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General Cricket History Click here to read some great info on the history of cricket. WDCA Cricket History Some time in the 1850's, cricket was most likely established in Wangaratta by English born Pioneers, the Docker and the Reid Family's and matches were apparently played at Bontharamboo and David Reid's property at Carraragarmungee. David Reid's youngest son, Curtis, went onto play in three inter - colonial matches for Victoria between 1869 -71. He was the first paid secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club in 1877 at 250 pounds / year. He was also one of the umpires in the first test match ever played in Melbourne in 1877. Curtis was apparently the driving force in establishing the magnificent grandstand at the MCG in 1878. David Reid junior was a prominent citizen in the Wangaratta area & was a member of the Victorian MLA between 1859 - 1861. David junior was later disqualified from his seat of Murray. Other local Wangaratta matches were played on a space near the Hope Inn (Sydney Hotel) in Wangaratta near the Ovens River. - 1859 - the Land's Department set aside ten acres for a cricket ground in Evans St, the same year that land was granted for Wangaratta Showgrounds. Until a turf wicket was laid at the Wangaratta Showgrounds in 1928, the "Cricket Ground" in Wangaratta was the Borough's main cricket oval and retained it's name until the 1960's when Cr. Bill Findlay successfully moved that it be renamed the City Oval.
- Wangaratta's oldest ground - The Cricket Ground - now called the W J Findlay Oval. (Click here to read article)
- 1860 - Did you know that the Border Post newspaper in Albury reported on a game of cricket between Wangaratta and Beechworth on Saturday, 29th December, 1860 !
- Scores were - Wangaratta 121 and 80 defeated Beechworth 98 at Wangaratta. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1907/08 Wangaratta V's Fiji ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whorouly C C V's Buffalo River C C The 1913-14 Grand Final between Whorouly and Buffalo River, which was won by the latter side, but just happened to produce three world records for the game world-wide. According to the Guinness Book of Records, these extraordinary statistics remained the world record in cricket for over 75 years. They included the highest second wicket partnership ever of 641, a record that stood for 75 years, and was only beaten in 1988 by Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli in India. Other remarkable statistics were the team score of 893, as well as the highest individual score of 408. Not surprisingly, these two records still stand today in the local grade cricket competition. On October, 31st, 2004 a re-enactment of the game took place with the teams comprising of descendants of the two original teams that played in that match in 1913-14, with some players coming from as far away as South Australia, New South Wales and Gippsland. The game was played at the Gapsted cricket ground, adjacent to the Great Alpine Road between Wangaratta and Myrtleford. Visitors were invited to travel to the ground in horse-drawn carts, vintage cars and to wear period costumes in the fashion of 1914. A great story about this world famous event can found by clicking onto this attached pdf file . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benalla Gardens 10th & 11th December, 1934The WDCA had Alex Fraser, Clem Fisher Charlie Heavey in the N E side. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benalla Gardens Oval 5th & 6th March, 1937The WDCA had Charlie Heavey & Hughie Kneebone in the VCCL side. Click on this click to view match scorecard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VCCL V's England  1959 VCCL Side V's England at the Wangaratta Showgrounds Back Row - Max Bussell - WDCA, Ray McArthur, Wal Mitchell, Clem Fisher - Team Manager, Malcom Warren - WDCA, Clive Kneebone, Graham Bath. Front Row - Des Healy, Stan Treblecock - WDCA, Mac Holten - Captain - WDCA, Ray McLaine, Des Johnstone - WDCA, Jock Thomlinson. Victoria Country CL was dismissed for 10 / 31. Only 3 England bowlers were used. England then batted on and hit 8/308. MCC Scores - Subba Row hit 40, P. May 56, Graveny 52 and Mortimore (?) 50. Max Bussell's figures were 8/1/26/2.
