Man of the Year

Watched this this morning while cleaning and looking after two girls (Maddi was finally asleep after her night of crying...).

Starring Robin Williams as... well... Robin Williams, I really enjoyed it. I thought it was going to be the normal average run-of-the-mill upstart-becomes-an-improbable-President story, but it was much more than that. While not only pointing out to the watching public the folly that is made of American (and world) politics, and how interest groups are really running the agenda, it also included a major part of the storyline where computer gliches actually elected the wrong man to the position.

Robin Williams was great again. I just don't understand why this didn't receive a wider release (I didn't even know about it until Mum lent it to me a month ago). Well worth a watch.

Illness Continues...

Maddi was up again all last night, meaning little sleep for two very tired parents. As such, I forewent work again (not pleasing the boss in the process), allowing Helen to catch up with the sleep she needs at this stage. So I was up with Maddi at 6am, which was also the time Jess decided to wake up. Joy. Joy. Joy.

Maddi's temperature at least appears to be lowering ever so slightly, so perhaps today will be the healing day.

Family Sickness

What do you do when you have two sick children and a wife who is 24 weeks pregnant and overtired?

Well, you stay home from work to look after them all, and end up doing three times the amount of work you would have done, and not get paid a cent for it!! Where is the justice?!

Fortunately, all appear to be on the improve. Maddi has been good most of the afternoon, pretty much back to normal after her 5th dose of Nurofen in 24 hours. No more whinging or temperature. Jess slept most of the afternoon away, and although she hasn't got all of her energy back yet she is much better. Helen had a snooze this arvo, and as I did all the housework and washing and cooking and stuff she hasn't had to extend herself, as she seems good too.

Now - if only I could get a day off for myself...

Bloody Live Earth

Just to relive the crap that was Live Earth.

So you spend the whole weekend, waiting for bands to come up on Live Earth, hoping for something special from all of them, and hoping they do it all justice.

Error.

Bon Jovi was the best of them, but they have always been good at these kind of events. "Livin' On A Prayer" is still a great anthem.
Metallica played the same three songs they always play at these kind of things - the same three they played at Wembley at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert. They were OK, but with the catalogue they have surely they could have extended themselves.
Spinal Tap were disappointing. OK, getting everyone up for Big Bottom, and pronouncing they had "every bass player in history" with them was a tad amusing, but they really could have done something special, and in the long run it was flat.
And The Police were rubbish! Why did they feel as though they had to play their songs, and extend them with meaningless artsy-fartsy instrumental breaks, with Sting meowing over the top? Did they think that was what everyone wanted to hear?!? And then those two other losers came on, and let's rap through "Message In A Bottle"? WHY?!?! 28 hours I waited for The Police, and I got a Sting Benefit Band.

So that was the weekend gone.

Some Helpful Suggestions

The time of year has almost arrived for my usual twelve page essay of suggestions for our Club at the Annual General Meeting. This usually lengthens what could be quite a swift meeting into a lengthy session.
This season, I shall be making no Notices Of Motion beforehand, nor will I be raising any issues at the General Meeting which follows. To be quite honest, I think it is about time we had others in our Club coming up with ways in which we could improve, both on the field and off of it. That would of course hopefully lead to some different people putting their hands up and volunteering to help out.

This new leaf of not pushing ideas into the faces of those few who attend our AGM doesn't mean I have run out of ideas. Goodness gracious me, no. In fact, just for those that have a few minutes to laugh at the thoughts of the insane, here are a few things that I would personally like to see implemented in the 2007/08 season.

1. AVERAGES AND AGGREGATES TO INCLUDE SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS.I've never really understood why semi-finals and finals have not been included in our Clubs final averages and aggregates for Presentation Night awards. Someone at one time must have thought that this was a fair and equitable way to decide on the best players of the season – and to be fair, there has only been a few occasions in the last 60 years that it would have changed the outcome. Still, I feel that we are devaluing the outcome of those matches if they cannot be included as part of the 'official' record come the end of the season.

