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Centenary Stories: Cricket at KGS (1970-1975)
Friday, 2 February 2024
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By David Mathers (OKG75) In 1970, summer sport was compulsory and my summer sport was Cricket. I was so very proud to be selected as a member of the Under 13Gs. We loved Cricket. Official practice was twice a week, but on other days after school we would stay back playing on No 2. A concrete pitch with rusty cyclone fencing, eroded composite balls, frayed pads, ancient chiselled bats, and ‘the box’, the history of which we chose not to consider. We had the dreams, we had the moves, we were Dougie and Chappelli, with Froggy from one end and Dennis from the other. During school time, we played a version of Test Match. Torn pieces of paper pulled from one pocket indicating the ball being bowled, the batsman’s response pulled from another. Full blown score sheets were kept. Somehow Australia always won. Dougie never got out and we passed 1st Form. Through the years, the number of boys choosing Cricket as their summer sport dwindled and the Gs rose alphabetically. By the time 5th Form started, we were the 16Bs slated to be the 2nd XI! I was called up to the First XI for the last two games of the season. A baggy cap bought at the tuckshop, given to me by a volunteer mother (who was in love with Rod Marsh). Dreams were coming true. An inauspicious start, both in the nets and the first game, resulted in pressure for me to be dropped. But in game two, Knox were 5/not many and I was at the crease with IO and only the bowlers to come. I swear, that with my eyes closed, I cut a boundary to the railway side of No. 1 and realised this wasn’t as hard as I thought. I contributed to a match-winning (almost) century partnership and took a catch at first slip. I was in. The next year, I went on to score my own century against Waverley at Waverley! Surreal! I was presented with a brand new Gray-Nicholls by the Headmaster in front of a whole school assembly, and selected in the CAS XI. The last game for CAS was an invitational at the SCG. We were flogged, but we were in the Home dressing room, and my name appeared on the old SCG scoreboard. The rest is history. The other blokes from the 13Gs have also grown up. Some are Carpenters, we have an OAM, we have Judges, Professors, Doctors, Fund Managers and Electricians. Virile Actum Est |