Click here to view scorecard Did you know that - B. Statham and P. Loader were ruled out of consideration for the Fifth Test after suffering injury and shock in a road accident when a car in which they were driven from Wangaratta to Wagga Wagga overturned. Loader suffered cuts on an arm and head and Statham badly bruised a shoulder. Neither played again on the tour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VCCL V's Marylebone C C Deakin Reserve, Shepparton. The WDCA had Max Bussell & Graham Leyden in the VCCL side. Mr. Bert Lightfoot while at a VCA meeting was asked by VCA Secretary Jack Edwards if he would like the touring England side to play in Shepparton. Bert sort the assistance of the Mayor and Town Clerk to apply for a grant from the State Government for a Grandstand. At a meeting with the Premier Mr. Henry Bolte, Bert suggested he was a bit tight having granted only £4,500 to Shepparton when he gave £5,000 to Benalla a few years earlier. Mr. Bolte suggested he submit another letter where a further £500 was granted from the Government.Hansen & Yenken built the Grandstand at a cost of £11,000, this was to be payed back over 30 years by the users. There had been no Grandstand at Deakin Res. since the war, and the new one was formally opened by the Premier Mr. Henry Bolte. Thousands of school children turned up for the game during the day at a cost of 2/- per head. The game had TV coverage on GMV6 and National Stations from Deakin Reserve to an Australian wide audience. The ABC with Dick Mason broadcasting and Ian Fitzsimmons scoring, set up between the Grandstand and the SUFC clubrooms, broadcast live from 4.00pm until 6.00pm. MCC captain was Colin Cowdrey while GV&NE combine team was captained by Bill (Jasper) Jones. Graham Leydin, Max Bussell, Peter Parfitt (England) & Tom Graveney (England) in Shepparton, 1962 - VCCL V's England XI. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------1963 / 64VCCL v's South AfricaGardens Oval, Benalla. 18th December, 1963. The WDCA were represented in this match by Max Bussell & Graham Leyden. Click on this link to view the match details.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1968/69 West Indies V VCCL side at the Wangaratta Showgrounds 5th February, 1969.1969 VCCL Side Back Row - Brian Hayes, Graeme Trewin, Peter Nicol, Trevor Steer - Captain ,Kevin Hill, John Cleary, Geoff Welch, Ken Stewart - Team Manager. Front Row - Brian Trewin, Peter Negri , Terry Hogan, Robin Kneebone, John Romney. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27th & 28th September, 1980. The WDCA were represented by Denis Hill, Ron Hethington, Mark Phillips, Greg Rosser & Graham Broster. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VCCL v's New Zealand Emerging Players W J Findlay Oval, 9th, 10th & 11th March, 1983.The WDCA were represented by - Denis Hill, Gary Lidgerwood, Rod Newton & Greg Rosser. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The WDCA were represented in this match by Greg Rosser & Denis Hill. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- at the Wangaratta Showgrounds The WDCA was represented in this match by Gary Ligerwood -captain, Greg Hoysted & Darren Welch. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New South Wales v Victoria New South Wales 8 for 259 (Haddin 65, Katich 53, Lewis 3-43) beat Victoria 8 for 251 (Klinger 123*, Clarke 3-20) by eight runs PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW OFFICIAL - Scorecard New South Wales maintained their position at the top of the one-day table despite Michael Klinger's valiant career-best 123. Having been set a challenging chase of 260, Victoria slumped to 6 for 112 in the 30th over with Michael Clarke taking three wickets. Klinger and Adam Crosthwaite then forged a stand of 94 but they pulled up eight runs short. Klinger, with his second one-day century of the season, held the run chase together after Stuart Clark had struck two early blows with the new ball. Clarke's left-arm spin rattled the middle order and he was on a hat-trick after dismissing Cameron White and Liam Buchanan in two balls. However, Crosthwaite offered Klinger