2. NEW SELECTION PANEL MAKE-UP AND 'CHARTER'From the outside, it feels as though we haven't had a true 'panel' in several years, rather we have individuals choosing their own side, and passing on the players remaining to the next person to select the next team. How this enables a Club to choose the best teams is a mystery to me.
I would like to see our selection panel work in a similar way that our National Selection Panel does. By that I mean the following:

1. The Selection Panel is expanded to FOUR people, of which at least two are preferably non-playing, or as very casual players.
2. One of the selectors is nominated as Chairman, who is in charge of chairing the SATURDAY NIGHT selection meetings, conversing with Grade captains as to performance of players and teams and team balance and player availability.
3. Teams to be chosen so they can be published in local newspapers and on website.
4. Selectors to be 'rostered' so that all players and all Grades are viewed on a regular basis. This obviously is targeted at the non-playing selectors, but should playing selectors be injured or have a bye, they will be under the same regulations.
5. Selections should be made on a CONSENSUS basis, and not a head-to-head vote. That is, if there is a difference in opinion in a particular selection, the panel should come to a consensus decision on that position, and not engage in a vote which will split the panel. As a panel, it should be a united front. The Chairman is in charge of retaining this position at all selection meetings.

Although it should not be made as part of the actual plan, there is no doubt we need to start pushing through our junior players, to replace the elders that are beginning to grow old and weary. Though I would not suggest setting an actual quota of junior players to be chosen in any particular Grade, the panel should have a plan in which they would encourage a good batch of juniors heading up 2nd and 3rd Grade, with a view to planning for the next three seasons.
I know many will suggest that this is impossible to implement, if only because we can rarely find non-playing people to put their hand up for a position, let alone two.
As it is, I am even willing to suggest those that may suit the positions. I think if Dale is to become 1st Grade captain, he would make a good member of the panel, as he not only has an interest in the Club, but in how the players of the Club are performing. Steve Holz has done the job for the past two seasons, and is a supporter of the juniors coming through. I'm not sure of his position in regards to captaining 2nd Grade this season, or pushing for a 1st Grade position. In either case, I think he would be another worth choosing. I also think Joe Murphy, if coaxed properly, would be an excellent 'neutral observer', with the role not taking up his entire Saturday, and the ability to have an excuse to be at the Grand Hotel every second weekend for a couple of hours!
To me, this type of situation would serve the Club as a whole better than we have been over recent years.

3. CREATION OF JUNIOR LIASON OFFICER.As Steve has already put forward on the forum in recent weeks, the Club is in dire need of a person who can communicate with the junior club, and in particular the coaches of the Under 16 and Under 14 years teams, in order to assess the ability and keeness of our junior cricketers, and get them into playing Grade cricket as well as their junior matches. I also believe that, should this role be created, that the person should be co-opted onto the Selection Panel in an advisory role, if that person is not already on the panel. Their job would be to assess players in our junior Club, and hopefully encourage them to turn out for our senior teams – not only so that they can gain experience in Grade cricket before they complete their terms as junior players, but in many cases, to improve the standard of our Grade teams!
Again, some candidates stand out as logical people for such a position – I'd have thought Steve himself, or Mick Norris, would be perfect for the position, if they felt like nominating for a position that, of course, currently does not exist.

4. TARGETING OF SPECIFIC GRADE CAPTAINS
In regards to the above position of the Club, the opportunity to redesign the selection panel and the way we select teams, and the need to really target our junior players between the age of 14 and 18, and give them good exposure and good experience, as a Club we would also need to have captains who were on board with this policy, and who were interested in:

1. developing young talent with a view to players advancing through the Grades
2. ensuring everyone in their team was not only playing to win, but playing in the right spirit
3. pushing the line that all players bonded as a team, while still pushing for selection in higher Grades
4. ensuring that the betterment of the Club is the ideal.

To do this, I believe it is time that the Club, rather than asking for nominations for Grade captains as we almost always have, should target the people within the Club it sees as leaders in this 'brave new world', and got them to commit to taking on the role of captain in each Grade. The Club would run a lot smoother on the field if the Club had a Selection Panel who could comfortably work with the Grade Captains, and vice versa, with all involved striving for the same goal. Surely, if the players of the Club saw these 8-10 people all working together, doing their best for the Club and its players, then the players themselves would feel more comfortable about the Club's position, and hopefully perform better themselves.
Well, in an ideal world, yes.
Certainly, I have people in mind for these positions as well, but it is not for me to reveal all of my thoughts out loud. Especially as those people in my mind may not want to have anything to do with it, and others who I have not nominated may crave the position or positions themselves.

