25 years more than 60,000 visitors have been taken on the two-hour journey around Adelaide Oval. Behind-the-scenes access to change rooms, the heritage-listed scoreboard and the memorabilia have been the most popular features. Guides have hosted visitors from all over the world, and do it all for the love of the game and the oval.
sporting home. There is nothing like Adelaide Oval. It’s changing, yes, and these things have to happen, but you know it is going to be something special.” “I saw Bradman’s last Adelaide Oval test match in 1946/47. That was memorable, but there weren’t as many international test teams visiting in those days. The Ashes series in Australia was always a highlight for us, like all cricket fans.
“We have to be SACA members, and have always had to be SACA members; that was always a requirement, so before people even became guides, they were pretty familiar with the oval. We all have a love of cricket,” Roger Taylor said.
Roger and his team are going into the ‘off season’ before preparing for a big summer in 2013/14, with a new stadium to showcase. “Things will be different, but we’ve coped with change before. Summer is terrific, we get lots of people on holiday, from India, Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies and England – they all want to have a look at Adelaide Oval, and
“I’ve been coming here since I was a boy. I’m a life member, my dad was a 50-year member before me, so I’ve seen a lot over the years. It’s always been my spiritual
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that’s why it is important we have kept the scoreboard and northern mound,” he said. And the story behind the striped blazers? Roger says the inspiration came from a ‘fact-finding tour’ to the MCG in 1992, where the idea for official blazers was born. “It was something [past tour guide presidents] John McMenamin and David Leicester did. They organised a specially designed blazer for each of the guides, based on the original 1930s state team blazers,” he said. “Before red, white and black it was navy, gold and maroon – and they obtained a special material from a tailor in Adelaide Arcade – each jacket made to fit. We get a lot of comments about them!”
Soils ain’t soils It’s taken more than 12 months, but South Australia’s first drop-in wickets are now rolled and ready to go. north-south. The trays will be ready to move in September. Each tray has lifting points on the edges. The Stadium Management Authority has purchased a purpose-built transporter able to lift an entire pitch, which can weigh up to 40 tonnes, and drop it to the new location – in the middle of Adelaide Oval.
The eight wickets have been nurtured by SACA groundstaff on Oval Number 2 since February last year. With their progress and consolidation on target, the pitches have been extensively rolled and consolidated after being laser levelled in early April. The wickets will continue to be maintained by turf manager, Damian Hough (pictured above), over the winter, before being moved into the middle of Adelaide Oval in September, and ready for use for summer 2013/14.
“We decided not to have a concrete slab out there; the beams give a more uniform profile for the outfield for what is now a multi-sporting venue,” says Hough.
Each pitch is in a steel tray 25m x 3m. The tray is 150mm deep with a 50mm cap above the tray so the soil profile is 200mm deep. The base the pitches sit on are concrete beams 600mm x 600mm with the tray running
The working group used a modified StrathAyr design, with advice coming from former curator Les Burdett and consultant Peter Semos, who has been involved with drop-ins from the time they were first used.
FEBRUARY 2012 The first dig on Adelaide Oval Number 2.
FEBRUARY 2012
MARCH 2012
The concrete bases being poured in late February.
The trays being prepared for the base soil of Athelstone clay.
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MARCH 2012
The valuable Athelstone clay goes in.
Athelstone soil, the same as exists on the main oval, forms the base. Burdett stockpiled more than 400 tonnes in the 1980s, and it was from this pile at suburban Highbury that the new drop-ins were made.
The oval is being reconstructed by contractor StrathAyr, with as much of the original Athelstone soil from the centre wicket salvaged and stored for future use.
“Using the same soil and same grass variety were two really important ingredients that will mean we can strive to deliver what people consider is a typical Adelaide Oval wicket,” Hough said.
“Our aim is for the members of the public not to notice. We want eight pitches, the same as we have here: same soil, same grass and hopefully playing the same,” Hough said.
The pitches will be brought in through the northwestern entry to the main oval and roll across protective flooring to straddle the centre, at which time the pitch will be placed in position.
APRIL 2012
Ground staff roll out the turf over the soil.
WINTER 2012
MARCH 2013
The protected area growing out.
The Athelstone clay is removed from the centre wicket for storage.
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APRIL 2013
Damian Hough with the finished product.
A SACA snapshot – your voice
Henry Voigt, Adelaide
Alissa Holland, West Beach
Years as a SACA member: 5
Years as a SACA member: 4
Describe the best day you’ve had at Adelaide Oval? Watching the Australians claim victory on day 5, Ashes Test in 2006 with my Mum.
Describe the best day you’ve had at Adelaide Oval? Every Test match day that starts with a breakfast BBQ in the Member’s Car Park.
Favourite restaurant in South Australia? Raj on Taj, Unley Road.
Favourite restaurant in South Australia? Salsa at West Beach.
One Day cricket, T20 or Test matches? Test Matches.
