Five things we learned from Round 4

1   Gordon’s challenge is serious

A couple of weeks ago, it was possible, if you wanted, to dismiss Gordon’s early-season surge as the by-product of a favourable draw and a few good individual efforts.  No longer.  Gordon outplayed Bankstown so thoroughly in Round Four that its bid to play finals cricket this season demands to be taken seriously.  And, like many good teams, this Gordon side looks a bit stronger than the sum of its parts.  Last year’s O’Reilly Medallist, Charlie Stobo, bowled well at Bankstown’s top order, but the critical blow was struck by the less obviously threatening seamer, Tym Crawford, who bowled the always-dangerous Philip Wells when he looked in particularly ominous form.  Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane removed Bankstown captain Jarrad Burke, but it was his fellow-spinner Matt Junk – a Mosman Second Grader only last season - who ruined the lower end of the innings with 3-17.  And when Bankstown seemed to have clawed its way back into the game, taking the eighth wicket with Gordon still needing 25 runs, it was James Kennedy (not best known for his batting) who steadied the innings with Axel Cahlin.  Cahlin’s maiden First Grade century was memorable – he batted for five hours and ten minutes and carried his bat through the entire innings, becoming (at 18 years 237 days) the youngest player to do this in Sydney First Grade since Warren Bardsley in 1901.  Gordon faces a struggling St George side this week, and it would be a brave punter who backed the visitors to break the winning streak.

2   Sydney is pretty good at Twenty20

This season’s Twenty20 Kingsgrove Sports Cup kicked off on Sunday, with the usual damage being done to the morale of bowlers everywhere.  Nowhere was the damage quite as bad as at Drummoyne Oval, where Sydney restricted Eastern Suburbs to five for 107 before running down its target in only six overs and one ball.  Most of the carnage was inflicted by Dan Smith, whose 67 not out came from only 22 balls, 14 of which he hit to or over the fence.  At the other end, Joe Denly (who has played five T20 international for England) was comparatively sedate, lingering over 17 deliveries for his 35 not out.  After the first five overs of the innings had gone for 81 runs, Easts captain Will Somerville brought himself on to stop the tide, only to concede 24 from his one over of the game.  Sydney pulled off a tougher run chase later in the day, running down Newcastle’s 5 for 179 in the final over, Denly making 62 not out.  With matches to come against Mosman and University of NSW, Sydney looks well placed to finish at or near the top of the Sydney Sixers Conference.

3   Ian Moran refuses to get old

Ian Moran’s exact age is a closely guarded secret, and a slower-than-usual start to the season (49 runs from his first three innings) made a few people wonder whether time might finally be catching up with him.  Which may have encouraged Sutherland’s bowlers when they saw him coming in on Saturday, with the score at three for 49, and Easts in pursuit of an imposing target of 344.  But people who underestimate Moran have often ended up looking foolish.  Three and a half hours later, he had scored 173 not out from only 172 deliveries, blasting 23 fours and a six, and steered his side to a comfortable, five-wicket victory with plenty of time to spare.  It’s an open question whether he would have batted on for a few more balls if he had known that he had ended the day with 11.998 First Grade runs – not that it mattered, since he passed the 12,000 run milestone the following morning in the Twenty20 match with Sydney.  He has become only the fourth batsman to reach 12,000 runs in Sydney First Grade –after his former University team-mate, Greg Mail, Greg Hayne and Warren Bardsley.  Moran did play for New South Wales – in the early days of the Twenty20 competition, before it was Big Bashed – but no-one has scored more First Grade runs without appearing in first-class cricket.  If last weekend is any guide, there are plenty more runs to come.