5. HALL OF FAME / KIAMA TEAM OF 60 YEARS
I have a real passion for this to go ahead, but it would take some serious organisation, on the same level of the 1st Grade Reunion we held over two years ago. The idea would to hold a night similar to that Reunion, at the Golf Club, inviting all who wished to attend to come, with the night dedicated to presenting the chosen Best Kiama XII since 1946, when the South Coast District Cricket Association began. Those chosen would become the first inductees into the Kiama Cricket Hall Of Fame. Then, every year at Presentation Night, another player would be added to the Hall Of Fame and invited to attend (if still in the land of the living of course).
I think it is an important part of bringing the wonderful history of our Club to those who are playing today, as well as entwining the old and the new. If we did the day right, we could have all of the invitees and guests turn up at the 1st Grade fixture for the afternoon at Cavalier Park, watch Kiama win, and then have a great night that evening.

Those are just some of my thoughts. Others are mostly in regard to social events to get our Club together away from the cricket field, and perhaps I'll air those on the day. Until then, I'm looking forward to the meeting, and what we as a CLUB can come up with for the 2007/08 season.

Team of the Year 2006-07

Unlike every other season that I have done this, I have found choosing the “2006/07 Team of the Year” quite difficult. There are a number of reasons for this, which I would like to list here before I reveal to you the side as chosen.

• There are a number of players in the Club who are playing regularly at a higher Grade, simply because there aren’t suitable replacements, or replacements with suitable form, in the lower Grades. Suggesting that these players should be chosen on average figures just because they play a high Grade is uncomfortable for me.
• Conversely, and hypocritically, there are players who are playing at a level below their proven ability, and whose figures are inflated because of it. Picking these players in front of people with less flattering statistics, but at a higher Grade level, is uncomfortable for me.
• Many players showed good form in one Grade, but on promotion to the next Grade were unable to retain that form or show they were ready for the step up.
• Others had solid, average, unspectacular seasons that may not have been eye-catching, but provided the basis for the team’s season.

In the end, I am not completely happy with the side I have chosen, for a combination of all of the above reasons. However, here we go, for whatever it is worth.

1. Jaya Hartgerink.
It’s funny how every season we can look at the raw figures and think that, once again, Jaya has underachieved. No doubt he probably thinks so too. And yet he has the toughest job in our Club, opening the batting for First Grade. We have all expected so much from him over the years – perhaps it is time that we accept that this is what he is going to offer us every season, and be happy with that contribution.

2. Andy Sheehy.From the most maligned batsman in the Club to Seconds Superbat – well, with a touch of luck along the way. Andy was one of those rare out-of-the-blue forced selections that turns to gold. Andy found turf wickets easier to score on than astro, and his season proved to be one of the bright lights of 2006/07. He needs to work hard to back it up in 2007/08.

3. Dale Scifleet (vc)
4. Matt Meurant (c)
More than enough has already been written about their superlative seasons, and their influence on the First Grade season. The Club’s hopes for the immediate future lies in whether they play for Kiama next season or not.

5. Steve Holz
Steve had his most consistent season since 2003/04 with the bat, his best ever with the ball, and all while holding the side together as captain and senior player. Would have liked to have seen him convert a few of his 30’s and 40’s into bigger scores. Still has a chance to carve out a good First Grade career if that is his wish next season.

6. Tim Wolf
Whilst yet to find the secret to turning his constant starts into big scores, Tim at least scored consistent runs in First Grade’s middle order during 2006/07, something that was in short supply for most of the year. He featured in good partnerships and showed improved judgement in his batting. Always has ideas on how to change the course of the game. One of First Grade’s trump cards in 2007/08.

7. Matt Unicomb
Showed his ability to score big runs with his 178 against an average (at best) 2nd Grade attack. Spent the rest of the season in First Grade, which he will see as a learning experience. Has enormous potential with the bat, and his bowling is very handy. Must take this season’s lessons and make 2007/08 his own.

8. Luke Bombaci
I’ve said it all before about Luke. His stats for the season were fantastic, but he’s done it in 3rd Grade for at least the three seasons before this. We won’t know if he has, or can, improve until he plays 2nd Grade on a regular basis. Both he and the selectors need to find that out.

9. Brendan Czulowski (WK)
Brendan snares the wicket-keeping role in the team after the inconsistent efforts from those in the higher Grades. Brendan continues to improve with the gloves, and his batting is also showing good signs.