One Day cricket, T20 or Test matches? Test matches.
Most memorable cricket moment? Michael Clarke’s double hundred in 2012 in Adelaide – awesome to watch.
Most memorable cricket moment? Adelaide Oval, Day 5, 2006 Australia v England.
Bradman or Clarke? Clarke.
Bradman or Clarke? Bradman.
Your favourite holiday getaway in SA? Kangaroo Island or a houseboat on the Murray.
Your favourite holiday getaway in SA? Goolwa. Which five cricketers would you invite for dinner and why? Kerry O’Keefe – life of the party and you can’t beat that laugh; Matthew Hayden – I’m not cooking so someone else has to; Richie Benaud – you can’t not invite Richie; Ricky Ponting – the most prolific run scorer Australia has seen and most successful captain (my husband’s favourite); Darren Lehmann – bound to be good for a few laughs and plenty of good stories.
Which five cricketers would you invite for dinner and why? Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Chris Gayle – because they are my cricketing heroes and they would be hopefully entertaining. Describe your ideal Sunday? A nice sleep-in, followed by a BBQ with a few mates, then off to the footy at Adelaide Oval.
Describe your ideal Sunday? Wine tasting in McLaren Vale.
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We’ve asked seven SACA members a few questions about life and cricket – and why they love coming back to Adelaide Oval. From one of our youngest to one of our long-standing legends, and including our country members, we’ve discovered it’s all about the cricket – and the memories made.
Sam Hooper, Norwood
Jeanette Harfield, Cumberland Park
Years as a SACA member: 3
Years as a SACA member: 10
Describe the best day you’ve had at Adelaide Oval? Aside from the Ashes series in 2010/2011, my 21st birthday party in the Gill Langley room in the old Bradman stand makes for good memories.
Describe the best day you’ve had at Adelaide Oval? Can’t remember but it was a big day out the back! Favourite restaurant in South Australia? Suree’s Resturant, Unley Road – great food.
Favourite restaurant in South Australia? Star of Siam – Sea Stars every time.
One day cricket, T20 or Test matches? Enjoy the atmosphere of T20 but also like the Test as we always have a chance to meet up with a tribe from the country who come and meet up usually out the back for a drink or two.
One Day cricket, T20 or Test matches? Test matches, five times the amount of days off work! Most memorable cricket moment? Chasing Brian Lara for his signature at Adelaide Oval after he overtook Allan Border as the highest number of runs in a Test career, in an innings of 226 played at Adelaide Oval in November 2005.
Most memorable cricket moment? Out the back when our mate Salty was pretending to be a great wicket keeper and then a “look alike” Merv Hughes strolled past to serve him up a bowl – very funny moment.
Bradman or Clarke? Clarke. Bradman or Clarke? Clarke. Your favourite holiday getaway in SA? Goolwa Beach with family, friends and a jet ski.
Your favourite holiday getaway in SA? Coffin Bay National Park.
Which five cricketers would you invite for dinner and why? Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan. Obvious choices but still easily the best players of the modern era!
Which five cricketers would you invite for dinner and why? Lillee, Clarke, Marsh, S Warne and D Boon – greats of Australian cricket and great blokes – also very easy on the eye, but would have great stories to tell.
Describe your ideal Sunday? A modest sleep-in followed by brunch/early lunch and ice cold beers in the afternoon with mates.
Describe your ideal Sunday? Sitting around our back yard and pergola entertaining area, enjoying some good company and having a spa, a barbie and a nice SA red.
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Kym Tilbrook, Paradise Years as a SACA member? 24 Describe the best day you’ve had at Adelaide Oval? The best day at Adelaide Oval was that magnificent unbeaten partnership of 462 between David Hookes and Wayne Phillips in March, 1987. They smashed the ball to all parts of the oval and had Tasmania chasing leather all day. Their stand came off only 299 balls with Hookes on 306 and Phillips on 213. I was sitting on the boundary just below the scoreboard and watched ball after ball smash into the pickets in front of me. Favourite restaurant in South Australia? Cork and Cleaver at Glenunga. Great chateaubriand and magnificent wines. One Day cricket, T20 or Test matches? I prefer the drama of Test matches. Adelaide has had some great matches in recent years which have gone down to the wire. Watching players strive for those last wickets or runs is a real buzz. T20 can be very exciting when the big hitting comes off, but early wickets can lead to quite boring matches. It’s the same with one-day cricket. Chasing 150 in a One Day match is a recipe for boredom. Most memorable cricket moment? That catch by Glenn McGrath at Adelaide Oval in front of the Members’ Stand. I still don’t know how he made ground to get to the ball let alone keep hold of it. A truly magnificent cricket moment. Bradman or Clarke? I’ve only seen film clips of Bradman. His ability to play to all parts of the ground was superb. His average has to make him the best. Clarke has great flair and his last 18 months have been excellent. He has to also carry the tag of “great player.” Your favourite holiday getaway in SA? Without a doubt it has to be the Flinders Ranges. I’m a bit biased because I’m the walking guide at Rawnsley Park Station leading three- and five-day walks. I also go there for holidays to bushwalk. Kangaroo Island runs a close second. Which five cricketers would you invite for dinner and why? Darren Lehmann – I’ve met him before and he seems a great bloke. He would have to have to have some of the best cricket stories to tell. His swashbuckling style of cricket was a great drawcard. Shane Warne – now he really does have some good stories but whether he would tell all of them is another matter. Richie Benaud – his knowledge of the game makes him a must as an invitee. Eric Freeman – one of my cricket heroes. He always gave his best in Test and Shield cricket and could be relied on in a tough spot. The fact that he played football for Port Adelaide is also a great plus. Curtly Ambrose – a magnificent bowler who had very little to say during his playing days. It would be good to tease out some of his thoughts on the game and today’s bowlers from him. Describe your ideal Sunday? Watching a Test match at Adelaide Oval as Australia sweeps towards victory. If I can’t be at a Test match I would love being in the Adelaide Hills or the Flinders on a bushwalking trail with my family.