4   Patience is a virtue

Every cricket coach ever has at some time lectured young players about the importance of patience to a batsman.  But usually they mean patience during an innings – not waiting to get a bat at all.  Damien Mortimer had to wait for the second day of his fourth match for Sydney University to get to the crease for the first time for his new club – a genuine trial his of focus and motivation.  It turned out to be worth the wait: the former Campbelltown right-hander dominated the Hawkesbury attack, cracking 122 from 189 balls, with twelve fours and two sixes, and timing his square drive especially sweetly.  Mortimer is only the second batsman to score a century in his initial First Grade innings for Sydney University – the first was Johnny Taylor, who made 141 not out against Randwick in 1922-23 (having already played for Petersham, NSW and Australia by that stage of his career).  Mortimer followed up with 28 not out and 64 in Sunday’s Twenty20 games, so that over the course of one weekend, his season has advanced from “did not bat” to 214 runs at an average of 107.

5   Anthony Sams is seeing them well

Randwick-Petersham’s keeper-batsman Anthony Sams continued his excellent start to the season, making Blacktown’s total of 373 look distinctly under-par as he hit his second century of the season, and compiled an opening stand of 254 with his captain, Alexander Kemp.  In four First Grade matches this season, Sams has hit152, 95, 79 and 121 – the main reason why his side sits fifth on the First Grade table, with three wins from four games.

Students win 4/5 against the Hawks and a mixed start to the Kingsgrove Twenty20 Cup

1st Grade:

Hawkesbury 8/404 (Clarke 162, Malone 4/130, May 2/42) Def Sydney University 314 (D Mortimer 122, B Trevor-Jones 66, Nair 4/73)

Chasing 400 was never going to be an easy task, but Bensons Lane is as good a spot as any to get it done.

It didn't start well for the students, with a couple of starts in the top order and before we knew it we were 3-60 on a flat, if low bouncing wicket. Enter D Mortimer, who has been forced to sit and watch so far this summer and has been itching for a bat. I've only just met the bloke, but I'm guessing sitting still and patience are not really his things.

What followed was a innings stacked with maturity, composure, and skill. He rotated the strike superbly and placed his attacking shots well. We think he has been around a while, but forget how young he is. This was a serious innings under immense pressure, and bodes well for this summer and beyond. He found a willing ally in BTJ, also short of time in the middle, if comfortable in the rural surroundings. Another century partnership (that's four in four weeks) highlighting the resilience of our batting line up.

Alas an attempt to up the scoring rate led to a few wickets and we were forced to try to defend the last 10 overs or so. The lower order were courageous but the damage was done, we couldn't hold on for the draw.

Many more positives than negatives came from the weekend, and a reinforcement of Ian Chappell's oft quoted mantra: "When you win the toss, nine times out of ten, you bat. The tenth time you think about bowling, and then bat."

1st Grade Kingsgrove T20 Cup

Penrith 82 (T Rogers 3/12 off 4, D Malone 3/9 off 4, B Joy 2/17 off 4) Def by Sydney Uni 4/86 (D Mortimer 28* (26), L Robertson 25 (20), P Cummins 2/22 off 4)

Captain Larkin lost the toss and Penrith had no hesitation in batting. An aggressive start from the Penrith openers saw the score race to 0/26 after 3 overs. Rogers then removed the in form Ryan Gibson, signaling the beginning of the end for Penrith. Rogers bowled with pace and control to snare 3/12 from 4 overs, dominating the typically batsman friendly powerplay.

Malone and Joy were introduced in tandem and proceeded to take regular wickets, with Malone on t20 debut returning the remarkable figures of 3/9. Joy was at his frugal best to return 2/17 and have Penrith all out 82.

Lalor and Cummins formed a formidable new ball combination, and an early breakthrough gave Penrith some hope as Larkin edged to the keeper of Lalor. Liam Robertson was fearless in his approach to some hostile bowling as he hammered Cummins over mid off on his way to 25, shutting the men from the mountains out of the fixture. Damien Mortimer's calm 28* and James Larkin's tidy 13* saw Sydney Uni home with 6 wickets in hand.

Blacktown 145 (Horton 39 (39), Panesar 37 (26), Rogers 2/23 off 3, Robertson 1/22 off 4) Def Sydney Uni 7/132 (Mortimer 64 (53), Keen 3/12 off 3).