10. Josh Jones
Another player whom we as a Club tend to judge harshly at times. He probably didn’t have the kind of season that we are used to, no doubt his constant cricket for 18 months having a big bearing on that. Girlfriends also confuse priorities as well. My opinion is Josh enjoys being the leader on the field, the one everyone is looking for to make the breakthrough, or change the course of the match. This season he wasn’t that player with Matt and Dale being so dominant, and I think he was unable to summon up his powers because of it. Josh will break every bowling record in this Club if he wants to stick with it. With the right mental preparation, and the support of his team mates, I have no doubt he can recapture the form that made him the premier bowler on the South Coast a few seasons ago.

11. Matt O’Brien
Didn’t produce the same figures as last season, but with the bowling line-up he had in front of him, he didn’t get the same opportunities either. His enthusiasm didn’t wane because of it, and he was always upbeat and ready to play. Still the best spin bowler in the Club, and has the opportunity to improve even more before the start of next season.

There are a number of players who can feel disappointed at not making this side. As I said, many of the stats are not dominating. Players such as Andrew Ross and Mick Norris did as much as some of those chosen, and in the long run it was a judgement call on how their seasons had progressed at different levels. The same goes for the wicket-keeping role – to me, the other two main aspirants had below-par seasons by their standards, and had not pushed their case hard enough, except of course to be playing higher Grade cricket.

Here for comparison is the side chosen by those who frequent the Forum. It may be a better guide as to whom they thought was the best during 2006/07.

1. Andy Sheehy
2. Luke Bombaci
3. Dale Scifleet
4. Matt Meurant
5. Steve Holz
6. Gary Koks
7. Andrew Ross
8. Ben King-Gee
9. Mick Norris
10. Josh Jones
11. Glen Cleary

Beatles Experiment 1: Please Please Me 1963

In general, I have always enjoyed The Beatles earlier, love inspired pop tunes to their later experimental work. Of ocurse, I haven't yet heard all of them, so I don't want to jump the gun.

Their first album has its bright spots, and also a couple of places where it appears they were running out of time in the studio (apparently this was recorded in just ten hours) and had to fill the album. Of course, this is just my opinion, and this album is now 43 years old.

The Good:
The opening track I Saw Her Standing There is typical of my favourite Beatles tracks - upbeat, easy to sing along to, and you can swing with a partner to it. The other best known tracks on the album are in a similar vein, the title track Please Please Me, Love Me Do, Do You Want To Know A Secret and Twist And Shout.
I was pleasantly surprised by tracks like Misery and Chains, which immediately brought back memories of the cartoon Series called "The Beatles", which was always on Sunday mornings on Channel 10 during my childhood. I could almost see the episodes when these songs started.
These tunes are still the catchy ones, the songs that grab you as they begin, and encourage you to sing along. To find I still knew all the words to these songs is indicative of their success.

The Average:
Probably not through any great mystery, the songs I find least accesible on the album are not written by Lennon/McCartney. Anna (Go To Him), A Taste Of Honey and Boys are not in the same class as those written by the bands major contributors.

This is, overall, a solid debut album. Half of the album is well known by most of the music listening world, a major accomplishment on any level. The signs were already there that the song writing team was quite extraordinary, and that the sharing of lead vocals, along with the backing vocals, was an inspired solution.

Rating: 3/5

The Great Beatles Experiment

Just recently, I was listening to a few Beatles tracks when I was putting something together for my beautiful wife Helen for her birthday, and I thought to myself - and not for the first time in my life - that I had never actually sat down and listened to a Beatles album. And by that, I don't mean a compilation album. I have the best of those - 1 - and of course my mother ensured there was plenty of Beatles played when I was a kid, but as to the actual albums, I have never heard one.

When the ABC recently did their My Favourite Album show, where normal people (and me) could put in their votes, The Beatles featured prominantly as always. Abbey Road was at four, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was at 5, The White Album was at 12, Revolver was at 13. The list itself is intersting to look at, and worth discussion or argument.

http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritealbum/top100.htm

At my favourite music site, Rate Your Music (http://rateyourmusic.com) they also have a Best All Time Album list, compiled from the literally tens of thousands of people who, like me, rate all their albums at the site.
On this list, Revolver comes in at number 2, Abbey Road at number 4, the White Album at number 11, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at number 26, and Rubber Soul at number 29.
Again, the list is interesting to look at for discussion and argument.
http://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/all-time

Anyway - I came to the conclusion that I needed to find out what all the fuss was about. Were these albums really that good? Have I been missing something for all these years? There was only one way to go about it correctly. So I have scraped and scavenged and searched, and found copies of all of The Beatles albums, from Please Please Me to Let It Be.