Pictured from top: Kym Tilbrook Gordon Schwartz Ian Ravenscroft
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Gordon Schwartz OAM, Hackney
Ian Ravenscroft, Moonta
Years as a SACA member? 57
Years as a SACA member: 34
Describe the best day you’ve had at Adelaide Oval? As a 10-year-old being among the record Test crowd of 50,962 on January 14, 1933 hoping to see Don Bradman score a century for Australia only to see him dismissed for eight. That was the second day of the Third Test against England when Australian captain Bill Woodfull was hit in the heart by a delivery from Harold Larwood causing great ill feeling in what became known as the Bodyline series.
Describe the best day you’ve had at Adelaide Oval? No preference really as I frankly enjoy each day at the oval, watching good cricket and renewing old friendships within the cricket/ business fraternity. Favourite restaurant in South Australia? I owned the Moonta Hotel for 20 years, so tended to dine mainly at fellow publicans’ hotels when we visited Adelaide. I must say I enjoy dining at the Port Lincoln Hotel though – good food and atmosphere.
Favourite restaurant in South Australia? Chianti where I celebrated my 80th and 90th birthdays with family and friends.
One Day cricket, T20 or Test matches? Test matches will always be number one; however, I enjoy and support all forms of the game.
One-day cricket, T20 or Test matches? Being a purist I was brought up on Test cricket. Five-day matches require greater concentration and skills and reveal the true character of a cricketer.
Most memorable cricket moment? When Yorke Peninsula won the Country Carnival after a 43-year drought was very memorable, but at the Adelaide Oval, I will never forget as a youngster seeing Les Favell open the batting for Australia in a Test match against the mighty West Indies team and cracking multiple fours off the first over of the innings bowled by Wes Hall. In that era of opening batsmen, Les Favell’s approach on that day, to me, was extraordinary, entertaining and impressive.
Most memorable cricket moment? Watching SA captain David Hookes rip a talented NSW attack to shreds to score 243 off 254 balls at Adelaide Oval in January 1986 just after he had been dropped from the Australian team. Personally: Scoring 204 in an A-Grade game at Port Pirie in the 1948/49 season.
Bradman or Clarke? Bradman stands alone.
Bradman or Clarke? Bradman. As a batsman he was an aristocrat, a cricket genius who was leagues above his contemporaries in ability.
Your favourite holiday getaway in SA? Port Lincoln – I have a lot of cousins and family/ friends on Eyre Peninsula.
Your favourite holiday getaway in SA? Victor Harbor. Possibly because Jane and I spent our honeymoon there and distance-wise it is so accessible. I also began my RAAF initial training there in 1942 but that was anything but a holiday.
Which five cricketers would you invite for dinner and why? Rod Marsh – great bloke and still very involved and respected in world cricket. Ian Chappell – exceptional captain and I have always valued and admired his cricket thoughts. Jeff Hammond – outstanding bowling coach in particular and has an innovative cricket brain. Michael Hussey – appears to be a real team player and a positive person who broke into Test cricket after a long wait and made a great contribution to Australian cricket. James Moss – a very talented young Yorke Peninsula cricketer who has the ability and character to forge an impressive first class career in cricket in the years ahead.