An afternoon game following a momentous triumph against Penrith was always going to test the students. Larkin again lost the toss and was asked to field. Some fatigue was evident as the bowling group struggled to control their lines. Blacktown played intelligent and hard t20 cricket, looking to attack the short boundary and generally hit the ball hard down the ground.

Malone was again the pick of the bowlers, conceding only 15 runs from his 4 overs, whilst Robertson was tidy, claiming 1/22 from his full allotment.

Blacktown set an above par 145, and with the sky darkening and pitch getting lower, the SUCC batters had their work cut out.

Robertson started well, finding the boundary a number of times inside the power play. His dismissal saw Blacktown able to slow the run rate and when Larkin edged behind for 18, Uni were fighting an uphill battle.

Mortimer and May combined well for a 65 run stand, but disciplined bowling meant the rate continued to climb and requiring 50 from the final 5 overs proved too much. Blacktown nailed their yorkers and held their catches, which saw uni fall 13 runs short.

Damien Mortimer capped off a fine weekend making a superb 64 from 53 balls, almost getting the side home single handedly. With two games now remaining in the rounds, uni will need to win both to advance to the semi finals of the thunder conference and have an opportunity to defend the title as Thunder Conference champions.

2nd Grade:

Sydney Uni 273 (Miller 143, Crowley 56, Ridgewell 4/51) Def Hawkesbury 126 (J Holloway 4/20, J Craig-Dobson 2/25) & 4/127 (Ridgewell 53*, J Craig-Dobson 2/39)

The SUCC scoobydoos returned to the home of cricket for day 2 against the undefeated Hawks. The admin housemates (Miller and Crowley) narrowly avoided a case thanks to some aggressive driving but no thanks to Henry Clark’s treason attempts along Western Avenue. Nicky ‘nowhere’ Craze not so narrowly owed a case after he was 30 mins late despite living 20m away. I can’t really remember the excuse offered, but something along the lines of his mystery Mrs not waking him up.

Adverse pepsi conditions were experienced on Saturday morning – dense, humid, Josh Toyer sweating conditions. Dave ‘Funky’ Miller coped well despite the controversy of whether 10 beers between 2.30pm and 10pm is considered a pepsi or not – que heated discussion in the post match fines meeting. Will Hay strongly on the negative side, Larkins on the affirmative.

Anyway, the olds dominated the young nuffies again in Nash before we took the field in search of 6 points. The Hawks essentially reversed their batting order last week to no avail, leaving 8 wickets to bag. Dugald ‘Big doobler’ Holloway bowled with good pace and direction first up and was unlucky not to break through. Keiran ‘wingnut’ Tate burgled the first 2 wickets for the day before Jack ‘the lesser’ Holloway with the sloppy rig chimed in with 2 wickets in as many balls. Hayza somehow managed to fall low to his right to take a great catch at 1st slip (behind Miller’s left calf) for Jack’s first wicket. His second was caught behind potentially off the inner thigh but we will tack em! Jack then nicked off their skipper to Funky Miller at 2nd slip thanks to a sharp grab above his head. Dugald ‘screech’ Holloway was rewarded with 2 freebies at the end to dismiss Hawkesbury for 126, still 147 in arrears.

Skipper Miller aggressively sent the Hawks back into bat, with plenty of overs in the bank to take 10 points. Dugald again bowled with good rhythm in his opening spell, snaring an edge behind the wicket in the process. Dibbly Dobson hit the seam (finally) and found 2 edges to Hay and Miller respectively. Unfortunately, 4 Hawkes wickets was all we managed in the 2nd innings thanks to some missed chances and poor ground fielding. Nevertheless, it was a solid all round team performance to get back into the winners circle.

3rd Grade:

Sydney Uni: 200 (Kerr 62, Arnott 52, S Mott 7/61) Def Hawkesbury 95 (X Frawley 6/35, L McMahon 2/27) & 6/206 (S Mott 81*, C Flynn-Duncombe 58, X Frawley 2/29)

Day two was shaping up to be a very tight affair, with Hawkesbury needing 151 to win, with eight wickets in hand.  With two injuries during the week ruling Jack Gibson and Kevin Jacobs out of action day two, we welcomed Henry Clark and a variety of first graders and 5th graders to take the field (huge thank you to Greg Mail, Ashton May, Liam Robertson, Ben Joy and Andrew Wilkinson). 