So now I will be listening to them all, in order, and deciding for myself. And of course, putting it all down in my blog.

Let us see how we go! :)

The Season in Review 2006-07

Once again, having reached the conclusion of another cricket season, it feels uncomfortable to come up with apparently negative attitudes to the outcome for the Kiama Cricket Club. And yet, despite all of the superlative individual performances that punctuated the summer months, it was the inability to perform as a unit, as a team, as a Club, that has been our downfall at the final hurdle. It has again brought forward questions as to what the players of Kiama actually want to achieve with their cricket.

It was hard to foresee at the end of November. The Club was riding high on the success of the four Grades – so much so, that three veterans in Joe Murphy, Gary Koks and John Watts were encouraged to return to the playing field, so as not to miss out on the obvious premiership glory that was going to occur. As veterans of the Club, they really should have known better. :)

First Grade's was again a season unfulfilled, the promise of being on top of the ladder at the Christmas break and the possibility of a home semi-final, falling away to consecutive losses to Lake Illawarra in the final round and the subsequent semi-final. Though the team’s form after the break was not as diabolical as last season, Firsts could still only manage to defeat The Rail, draw with Albion Park, and lost key matches against Warilla and Jamberoo, as well as the aforementioned Lake match. As a premiership challenge, it again told the story loud and clear – compared to other teams, especially Oak Flats and Lake Illawarra, they were not in the same class.
In fact it speaks volumes. It showed that the team – or more specifically, many of the individuals – had not learned the lessons of last season. Theories abounded as to why this was the case. In the long run, it comes back to the basics. The team that trains together, wins together. The team that doesn’t, loses. The Oak Flats club’s incredible success this season didn’t occur with just a half dozen people showing up to training. Excuses, like losing, wear thin after a while. Whether our Club can change its culture to offset it is an entirely different question.

Two players seasons stand out.
Captain coach Matt Meurant led from the front with bat and ball. Following on from his fine first season with the Club, Matt went out and broke a 24 year old record for most runs scored in a season for Kiama First Grade, finishing with 708 runs at the impressive average of 78.67. Only twice did he fail to make double figures – one of those almost predictably in the semi-final. He scored five half-centuries and an unbeaten 139 against The Rail. Moreover, he was often left stranded at the non-strikers end as he watched the innings fold at the other end. Add to this 29 wickets and eight catches, and there was little more Matt could do to lead his team to glory.

Arguably an even finer all-round achievement came from Dale Scifleet. He followed last season’s breakthrough performances by improving even more, scoring 473 runs at 43.00, and taking 42 wickets at 12.88, and snaring 11 catches. In the process, he became only the third Kiama 1st Grader to do the 400 runs / 40 wickets double in a single season, following two legends of the Club in Ken and Trevor McDonald, who both performed the feat twice. Dale also scored his maiden 1st Grade century, 128 against Jamberoo, added to it with a century for South Coast, and represented Southern Zone.

The influence these two had on Kiama’s season was immeasurable. Between them, they scored 46% of 1st Grade’s season runs, and took 32% of the wickets. Kiama need these two back on deck next season if real success is to be achieved.


Second Grade finally suffered for their relative successes and ageing player base in recent seasons, and missed the finals for only the second time in the past ten seasons. This appeared impossible after winning five of their first six matches, but followed by six losses in the final seven rounds, it was perhaps a better indication of the troubles that faced the side. An amazing 37 players appeared in 2nd Grade during the season, as they battled constant player unavailabilities, lack of form and massive inexperience in high Grade cricket.
The generational change, one that everyone knew was coming and had been planned for over the past two seasons, was blown apart when those that had been prepared to take over found themselves either required for First Grade duty, or having lost interest in playing altogether. Only two of the side that played in the previous season’s semi-final were regulars in 2006-07. The rebuilding needs to be underway now.
Skipper Steven Holz found himself shouldering the majority of the batting and bowling load, but it was his absences that left some instability in the side. Seconds needed a constant leader, but with the captaincy split between Steve and Dan Reilly during the summer, and almost completely different sides playing week to week, there was no consistency. Players like Andrew Ross and Nathan Barr scored brightly in patches, and then couldn’t back it up with consistency. The bowling lacked penetration all season. The chaotic assembly of Second Grade’s season was illuminated by the troubles in selecting a full side each weekend. This in turn harmed First Grade, as under-performing players who would normally find themselves back in Seconds were held on to through a lack of players performing in that Grade.
There needs to be some thought put into Second Grade before the start of the new season, to ensure these problems are rectified for the good of the team and the Club as a whole.