Which five cricketers would you invite for dinner and why? Keith Miller because he was a charismatic, unpredictable character, a raconteur, a wartime fighter pilot, a horseracing fan, a talented VFL footballer and possibly Australia’s best Test cricket all-rounder. Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain turned politician, to seek his views on jihad and on his disciplined but patient 136 in 485 minutes at Adelaide Oval in the 1989/90 season which transformed imminent defeat into at least a draw against Australia and even possible victory. Sir Donald Bradman to be the pianist, to discuss some of his many centuries, his role as a selector and administrator and his general reluctance to co-operate with the media. Sir Frank Worrell, the first appointed black captain of the West Indies, the influential, highly esteemed and talented all-rounder. He was modest but he might discuss the legendary three Ws – Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes and himself and the manner in which he moulded a rabble of brilliant individuals into a magnificent team. Les Favell could be asked why as a dashing opening batsman for South Australian and captain he seldom curbed his impetuosity. Why he was quite likely to hit the first ball of a match for six. He was a crowd pleaser, who represented Australia and later became an analytical commentator, a coach and a life member of the SA Cricket Association.
Describe your ideal Sunday? My ideal Sunday is fishing in our boat in Spencer Gulf, with family and friends, catching King George whiting, whilst enjoying a cleansing ale.
Describe your ideal Sunday? To read the Sunday Mail and interstate newspapers and then dine with grandchildren.
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Coffee and a chat with Ferg and Richo Bakery on O’Connell regulars Callum Ferguson and Kane Richardson talk about their seasons – and what it’s like running out in the Australian colours. Callum, how was it for you returning to the Australia A squad and were you happy with your matches v England Lions? How would you compare both teams and how are we looking for the Ashes? CF- It was fantastic to get that opportunity again – obviously any chance you get to step up to another level and take on a side that comprises English players is a huge opportunity to obviously kick a Pom, so that was great fun. The fact that we got a 4–0 result as well was outstanding. Richo bowled really well in that first game, it was a pity to see him go down but we had a couple of guys step up – but to get some runs personally I was really pleased with that. They’ve got some good players but I would like to think we have some really exciting players coming through as well. Joe Burns got a great 100 at one stage and the bowlers including Richo and John Hastings did really well in the short format and have a lot of experience. Tim Paine coming back from that finger injury into Australia A colours – there are some good things to look forward to in the Australian team. Kane, your Australian debut was a double-edged sword – looking back, what kind of emotions did you have that night, playing in front of your home crowd at Adelaide Oval, and what went
through your mind when the umpire called you for running on the pitch?
Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnston. I think probably that’s the big thing, getting to the point where you actually don’t even notice that stuff, you focus on your preparation for the games – nets, fielding, post-training, your recovery and that sort of stuff. And if you focus enough on that, everything else fades into the background.
KR- Obviously it was a whirlwind. Just to get the call in the first place was unexpected and then to realise you’re going to play for your country in front of your friends and family at home on your home ground worked out perfectly. It was a bit like a dream for that day. Obviously it didn’t pan out the way I wanted it to but I still look back now and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. At the start of the year I didn’t expect to be playing for Australia so to get that opportunity and experience that kind of cricket was a highlight and now I guess I’ve got the taste for it. I know what I need to do now to get back to that level and to be successful as well. As much as it was a disappointment it still was something I enjoyed and want to experience again.
KR- Ferg’s obviously played a lot more and been on a lot more tours but for me it was just the one-off and the squad was probably a bit different to what it usually is. There were a lot of younger players but from being around the group and just from seeing them train I guess you can bring that back to the state squad. The intensity and just the way they train in preparation for a game is probably something state cricketers don’t do as well. So I guess when you go back to your state team it’s the same as state players going back to their clubs – it’s just trying to help everyone out and trying to train everyone at that same intensity and getting ready for games.
How different is it playing at the national level – a greater intensity? Anything specific that you can bring back to the playing group here? CF- I think there is a certain amount of “fishbowl” going on when you go up into the Australian team. You’re obviously under the spotlight a lot more so that’s probably where you soak up on the experience of the players like
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Playing for Australia is something all young players aspire to – any suggestions for young boys and girls – what should they be doing in their training and preparation? CF- One of the biggest things is probably looking up to the players that are having a lot of success and trying to learn as much about the way they go about as you can and try and get that into your game. Sometimes being your own coach is the best thing for you and it can be something that you pick up from someone like Kane Richardson in the nets. He might have a certain way of preparing himself on game day and you can then try it yourself. If it works for you, then great. If it doesn’t you leave it and you prepare in other ways. KR- I think in the end the more you play the more you know about yourself and what you need to do at training to get better. In the end training is just about getting ready and preparing for a game and playing more cricket you probably learn what you need to do at training and what you don’t. Especially going from Australia down and back up as Ferg has done, you probably learn that quicker than anyone but in the end you’ve got to enjoy it as well.
The state of South Australian cricket – have you seen some things this season to give you confidence about where we are headed? KR- Obviously it’s been a very positive season overall. The results in the end in both forms weren’t what we were after – but to be in that position with three rounds to go... If we could be like that every year we would take that going into the last three rounds. Obviously it didn’t pan out as well as we wanted it to but next year if we can keep doing that kind of stuff and be in the same position every year from missing out this year hopefully we will have that hunger. It’s just going that one step further. CF- I think it was the fact that we got so close. Our bowlers had a fantastic year, and really, they were the backbone for us pushing for a Bupa Sheffield Shield title this year. Unfortunately we didn’t quite get there but from a batting point of view, I think a lot of us would take missed opportunities to really get on top this year when the bowlers had set the games up for us. Looking into the future I think that we’ve got a lot of fantastic talent coming through and to see them take the next step next year would really have us pushing hard for a Shield final, I would’ve thought, with the bowling we have at our disposal.