A triumphant come from behind victory for the old boys in Nash set the day up extremely well.  Urged on by his sub-par Nash form in goals, Xavier Frawley put on an absolute clinic with the ball.  Xavier (6/35 off 16)  and Lewis McMahon (2/27 off 13) bowled a beautiful length, enticing the batsman to drive.  Edward Arnott was flawless behind the stumps taking an absolute ripper of a catch to start the procession of wickets.  Xavier and Lewis were near unplayable at times, with the latter unlucky not to take a few more poles.  Ryan Kurtz joined the party with his first ball caught behind, before inviting a miss hit to cover to wrap up the innings for 95, with a 105 run lead.

Ash Cowan, invited Hawkesbury to bat again as 3s chased an outright victory.  Despite having Hawkesbury 5/77 still 28 runs behind, uni were unable to continue as clinically as they had started the day.  Hawks Shane Mott (81*) and Kain Flynn-Duncombe (58) pushed an outright victory beyond the students grasps and shortly after 5:30 both skippers agreed to call it a day. 

4th Grade:

Hawkesbury 204 (Fogg 64, AJ Grant 4/27) Def by Sydney Uni, 8/205 (Shaw 52*, Powys 32, Day 32)

4s arrived at St Pauls oval on Saturday morning chasing 204 for victory sitting on the precarious overnight score of 2/1.  Bracketed down from third grade, Joe Kershaw (27) joined Jake Day (32) at the crease and calmed the storm early in the day, before both being dismissed in quick succession to make it 4/60 still needing 145 for victory. 

Matthew Powys continued his good start to the year powering his way to 32 off 16 balls before being caught on the fence, as the game sat well and truly in the balance at 5/100.  Captain AJ Grant joined Alex Shaw, and the two of them showed enormous poise and control putting on 60 odd.  When the skipper departed for 29, Alex took over and put the result beyond question with a mature match winning 52*.

5th Grade:

Hawkesbury 38 (R Holcroft 4/14) & 119 (R Holcroft 5/36, C Slater 2/17) Def outright by Sydney Uni 7 dec 203 (A Bell 30, J Morley 53)

Having already claimed first innings points on day one 5th grade went out to Bensons Lane with clear intentions on securing the full ten points available. Skipper Mike Harris wasted no time in declaring straight away with a 165 run lead. 

All four of the bowlers used picked up wickets, with Natesh Yoganand bowling with great control claiming 2/27 off his 9 overs, he was well supported by Andrew Wilkinson 2/27.  Connor Slater continued to show his promise bowling sharp turning leg breaks, at less than 2 runs an over finishing with figures of 2/17 off 10. 

However the standout was once again Ryan Holcroft.  Fresh from his four wicket haul in week one, Ryan tore through the Hawkesbury top order claiming 5/36 off 11 overs. 

With the outright victory, 5th grade have moved into second place on the ladder. 

Metro Cup: Sydney University 334 (Gillespie 79, Frost 67 & Hughes 61, J Coutts 4/42) Def Easts 134 (S Deshpande 59, A Wilkinson 4/53, Rehan Gunawardhana 2/21).

Posting 334 on day one, Uni’s Metro cup team knew a job still needed to be done on day two.  The story off the day was Andrew Wilkinson, fresh from a Saturday out at Bensons Lane, Wilko decided bowling all 23 overs from one end on Sunday was a good idea.  Andrew bowled with exceptional control and suffocated the eastern suburbs batsman out finishing with figures of 4/54 off 23 overs.

Andrew was well supported by Ethan Clout, 1/35 and Rehan Gunawardhana 2/21 securing Metros first win for the 2016/17 season. 