Third Grade entered the new season with the hangover of last season’s great effort in the Final, and seemed to be playing catch up for most of the summer. To a lesser degree they suffered from the same problems as Second Grade – teams changed weekly (34 players in all), and the loss of inspirational Skipper and batsman Jeff Lawler after Christmas was a blow. However, they hung in most of the season, and when it came down to the last round, they had to defeat the reigning premiers and undefeated leaders, Lake Illawarra, to reach the semi-finals. Showing the same spirit and determination that they had last season, they beat Lake convincingly, so much so that they finished second on the ladder and grabbed another home semi. From here, though, their luck ran out, and they fell to eventual premiers Oak Flats on a soggy weekend and an unforgiving outfield.

Luke Bombaci, who took over the captaincy from Jeff, again led with bat and ball. Last season it appeared he was destined for Second Grade, and the fact he still played almost the entire season in Third Grade remains mystifying, despite the reasons given by Luke, selectors and captains alike. Without him, however, Thirds may have sunk without a trace. The fact that veterans such as Gary Koks, Joe Murphy and Frank Weir were the most consistent performers is a portent to where the Kiama club stands at the moment.
Jason Horley stood up and had his best season so far for Kiama. Rob Wakeham continued to baffle batsmen and wicket-keepers, while Brendan Shaw’s first season with the club augers well.

Fourth Grade was unable to capitalize on their good showing from last season, though they managed to offload the wooden spoon to Lake Illawarra with a convincing victory over them in the final round. With the introduction of a Fifth Grade competition, and only one team from each Club allowed in higher Grades, it made for a tougher and higher standard than has been the case in recent years, and the young Kiama team discovered the difference. It was pleasing to see a number of juniors coming through into the side, and in some cases into higher Grades. New arrivals to the Club, such as Dave Creighton, Randall McGregor and Rod Williams, also played well and boosted the young sides prowess.

Kiama's chances of glory in the Country Cup knockout competition fell victim to the weather for the second successive season, with their second round match against Lake Illawarra washed out before a result could be achieved. As a result of no spare day being scheduled, Lake progressed through to the next round by having a higher seeding in the competition.
The ridiculous seeding became even more obvious, when the winners of last season’s Country Cup were eliminated by rain, because they were seeded LOWER than their opponents, on the same weekend. How can the previous season’s winner be eliminated in this fashion? It begs the question “Who the hell is running cricket?” And the answer is generally “Idiots”.

Kiama also entered two Twenty20 tournaments.
In the combined Illawarra/South Coast Twenty20 Knockout, our side was defeated in the first round by Keira. This competition was played on Wednesday evenings, and proved popular in the area, with the novelty of playing against Illawarra teams showing obvious popularity.
In the local 1st Grade Twenty20 Knockout, our side defeated The Rail in the preliminary round, and then went down to Oak Flats in the semi-final. Rain disrupted this small tournament and played havoc with the scheduling.
In both tournaments, Kiama were unable to field full strengths teams, though with emotions still mixed over the format that didn’t seem to deter many within the Club.

While turnouts to the Grand Hotel after play each weekend dropped in relation to the performance of teams’ on the field, other events went off smoothly. The get together at the Grand for the First Day of the First Ashes Test was a great success, with all those who attended having a great day. While we may not be able to reproduce that festive atmosphere, no doubt a similar event will be held this November. The second annual Mexican Night again proved popular, despite the late notice.

The Club executive, headed by President Ross Wolf and Treasurer Wayne Richardson has again done itself proud with the administration of the Club as a whole. The election of Ross and Wayne as the 10th and 11th Life Members respectively of the Kiama Cricket Club was a just reward for their work over many years. Their tireless efforts are to be applauded. It is to be hoped that the new administration for the coming season can continue the great work that has been done in the past decade.