Your personal goals – have you achieved them this season?
more starts into big hundreds but that’s certainly going to be a focus for me next year. I averaged 40.00 for the year, which I’m reasonably happy with but I would like to be pushing that a little bit higher for next season.
KR- Yes and no. I think that for me it was sitting down at the start of the season and deciding I wanted to play more Shield cricket. In the end my injury during the Australian A series probably stopped me from doing that. I managed to get some wickets in the Ryobi One Day Cup comp. It was something I wanted to do. At the moment that’s my strength and, as I said, playing for Australia wasn’t a goal I set myself to achieve at the start of the season but obviously it’s something that came along the way. It was a bit of a sweet year for me so hopefully next year I play a bit more Shield cricket and contribute in that form.
Were there any personal highlights for you – either from the Strikers or Redbacks season? KR- Obviously there were a few personal good performances I guess but as I said we were in a position to win and usually when it comes down to that the highlights of a season are when you lift a trophy or something like that. I was happy with a few performances I had in the One Day and KFC T20 Big Bash League but for me it’s more about looking back and seeing the team do well – not a whole lot from me!
CF- Personally it was great to get my high score in Shield cricket. I made 160 against Queensland, which was a huge positive for me personally and I’m really proud of that. Johan Botha talked to us at the beginning of the season and said he wanted to see batsman making big hundreds – anything over 150 would be fantastic – and to be able to do that was great from my point of view. I felt like my Ryobi One Day Cup season finished really strongly. I was pleased with that. I felt like my fielding really lifted this year. In the Shield format, I would have maybe liked to have converted
CF- Personally the sort of highlight fantastic to look back on was Richo’s catch [in the Strikers v Hurricanes match in January], and Tim Ludeman’s catch in BBL|02 at Adelaide Oval, but Ludes took a number [of catches] throughout the season which were fantastic. To see young Chadd Sayers have his breakout year this year and probably Richo stepping up into Australia colours are two of mine.
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People who inspire you – can you name a few? KR- From a cricketing point of view when I watch South Africa play. At the moment they are the best team in the world. Their bowling attack is something that I think our state attack can learn from. The way they go about it in four-day cricket and One-Day cricket. Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel and blokes like that are in a cricketing sense the people that inspire me. When I watch them bowl I want to get out there and do the same thing. CF- I’ve got a few from a few different sports. From a cricket point of view Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting are probably two that I really looked at and really looked up to throughout my career, especially as a youngster. I certainly think Roger Federer is another one who has inspired me over the years. His ability to be consistently so good for so long is something I aspire to with my cricket. James Hird when I was younger is another one who as a footballer just stepped up to the plate when his team needed him.
Cricket across cultures How the love of cricket is making a difference to many new arrivals On most weekends in suburban Adelaide – winter included – you can find one group of cricket fanatics pulling on the whites and having a game.
during winter that they really hit their straps, with up to 16 teams registering to play in the traditional ‘off season’.
The members of the International Cricketers Club of South Australia play rain, hail or shine – and all for the love of it.
“Teams are already recruiting district cricketers now, so it’s already going a bit crazy,” according to ICCSA president, Hemanshu ‘Eddie’ Juneja.
come from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Many are students, but some have jobs in Adelaide as accountants, doctors, taxi drivers and nurses. They play all over Adelaide, but also have played twice on Adelaide Oval as part of an Education Adelaide v SA Police promotional match.
Although the club fielded four teams in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association this summer, it is
There are about 75 registered members, with a strong influence from the sub-continent. Players
The club was one of 67 clubs and associations throughout SA to receive funding through the SACA
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Facilities Grant. Grants of up to $5,000 were provided in February, giving grassroots cricket a major boost. The ICCSA received $4000 to assist with the renovating of turf training wickets and installation of artificial turf on existing concrete wickets at Fawk Reserve, Athol Park clubrooms. It also uses clubrooms at Margaret Bond Reserve, Webb Oval, next to the Glenunga International School.
“Our players and supporters are a wonderful mix, representing the diverse multicultural interests of the South Australian community” “We are committed to the highest standards of professionalism, sportsmanship and to enjoying the many benefits, and obligations, which come with being a member of multicultural Australia,” Eddie said. “We are fortunate to enjoy the support of many individuals who share our love for the game. Our players and supporters are a wonderful mix, representing the diverse multicultural interests of the South Australian community.” Rajdeep Singh, a student who arrived from Sangrur, Pubjab, in 2007, says the spirit of cricket is alive and well. “I personally very much enjoy being a part of ICCSA. I feel proud because the members and team mates are fantastic and I love to play with them,” Rajdeep said. ‘Eddie’ Juneja says the love of
playing cricket is making a big difference to many new arrivals to Australia.