Remembering... John Stuart Dight Walker

James Rodgers continues the series in which he commemorates the Sydney University cricketers who died serving in the First World War, a century ago.  Today: John Stuart Dight Walker

Captain John Stuart Dight Walker, MC, was killed 21 July 1918 at Merris Nord, France, and buried at Borre Cemetery.

 Major Leonard May wrote of Captain Walker’s death that ‘…he went out to reconnoitre and was coming back when a machine gun opened fire…as he turned, he was hit in the head and killed immediately.’

 Two weeks later, among the sporting results and news of sportsmen’s activities at the front, the Sydney paper The Referee carried its own account of Walker’s  death, calling him a sportsman, ‘who had plenty of ability, abundant enthusiasm and an ample reserve of pluck.’

 Two years earlier, Walker wrote to one of his aunts, Mrs Robertson, telling her that ‘I have got a crack at last and a rather nasty one but one is lucky to come out alive…’  He wrote with prosaic understatement about his Military Cross, his promotion to Captain, the compound fracture of his femur. And concluded with a heartfelt, ‘…hope they got compulsion (conscription) in Australia…it would do them good.’

 John Stuart Dight Walker carried the Dight name, a surname that resonates through the ages with the Sydney University Cricket Club. Five of his relations have played for SUCC. His cousin played between 1893 and 1902, FJR (Frank) Dight, WB (William) Dight and CC (Clarence) Dight, and in more recent times, brothers Stephen and Jeffrey Dight played during the 1980s.  JSD Walker could claim, through his mother’s family, relationship with the renowned Australian explorer, Hamilton Hume (1797-1873) who married Elizabeth Dight, Walker’s great aunt.

 The Dight and Walker families served Australia with unrivalled fidelity during The Great War.

The Reverend John Walker (1855-1941), patriarch of the Walker family, one time Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Australia, was a chaplain who visited Australian soldiers in hospitals in France and England during 1917.  His daughter, Marjorie, served as a nurse with the Australian forces, especially at Salonica.  His wife’s brother, Lance Corporal Hilton Dight, a graduate in Engineering from the University of Sydney, was noted for his bravery under fire at Gallipoli and in France. He returned to Australia in 1917, suffering from illness, shell shock and awful hallucinations. He took his own life at Narrandera in June 1918.

 Five of the sons of Reverend Walker and his wife, Jessie (nee Dight), Arthur, John, Noel, Alison and Maxwell, also served. Arthur, Noel and John were killed in France.  John and Jessie carried these crosses throughout their long lives. Jessie died at 69 in 1932 but John survived until 1941 aged 86.

 John Stuart Dight Walker was born in England, at Birkenhead, in September 1885, but his family moved back to Australia as his father took up various parish postings.  At Sydney Grammar School, he was a carefree natural sportsman. In his final two seasons (1902-03 and 1903-04) in the school 1st XI, he took 203 wickets in all games with his left arm ‘swervers’  and scored over 2000 hard hitting runs. ‘He kept the good ones out and swung his extensive arms on the loose ones’ commented the 1904 Sydneian with some insight. When he and Marcus Blaxland put on 264 in 1903 when Sydney Grammar defeated Melbourne Grammar in the annual match by an innings and 270 runs, there was a stark contrast in styles. Blaxland’s 247 was cultured and orthodox. Walker’s 108 was belligerent and risky as he was dropped three times.

 Walker’s final school game in March 1904 was an indication of his destructive talent as he left abiding memories of his prodigious ability. His 8 for 67 routed an inexperienced St Joseph’s side.

He represented the Grammar 1st XV, was appointed a College Prefect and matriculated to the Department of Engineering at Sydney University in 1905. His career with the Cricket Club (1st Grade cap no 86), however, stuttered and faltered, in stark contrast with his glittering schoolboy feats. In three interrupted seasons in First Grade, he scored 63 runs at 5.7 and took 19 wickets at 29.7. He even spent more time in Second Grade in 1905-06 than he did in 1st Grade but he still found no form (108 runs. 5 wickets).