valuable support as the chase came down to 54 off 33 balls. But Matthew Nicholson maintained his composure and ensured that Klinger, and the tail, were unable to hit the required boundaries. The NSW total was built around a series of solid contributions from the top order despite the quick loss of Australia's latest Test cap Phil Jaques. Simon Katich (53) provided the early runs but the major impetus came from Brad Haddin with a 67-ball 65. Aaron O'Brien (39) and Craig Simmons (31) boosted the total with some late-innings hitting and their runs proved vital in the final outcome.NSW now have a formidable 11-point lead at the top of the table, although the race for second place is tight with just five points separating the other five teams. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAMS COMPRISING THE WDCA A. GRADE COMPETITION SINCE 1895/96 | WDCA TEAM | SEASONS IN WDCA | YEARS | | AUST INFINTRY FORCE | 1940/41 | 1 | | BEECHWORTH | 1923/24 | 1 | | B'WORTH WANDERERS | 1981/82-1984/85, 1996/97-2000/01 | 9 | | BOORAHMAN | 1902/03 - 03/04 | 2 | | BROOKFIELD | 1923/24, 1926/27-38/39 | 14 | | BRUCK MILLS | 1947/48- 1969/70, 1978/79 - | 50 | | CITY COLTS | 1961/62 - | 45 | | COLLEGE | 1982/83 - 1994/95 | 13 | | COMBINED SCHOOLS | 1957/58 - 1968/69 | 12 | | COMBINES | 1951/52 - 1952/53 | 2 | | COROWA | 1985/86 - | 22 | | THE CO - STORE | 1922/23 | 1 | | DOCKERS PLAINS | 1895/96 - 1900/01 | 6 | | EAST WANGARATTA | 1895/96-99/00,1901/02-03/04,1928/29-1937/38 | 18 | | ELDORADO | 1895/96-1998/99, 1900/01, 1904/05-1905/06, 1912/13-1914/15, 1919/20, 1921/22, 1924/25-1926/27, 1935/36-1936/37 | 17 | | EVERTON | 1921/22 - 1930/31 | 10 | | EXELSIOR | 1896/97 - 1897/98, 1905/06 - 1907/08 | 5 | | FOOTBALLERS | 1923/24 - 1939/40 | 17 | | FORDSON | 1924/25 | 1 | | GAPSTED | 1923/24 - 1924/25 | 2 | | GLENROWAN | 1895/96, 1908/09 - 1913/14, 1915/16 | 8 | | GRETA | 2003/04 - | 4 | | KNEEBONES | 1922/23 | 1 | | MAGPIES | 1955/56 - 1980/81, 1982/83 - 1991/92 | 36 | | MERRIWA | 1949/50 - 1951/52 | 3 | | METHODISTS | 1951/52 - 1953/54 | 3 | | MILAWA | 1897/98 - 1914/15, 1924/25 - 1926/27 | 21 | | MOYHU | 1951/52 - 1955/56, 1958/59 - 1975/76 | 23 | | MOYHU GOLD | 1956/57 - 1957/58 | 2 | | MOYHU GREEN | 1956/57 - 1957/58 | 2 | | MYRTLEFORD | 1938/39 | 1 | | MYRTLEFORD SAINTS | 1999/00 - 2003/04 | 5 | | NORTH WANG | 1895/96, 1922/23 - 1926/27 | 6 | | OXLEY | 1906/07 - 1914/15, 1919/20, 1921/22 - 1930/31 | 21 | | PEECHELBA | 1921/22 - 1923/24 | 3 | | RAILWAYS | 1925/26 - 1926/27, 1935/36, 1946/47 - 1947/48 | 5 | | RAYONAIRES | 1953/54 - 1956/57 | 4 | | ROVERS | 1952/53 - 1954/55, 1958/59 - 1988/89 | 34 | | ROVERS BROWN | 1955/56 - 1957/58 | 3 | | ROVERS GOLD | 1955/56 - 1957/58 | 3 | | ROVERS - UNITED | 1989/90 - | 18 | | RUSSELL, BAIRD & SIMPSON | 1923/24 | 1 | | RUTHERGLEN | 1991/92 - | 16 | | SMITH'S MILL | 1923/24 | 1 | | SOUTH WANGARATTA | 1895/96 - 1898/99, 1902/03 - 1903/04, 1919/20, 1921/22, 1923/24 | 10 | | SPRINGHURST | 1897/98 - 1904/05 | 8 | | ST. PATRICKS | 1946/47 - 1954/55 | 9 | | TARRAWINGEE | 1895/96 - 1896/97, 1902/03 - 1906/07, 1921 - 1930/31, 1954/55 - 1973/74, 1975/76 - 1978/79 | 41 | | TEAGUE'S MILL | 1923/24 | 1 | | UNITED | 1961/62 - 1988/89 | 28 | | UNITED GOLD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | VB Premier Cricket Country Rounds played in Wangaratta DATE | TEAM | SCORE | V's | TEAM | SCORE | VENUE | | 12/11/94 | STH MELB | 4/163 | D | RINGWOOD | 158 | WANG SHOWGROUNDS | | 08/01/00 | GEELONG | 6/203 | D | NTH MELB | 9cc202 | W J FINDLAY OVAL | | 13/01/01 | CAM/MAGPIES | 5cc194 | D | FOOTSCRAY | 9cc191 | WANG SHOWGROUNDS | | 12/01/02 | HAW EST MELB | 6cc194 | D | CAM/MAGPIES | 159 | W J FINDLAY OVAL | | 12/01/03 | RINGWOOD | 5/144 | d | RICHMOND | 139 | WANG SHOWGROUNDS | | 07/02/04 | FRANK/PENS | 185 | d | FITZ/DONC | 136 | W J FINDLAY OVAL | | 08/01/05 | ST. KILDA | 4cc259 | d | RICHMOND | 117 | WANG SHOWGROUNDS | | 05/01/08 | ST.KILDA | 4cc203 | d | MELB UNI | 141 | W J FINDLAY OVAL | | 10/01/09 | ST.KILDA | 5/206 | d | MORNINGTON | 8cc/205 | WANG SHOWGROUNDS | | 11/01/10 | CAM MAGPIES | | V | CARLTON | | BILL O'CALLAGHAN OVAL |
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