SACA Club Development Officer Andrew Caldwell said the ICCSA was a great example of people from a variety of diverse cultures coming together through the spirit of cricket.
“We had a new boy the other day who played in the state Afghanistan team. His family and he had been subjected to violence over there due to their ethnic background and migrated with his family. He came to this country and was re-united with his passion. Here he could play with good facilities and safe environment. We provide everything for them. A lot of these guys started with nothing, and as a club we provide them with equipment and resources, and we can watch them grow,” he said.
“With everyone welcome, they all love their cricket and take every opportunity to play. The club initially fielded teams in metropolitan hard wicket competitions, and now plays in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association throughout the summer,” he said. “They really love the T20 competitions, and use any spare grounds to hold family days and social cricket matches. The club continually attracts new members and has grown their membership each season, highlighting their welcoming, inclusive environment both on and off the field.”
“We love our cricket – it’s a good thing playing cricket, but the mateship and interaction is really important for us, and it can really help people settle in to a new community. They can develop their social network through cricket – it’s a big plus.”
One of the players, Abhishek Sharma, from India, said the ICCSA
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allowed him to embrace his love of cricket. “Playing cricket has always been a passion, but playing in Adelaide’s cricketing conditions and under ICCSA’s support has made the entire life cycle of my love for this game come alive. Thank you for making this happen for me,” he said. Footnote: At the end of the ATCA preliminary rounds three out of the four competing ICCSA teams finished top two in their respective grades this year. Details: icc.sa.cricket.com.au
Want to know more about multicultural cricket and school clinics? Contact Kirsty Brammer KBrammer@saca.com.au Pictured: Far left, Eddie Juneja appeals and (above) his teammates prepare for a T20 match at Park 25.
Testing times for cricket Is the death of test cricket inevitable? Sam Collins takes us behind the scenes on his new film that examines the question in more depth than ever before.
It was on the first day of the 2000th Test at Lord’s in 2011 that my friend Jarrod Kimber turned to me and compared Test cricket to Woody Allen. It’s often said Test cricket has been dying as long as it has been alive and here was proof – it was supposed to be a time of celebration, and yet instead all around us in the ground and the media was gloom about the future of the game. Allen has been making films about his introspection for years, and is an appropriate reference point because since that day Jarrod and I have been working on a movie of our own, an independent documentary about the future, and potential demise, of Test cricket. We wanted to work out if the doom-mongers were right.
actually faces. Gideon Haigh has been writing with expert insight on those issues for years, but if you asked for a show of hands at Lord’s or the MCG for who has read cover-to-cover his brilliant collection of essays on that theme – Sphere of Influence – it wouldn’t be in Mexican Wave territory. Test cricket, to the majority of its English fans at least, is that comfortable uncle’s house with the nice garden that they go and visit in the summer. Most of them go to enjoy the sunshine and get drunk with their friends, not to sit and listen to its problems. There is a presumption that it will be there next year come what may. Our fear is that that won’t always be the case.
The more questions we asked, the more it turned out there are genuine reasons to worry for Test cricket’s future. As if a five-day game dealing with declining levels of interest in a world geared to the quick fix didn’t have enough problems, Test cricket must also contend with the self-interest of those who are in charge of it. Thanks to TV deals and Twenty20 in recent years there has been more money in cricket than ever before. The problem is that cricket boards have become accustomed to the cash as players are flogged around the calendar in a attempt to maximize TV revenue, while the tournament they all want to play in, the lucrative IPL, looms in the background.
So how do you get the message out to people, especially the young fans in-waiting who can help guarantee the game’s survival? It’s a lazy cliché to say that all young people have no concentration spans and spend their lives buried in tablets, laptops and computer games – they are out there to be gripped by sport, either through the written word, visual media or by marketing, just as we were. It is just that it is more difficult to do so now, as there is so much more competition for people’s time. The world has changed dramatically in the last 10 years – there are more free TV channels, the internet gives people more access to niche interests, and the average person’s exposure to media is increasingly self-tailored, making mass exposure more difficult than in the days when everybody watched the news or read the papers.
