MY LIFETIME FRIEND
Assumption across its history has had some great cricket XI’s and a host of very fine players. As vice-captain of ACK’s “Team of the Century” (named at Crown Casino in 2018), Peter Ryan was one of the very best, up there with Simon O’Donnell and Neale Daniher. The latter could have reached the elite level in the summer game if Essendon FC had not claimed him straight from college. Simon O’Donnell captained Victoria and played for Australia. He was a key member of the World Cup winning side in India in 1987. Peter Ryan and his brother came to ACK from a small family hotel, The Caledonian in East Brunswick. Both were good students, and they played first XI and XVIII. Peter was an exceptional cricketer from early on. He played first XI in year 7 and captained the side when in year 10,11 and 12, leading Assumption to two titles and a runners-up. A brilliant fielder, he was an amazing batting and bowling talent. In 1967 and 1968, he scored over 500 runs and took more than 50 wickets each season. Straight from college, he was signed by Hampshire in the English premier competition. On his return home he was drafted into the army in Brisbane, but he was able to play for Queensland. In only his second game he shared in a 200-run opening stand against the West Indies. But shortly after he was struck on the temple by Victorian bowler Alan Thompson and this caused blurred vision.
He played on for years in Melbourne club cricket but was never the same great talent. In 1972 the legendary Bill O’Reilly, a true test great, wrote this in the Sydney Sun: “Young Ryan is the best organised bat in Australia with the best technique—he has a bright future”.
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Today Peter is in a serious health battle with complications from Parkinsons Disease. His devoted wife Catherine, daughter of an ex-ACK student, Leo Englefield from Robinvale, spends many hours with Peter in his care facility. Peter and his friend Shane have been lifetime friends, and their folks were wonderfully kind to me across the years