Our Club stands at the crossroads once again, and the direction is unknown. A new Executive will be elected at the Annual General Meeting, after the stability of the past six seasons. Our influential Coach and First Grade skipper looks to be moving on for personal reasons, though mixed with reservations on where we as a Club are headed.
The Executive of this Club has done everything in its power to bring success on and off the field. The coaches that the Executive have appointed have done everything in their power to create a successful Club. Unfortunately, the on field results have not been forthcoming.

Certainly, it is not the ability of the players of Kiama that is in question.
It is their commitment.


The same things are said every season, and yet very little changes.
Sometime very soon, our Club will have to make a decision. Two options appear prevalent. Either that the player base of the Kiama Cricket Club grow some commitment to the cause of improving their own cricket, that in turn will improve the Club’s cricket, or we accept that our Club culture will never change, and we turn into a social club.
It is senseless to continue spending money on a Club Coach when less than 10 players turn up for training on a regular basis. The money isn’t the issue – it is a waste of a Coach’s time and ability if he is not being utilized.
Kiama can never hope to compete with Clubs such as Oak Flats, Albion Park and Warilla if we continue to ignore the basics.
Oak Flats competed in every Grade final this past season, including the Women’s competition, and won all but 4th Grade. This was not a fluke. It is because their structure is fantastic, their players are motivated and keen, they have a desire to succeed… AND THEY TRAIN 2 TO 3 DAYS PER WEEK.

Those in charge of running the Club have done everything they can do. Now it is up to the players of the Club to come to the party. To put up… or shut up.
The 2007-08 season may well be one of the most important in this Club’s history. Time will tell if that is a positive thing.

Presentation Night 2006-07

The cricket season finally reached some closure on Saturday night with the hosting of the Presentation Night for the Kiama Cricket Club, held at the Kiama Golf Club. The evening proved to be a landmark for the Club's Captain/Coach Matt Meurant, and newly (officially) inducted Life Members, Ross Wolf and Wayne Richardson.

Matt scooped the pool claiming the four biggest awards on offer - the 1st Grade Batting and Bowling Average Perpetual trophies, the John Watts Medal for 1st Grade Cricketer Of The Year and the Stuart Holmes Memorial Cricketer Of The Year. In a season where he finished with 708 runs at an average of 78.67, and 29 wickets at an average of 11.21, it was hardly surprising that Matt went home with his trophies in the back of a semi-trailer.
Perhaps the unluckiest cricketer in this respect was Dale Scifleet. In any other season, his 473 runs at 43.00 and 42 wickets at 12.88 would have meant that it was his name on all of the above trophies. Dale actually became only the third Kiama cricketer to do the 400 run / 40 wicket double in a season in 1st Grade, following in the footsteps of Ken and Trevor McDonald, who both performed the feat twice. In the end he had to settle for the 1st Grade Bowling Aggregate, as well as sharing the Bill Leyshon Fielding Award for most catches in the season.

Also highlighting the evening was the presentation of Life Membership to two of the Club's finest servants, Ross Wolf and Wayne Richardson. Their efforts, not only in the past 6 years as head of the Club's Executive Board, but in years past in a number of positions, have put the Club where it is today, and their awards are fully deserved. The job for the Club now is to replace them, as they are both retiring from their positions at the coming Annual General Meeting.

The Club also took time to remember Athol Noble, and his wonderful service to cricket in our District. Athol passed away in February and will be sadly missed by everyone in our Association.

The full list of award winners is as follows:

4th Grade Batting Average & Aggregate: Randall McGregor 329 runs at 32.90
4th Grade Bowling Average & Aggregate: Dave Creighton 31 wickets at 12.97
4th Grade Captains Award: Ben Runge.

