DEAD END SELECTORS
George Bailey and his co-selectors are doing Australian cricket a real disservice. They seem to have an aversion to youth and no realisation that the sport needs young players to ensure high interest is maintained by young followers. There seems to be an obsession with veterans and the re-cycling of Nic Maddinson (NSW) is further proof of this. Something needs to be done urgently to stop the drift of youngsters to other sports. A couple of highly talented cricketers are West Australia’s Cooper Connolly and Victoria’s Ollie Peake. They are the future and offer some excitement- not the like of Labuschagne or Maddinson. Every bowler round the world knows if you bowl a fourth stump line to Labuschagne he will soon oblige. Geelong lad Ollie Peake (19) has a fine technique and wide range of stroke – like Ponting, Harvey and others who became “greats” down the years because selectors were willing to take a punt. Imagine the extra fillip it would give cricket in this country if Peake was to appear in the Boxing Day Test. Its well and truly time Geroge Bailey, Dodemaide and McDonald showed some imagination – and some thought for the future of cricket in this country. It would be great to see Connolly, Peake and Victoria’s Campbell Kellaway and Fergus O’Neill on the plane to England for the 2027 Ashes. Australia hasn’t won a series in England for over twenty-five years and is not likely to break that drought with another “Dad’s Army” brigade.
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MISSING OVERS
For the first seven decades of Test Cricket the average number of balls bowled every hour was 115-120. Teams just got on with it. In the modern era administrators, captains and coaches have incredibly managed to drag the output down to a scandalous 75-80 per hour. This is a shameful development for which there is no excuse.
Pictured are Victoria’s Neil Harvey and Sam Loxton on the 1948 Invincibles tour of England. Harvey was 19 and his century at Leeds was a classic. If he was around today, he’d be told “we like the look of you son but be patient and wait till you’re thirty”. On that legendary Ashes tour the Aussies (with fast bowlers Lindwall, Miller, Toshack and Bill Johnston) averaged 115 balls per hour.
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VARIA
Thank God for the police. Day after day down the years the men and women of the force do a wonderful job in ever increasingly difficult times. Each and every day thousands put their lives on the line in the call of duty. The sad death of a beautiful young Sydney police officer a week or so ago left her family, fiancée and colleagues distraught. Police Remembrance Day recently was a further poignant tribute to the very many who have paid the ultimate sacrifice whilst being part of “the then blue line” – that line between law and order and chaos in society.
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Friends from Kilmore East that have recently returned from a trip around Ireland. They really enjoyed the beauty of the Irish countryside and the friendliness of the people wherever they went. The bonus was there were no potholes and they felt totally safe walking the streets of the
cities at night. They bought me back a great book- “Irish Wit and Wisdom” for which the folk of the Emerald Isle are noted. One tourist site visited was the cliffs of Moher in the West Country.
VALE KEN MCDONALD
Wallan East resident Ken McDonald’s life was celebrated recently with a service at Yan Yean followed by a large assemblage of family and friends at Whittlesea showgrounds. Ken had been a great contributor the Whittlesea’s Show success over many years. Born in 1943 Ken attended secondary school at Caulfield Grammar. He left at the end of year eleven to assist on his father’s farm. He lived a fulfilling life and had a great life partner in Rosemary. The couple raised three fine children, Virginia, Caroline, and Alex each of whom has made a success of life. Alex attended ACK and was a very good tennis player. Caroline for some year was employed by a Middle Eastern Royal Family. Alex’s eulogy was a splendid one, highlighting the life and times of a loving husband, father, grand-father, and friend to many. The grand children were involved in the proceedings which were overseen by Kelly Scott. Ken was a generous host and he and Rosemary just good people. Ken was a really good storyteller and loved recounting memorable times such as when a teenager he caddied for some notable golfers.
Two young men, ACK students from the 2020’s passed from this life last week. Cameron Gardiner a day student from Butler’s Lane and Robbie Spencer a boarder from the city were good students and really good lads. Cameron loved helping out with the sports program. Robbie was a very good athlete and later became a highly regarded teacher. His sad loss is felt by the McIntyre family of Kilmore East who treasured his friendship.