 He graduated as a Bachelor of Engineering in 1907 and then his profession took him away from Sydney for some time. He managed a gold mine near Meekatharra in the mid-west of Western Australia before enlisting at Blackboy Hill in 11 Battalion as a Private in April 1915 although he qualified for a commission before proceeding to the front. He stood an impressive 183 centimetres tall and weighed 84 kilos. The light brown hair that had peeked out from under his cricket caps now showed under his Lieutenant’s cap.

For bravery at Pozieres in 1916, Walker was awarded the Military Cross. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and skill during operations. He assisted wounded men and sent up ammunition and water to forward dumps under incessant shell fire…’. His care for his men came at a cost. At Mouquet Farm, he was hit in the left thigh and knee by sniper fire which fractured his femur. It was eventually decided, after hospitalisation in London, that he should be invalided back to Australia in February 1917 to recover. But he was not to be denied. He convinced the medical authorities that he was fit for duty and returned in November 1917, rejoining 11 Battalion in May 1918.

Captain Walker is remembered at Sydney University in the War Memorial carillon.

At St Andrew’s in Ballarat, where Reverend Walker was posted during the war years, a stained glass window was dedicated in 1942 honouring the three brothers who were killed in France. The inscription reads:

 "Their father conceived the idea of this tablet as an inspiration to those who follow on so that the torch of liberty, which they gave their comrades true from their falling hands, might be held high in each succeeding generation."

Top Ten Tuesday

Milestones Monday

Damien Mortimer has become only the second player ever to score a century in his first innings in First Grade for Sydney University.  The twist was that his brilliant 122 at Hawkesbury was scored in his fourth match for the Club, as he didn’t get to the crease in any of his first three games.  He’s in good company – the only other batsman to hit a century in his first innings in Firsts for Sydney University was Johnny Taylor, who hit 141 not out against Randwick in 1922-23.  Rather more conventionally, that was Taylor’s debut for the club – he had previously played First Grade for Petersham, and had already won 12 of his 20 Test caps for Australia.  This was Damien’s second century in Firsts – he hit 153 not out for Campbelltown against Western Suburbs back in 2014-15.

Ben Trevor-Jones, with 66 against his former club, hit his highest score in First Grade.

When Ben Joy dismissed Penrith’s Jonathon Sammut in Sunday’s Twenty20 match, it was his 342nd wicket for the Club, taking him past Mark Wilson (341) to become the fifteenth-highest wicket-taker in the Club’s history.

Tom Rogers returned the best figures of his short career with the Club (3-12) in the Twenty20 win over Penrith.

Jack Holloway, with 4-20 against Hawkesbury in Seconds, improved his career-best bowling figures for the Club for the second time in as many weeks.

Xavier Frawley’s 6-35 against Hawkesbury in Third Grade was his first five-wicket haul for the Club.

Ryan Holcroft improved on his career best figures for the second time in the same match.  He followed his 4-14 in Hawkesbury’s first innings with 5-36 to complete Fifth Grade’s dominant outright victory.

In the Sheds... from the dog house

We are here again, another finals series. We have been here plenty of times before, we know how this time of year works. Three weeks of good hard cricket and we will be dancing on the tables at the Nags drinking out of another cup.

It is a given that we will be batting first, regardless of who wins the toss. So here we go again, striding out to the middle, expecting to see the boys at the lunch break after a wicketless session.

However this time it doesn’t go to plan as my opening partner nicks one in the first over. The next couple of overs are spent scratching around, then I play and miss. The opposition go up as one, bemused I turn around to see the umpire giving me my marching orders.

I stand there crestfallen, unable to comprehend how I had been given out. Then the red mist descends, audible mutterings as to my opinion of the umpires decision are made as I slowly trudge off, the gate is slammed, into the changing rooms I go, head well and truly gone by this point, my gear comes flying off in a rage, expletives are used and then silence.

Stewing on my own misfortune I sit and watch my teammates also struggle as we creep to a triple figure total. We were behind the eight ball from that point onwards and despite fighting our way back into the game gallantly it just was not enough this time. After four consecutive premierships this is a feeling unknown to many.