Meanwhile Test cricket is making losses and failing to attract crowds everywhere but India, England and Australia, pushing the oldest form of the game to the margins in Sri Lanka, West Indies and elsewhere. Both Jarrod and I are journalists, but we knew that it would be difficult for us to make a sufficient impact in print about our fears for Test cricket, given the volume of opinion in the cricket pages and the passivity of most cricket fans. Lawrence Booth, the editor of Wisden, wrote last year in his editorial that cricket “stands at the precipice”. You can’t get much stronger than that in the sport’s most respected publication, yet I’d wager that most of the cricket-watching public are at best vaguely aware of those words, let alone the scale and nature of the problems that the game
Cricket must fight and fight hard with the way it markets itself, and there is more to that than throwing Twenty20 at the world again and again as though that is all cricket has left to offer. A film seemed like a great opportunity to try an alternative approach to writing, and to catch the younger generation and the casual fan on their own turf. Jarrod and I were working as video journalists for ESPNcricinfo at the time so, in our naivety, making a film seemed just a logical extension of
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Pictured: Far left: Australia’s Ed Cowan at Adelaide Oval; left: SACA’s Keith Bradshaw being interviewed; top: Ian Chappell in the spotlight and film-makers Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber.
that. Now I’m grateful for that naivety, because we have had no fear of failure. We have been extremely fortunate that, because of the quality of technology and the amount of talented young people keen to work for a cause, it’s proved a great moment in time to make a film like this on such a low budget. We assembled a great, enthusiastic crew, and somehow raised money to get out and start filming in Australia in the winter of 2011/12.
inspiration from some excellent documentaries outside sport – including Enron (2005), Gasland (2010) and Helvetica (2007) – as we see what is happening to cricket to be analogous to many other areas of life. Death of a Gentleman will really be a film about the modern world through the lens of cricket, born from our belief that to make the best film about cricket we had to try to appeal to more than just those already passionate about the game.
That start we owe to the belief of people who knew us, and we have continued to plough on through further investment and a successful crowd-funding campaign that leaves us indebted to the generosity of some of Test cricket’s many passionate fans.
Test cricket is representative of things people care about – tradition, history and identity. Jarrod and I have a double part to play in the making of the film. Not only are we producing and directing it, but also on camera as we stumble around trying to make sense of everything. We’ve been lucky to be able to get access to the biggest names in cricket along the way: administrators like Haroon Lorgat, Dave Richardson, Giles Clarke, N. Srinivasan, Lalit Modi and SACA chief executive and former MCC chief executive and secretary Keith Bradshaw; players (at least at the time) like Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss, Rahul Dravid and David Warner; journalists and broadcasters like Haigh, Booth, Mike Atherton and Michael Holding; and many more, as we look to cover all sides of the debate. We’ve also followed Australia’s Ed Cowan through his maiden Test series – the human side to a sports/ business tale and a rare chance to see what playing sport for your country means.
In those early stages the hardest thing was coming up with a title that didn’t include a rubbish cricket pun. Death of a Gentleman was what we settled on and it reflects the fact that we obviously feel the game is in trouble, as well as hinting at the troubles caused by the transition all sport has made from amateurism to professionalism over the last century. There have been several successful documentaries about cricket in recent years; you’ll probably have heard of Fire in Babylon (2010), about the great West Indies team of the 1970s and ’80s. Maybe From the Ashes (2011) too, about that Botham summer of 1981, or its charming near-namesake Out of the Ashes (2010), which deals with the rise of the Afghanistani cricket team. If you enjoy cricket they are all worth a watch, but Death of a Gentleman won’t be like any of them. We can’t go out and make a film that is as detailed as Sphere of Influence, but we can make one that spells out the challenges the game faces, the problems in the way it is run and the worrying lack of consensus about the best way forward – in particular the total disconnect between the opinions of cricket’s administrators and almost everyone else involved in the game, be they players, journalists or fans. Our film will be fast moving, funny in parts but very serious in content. It is part investigative, part road movie and part love letter from two cricketing romantics. We have taken
It’s an incredibly complicated, daunting and exciting thing to try to do and get right: to balance the stories, to make it interesting, to ultimately do Test cricket justice. Will we manage it? You’ll have to decide for yourselves. ‘Death of a Gentleman’ is due out in 2013. For more information and to help support the film, visit www.deathofagentlemanfilm.com. Reproduced by kind permission of Marylebone Cricket Club.
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Grassroots cricket a winner Cricket clubs and associations across the state are fixing broken sightscreens, ordering covers for centre wickets and buying new nets – thanks to a funding boost from SACA. A new on-line coaching website also was launched during the season, providing all players and coaches in SA with free access to quality coaching feedback and up-to-date coaching information.
A total of 67 clubs – including almost 40 from regional SA – received grants of up to $5,000 in February this year, as part of SACA’s Club Facilities Grant program, which is being made available following the $535 million redevelopment of Adelaide Oval. Projects which included financial contributions from cricket clubs and/or local councils were recognised.
The website contains more than 200 skills videos from current Redbacks players and high performance coaches, training session plans and videos for coaches and the ability for players to upload their own videos for review and feedback by SACA coaches and development staff.
Successful applications highlighted increased opportunities for cricket participation, including enhancing the delivery of junior and senior programs. Projects included artificial turf on concrete wickets, turf pitches, pitch covers, practice nets, oval playing surface, shade structures for players, and change rooms or clubrooms.