A few silly Sunday beers and one hangover later, I open my emails Monday morning to learn that I have been reported for my carry on post dismissal, ‘what? I wasn’t that bad was I?’ This is followed by a hearing down at CricketNSW headquarters where I sit before three gentleman who run their judgment over my case and after deciding to suspend me, have a conversation with me which all cricketers could probably do with having once in a while. Mainly pertaining to the spirit of the game and how we all have a duty to uphold it.

So now it’s time for the first offseason/preseason ever where I know I will not be playing the first few weekends next summer. The first few fitness sessions I cop the obvious jibes, “what are you doing here mate, shouldn’t you be starting next month?”

Then the start of the season rolls around and the question most cricketers dare not ask “what would I be doing on a summers day if I wasn’t playing cricket?” all of a sudden becomes a stark reality.

Well let me tell you it is everything you expect and more. Friday post-work beers don’t have to finish at 10pm anymore and you don’t have to ask for the cute brunette’s number and hope for a text back you can back yourself and stay the journey.

Ludicrous suggestions like ‘where can we go outside of the lockout zone’ or ‘let’s go to the casino’ are not so ludicrous anymore. Then when you stumble in at 7am and your roommates are up packing their lunch for the day ($1) and organising their kits (or small bag for Mortimer) the feeling of falling into bed is ever so sweet.

When the sleep in finally ends it is off to the local café for a coffee and eggs benny which is a pleasant change of place from sharing a change room with Will Hay where you trade the burning incense of the café for a face full of talcum powder as he unsuccessfully tries to ward off chafe again.

The hardest part is trying to pick what to do next. Coogee Beach sounds rather appealing, a bit of salt water to wash away the hangover, or some of the lads are headed down to the races at Randwick which could be an option (unlike Creepy Crowley these blokes won’t be constantly trying to tell me how ordinary I am on the circuit despite giving up the game years ago himself), I even saw a status on Facebook from someone trying to offload a ticket to a music festival. If feeling adventurous a trip north to The Greens or Wharfy in Manly could be on the cards for some afternoon beers, I might even get a look at the finger food with the Larkins not around.

For a fleeting moment cricket enters the subconscious, but is swiftly dismissed as I open Snapchat to see a selfie of Jack Holloway with the caption, “Kicked one. Again.” Or a pixelated video of McMahon being horned yet again, followed by one of Tom Decent trudging off forlorn after kicking one at Pauls off a 48 year old medium pacer.

However, no matter how many winners you back at Randwick or how many Swedish backpackers there are at the Coogee Bay Hotel nothing compares to coming off after a hard days slog in the field having bowling the opposition out in the 80th over with their last two wickets batting for a session despite the run chase realistically being over well before tea and bellowing out the SUCC song. Followed by getting back to the Nags (you can be assured Robbo will be first one back there if he was remotely involved in the day’s play) to share a beer with your club mates and hear how everyone got on.

A lot of players join Sydney Uni but not many leave for other clubs. It is this strong sense of mateship that goes with pulling on the baggy blue and gold that draws us back every year.

So my advice to anyone who has nicked a few in a row would be to consider slamming the gate really hard and take a couple of weeks off.

Cowan tames the pink ball in Brisbane

University opening batsman Ed Cowan fell for 95 in the day/night Sheffield Shield match in Brisbane, after sharing a brilliant opening partnership of 230 with David Warner.

After New South Wales conceded a first innings lead to Queensland, Cowan and Warner hauled the Blues back into the match with a dominant stand.  Early in the innings, the University left-hander was content to turn the strike over to his more belligerent partner, but Cowan was always looking for opportunities to score, and cut and drove fast bowler Michael Neser for successive boundaries.  He brought up his half-century from 117 deliveries with a firm clip through mid-wicket from Peter George's bowling, and later swung a full toss from leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson high over mid-wicket for 6. 

Cowan faced 193 balls for his 95, hitting 9 fours, before he edged off-spinner Charlie Hemphrey to slip when in sight of a well-deserved hundred.  At that stage of the game, New South Wales had a lead of 228 with just over four sessions to play.