Players can enter their statistics and performance highlights and create their own player profile card and track their cricket career from their junior days through to seniors. There also was funding for a SACA Drug Awareness Campaign, which will be rolled out to all players involved in SACA underage squads: grade – senior and junior; country cup representatives – junior; and indoor representative teams – senior and junior.
Funding also has been made available for SACA to appoint coaches and to establish country cricket academies, and provide a high level of coaching to country players within these academies.
More details about SACA’s cricket programs: www.cricketsa.com.au
In addition to helping identify talented country players, coaches will be the link between all representative teams in Bank SA Country Cup carnivals as well the country teams or players participating in state-wide carnivals.
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Country coaches cover the state
Three new dedicated Country Cricket Development Officers have begun work across regional South Australia in a program aimed to boost grassroots cricket and develop junior talent.
Ben Brown, who has previously worked at SACA as a School Promotion Officer and with Bank SA Country Cup Teams, will work across the Yorke Peninsula, and Mid North zones. He is based in Port Pirie, and is heavily involved in local sport.
The South Australian Cricket Association has announced the three new Country Cricket Development Officers (CCDO), covering South Central, Yorke Peninsula/Mid North and Eyre Peninsula/Upper North.
The third Development Officer is Mark Fisher, who is based at Port Lincoln. Mark’s experience as a be active Field Officer for the Office for Recreation and Sport ensures he already has strong connections within the Eyre Peninsula and Upper North regions.
The officers will be responsible for promoting cricket in regional South Australia, improving coaching resources, growing participation and overseeing junior development. The positions are part of SACA’s commitment to increase services in regional South Australia.
SACA director of cricket, Jamie Cox, said it was important that specialised coaching was made available to regional cricketers, to ensure SA properly develops its talent base.
Former Australian and South Australian player Shelley Nitschke will move from her role as SACA’s North East Cricket Development Officer to take up the South Central CCDO role, based in Strathalbyn.
“The funding has been made available to make sure SACA gives every opportunity to young players, boys and girls, to be able to take the next step,” he said.
Well aware of the importance of supporting cricket in the country regions, Nitschke is excited by the challenges ahead. “I’m really looking forward to getting out into the regional areas and working with the country associations to assist them in developing their pathways and increasing the number of participants,” said Nitschke.
Pictured from left: Mark Fisher, Shelly Nitschke and Ben Brown are ready to help regional cricketers.
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SACA Premier League launches with a blast
Six new teams and a fresh approach for South Australia’s elite players will signal the start of the SACA Premier League in September – and begin the biggest reform in the state’s cricket history. The new competition is aimed at giving players the best opportunity to become ‘first-class ready’, and boost SA’s talent pool.
Four newly formed South Australian teams will join the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea in the competition, which will consolidate elite South Australian talent, and ensure these cricketers play each other in a regular competition on first class facilities managed by SACA.
Thompson will coach the Northern Mavericks, former Redbacks’ coach Mark Sorell will lead the Southern Force, former Redback Ben Cameron will take charge of the Eastern Edge, and John Palmer will run the Western Grit. The Hebou Barramundis, the PNG national team, is currently ranked 19th in the world in limited overs and 18th in the world in Twenty20
Coaches have been named for the four local teams – Russell
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cricket. Cricket PNG is an Associate Member of the ICC and part of the East Asia-Pacific region. In 2012 it was ranked third on the ICC’s annual scorecard which includes 96 Associate and Affiliate Members. Pictured: PNG’s Hebou Barramundis are ready to join the new SACA Premier League; Below: The four South Australian Premier Leauge team logos.
Useful information for SACA Members Reciprocal rights
Function options at Adelaide Oval
SACA Members are reminded that SACA has reciprocal arrangements with a number of stadiums that host AFL and NRL matches; namely, the MCG, ANZ Stadium and the GABBA. Reciprocal ticket application forms for these venues are now posted on the SACA website.
Adelaide Oval continues to be one of the best locations to host private functions and events. SACA Members will have several new options to consider later this year with a range of new venues opening – some with picturesque views of the centre wicket, the city and St Peter’s Cathedral – all providing a unique setting to entertain clients, celebrate milestones or network in style. The rooms can cater for as few as five or as many as 1200 guests – for everything from meetings and seminars to conferences, cocktail parties, lunches and dinners, weddings and more. For more information on bookings, visit www.adelaideoval.com.au or telephone (08) 8211 1100 or email functions@aosma.com.au
Marylebone Cricket Club offered SACA an allocation of tickets for the upcoming Ashes Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground in July 2013. More than 120 SACA Members have taken up the offer and will travel to the UK to watch the action live.
SACA office now at Wayville Due to the commencement of construction work in the western grandstand the temporary SACA office located at Adelaide Oval has now closed. All membership and general enquiries should be forwarded to SACA’s temporary office at 22 Greenhill Road, Wayville, or telephone (08) 8300 3232.
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www.saca.com.au