3rd Grade Batting Average: Gary Koks 232 runs at 46.40.
3rd Grade Batting Aggregate: Luke Bombaci 397 runs at 30.54.
3rd Grade Bowling Average: Rob Wakeham 20 wickets at 12.20
3rd Grade Bowling Aggregate: Luke Bombaci 32 wickets at 13.00.
3rd Grade Captains Award: Tim Rossiter

2nd Grade Batting Average & Aggregate: Steve Holz 276 runs at 39.43
2nd Grade Bowling Average: Steve Holz 23 wickets at 15.35
2nd Grade Bowling Aggregate: Daniel Reilly 24 wickets at 20.46
2nd Grade Captains Award: Daniel Reilly

1st Grade Batting Average & Aggregate: Matt Meurant 703 runs at 87.88
1st Grade Bowling Average: Matt Meurant 27 wickets at 11.15
1st Grade Bowling Aggregate: Dale Scifleet 38 wickets at 12.61
1st Grade Captains Award: Nick Hartgerink

Life Members Induction: Ross Wolf & Wayne Richardson

Goose Of The Year: Jaya Hartgerink & Luke Bombaci
Duck Award: Xavier Mayes (6)
Centuries Award: Matt Meurant, Dale Scifleet & Matt Unicomb.
Best Bowling Award: Luke Bombaci & Glenn Cleary (7 wickets in an innings)
Under 21 Player Of The Year: Matt Unicomb
Bill Leyshon Fielding Award: Dale Scifleet & Tim Wolf
President's Award: Paul Sheehy
Harold Lyons Trophy for 1st Grade Batsman of the Year: Matt Meurant
Harry Brown Trophy for 1st Grade Bowler of the Year: Matt Meurant
John Watts Medal for 1st Grade Cricketer Of The Year: Matt Meurant
Stuart Holmes Memorial Cricketer Of The Year: Matt Meurant

The Last Day

They don't come around too often.

I still remember the day when Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh played their final day of Test cricket against Pakistan at the SCG back in 1984. It was a great day - a sad day. Lillee finished with four wickets for the innings and took the last wicket, and they walked off together. Marsh played in the one day series before finally calling it quits.
AUSTRALIA VS PAKISTAN, 5TH TEST, S.C.G., 1983/84

At the time, we had no way of knowing how these three great players would ever be replaced. The next five years were the hardest years to be a cricket lover in this country. We got creamed by the West Indies. Our captain resigned in tears. A squad of our best and up-and-coming players were banned after partaking in a tour of South Africa, in the days when it was sacrilege to do so, leaving a huge gap in the availability ranks. Our next captain threatened to resign if his players didn't show some heart and guts. All kinds of players were tried in the hope they would be the answer. Some played one game and were discarded. Some were given a dozen opportunities, and were stuck with despite poor initial results.After five dim, dark years, when we *shudder* lost series to New Zealand - TWICE! - we came out the other side, winning the Ashes back in 1989, and have been moving up ever since.

Today will see the end of another era. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer will play their last day of Test cricket. Damien Martyn has already gone. Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden may yet join the exodus. It will be a sad day, but a great day, One that you must see all of, to take it all in, so you can tell your kids about it.

But it's a different feeling from that day 23 years ago. Then, you could feel the concern about how we would replace such legends of the game. Today, we don't believe we can replace these legends, but we know that we have the players who can come into theis Test team, and do the job to the best of their ability, and that we won't suffer more than a slight hiccup.We might be losing over 1200 Test wickets and over 10000 Test runs - but the lessons learned from 1984 have been learned well, and we now have such a talent base in the Sheffield Shield (as it will always be to me) that we can't help but succeed. Because those who are waiting in line want to get their shot, and make a spot in the Test team their own.

So let's celebrate the great careers of those we may never see again -and let's anticipate the next great champions that will soon replace them.

THE ASHES ARE COMING HOME! THE ASHES ARE COMING HOME!

Australian Test Team November 2007

With so many players moving on from the Australian Test team, it’s time to have a stab at who will front up for the side when they play their next Test, which isn’t until November this year.

1. Matthew Hayden. If he doesn’t pull the plug before then, he is a certainty.

2. Phil Jaques / Chris Rogers. These two are the standout next-in-line for opening the batting. In all reality, Jaques should now be the opener in the One Day team, especially with the others who have been tried now out of the side or injured. Jaques deserves first crack at it.

3. Ricky Ponting ©. Unless he gets hit by a bus.

4. Mike Hussey (vc). See above.

5. Michael Clarke. His century has shored up his position, and he looks a better player after his time out of the team.

6. Andrew Symonds / Shane Watson / Adam Voges / Marcus North. One is the incumbent. The next is the one the selectors have been wetting their pants over for 24 months. The next was (for some reason) in the Test squad for Perth. The last is the in-form middle order batsman in Australia. This will be one of the most interesting positions when November comes around. Symonds, as incumbent, should be expected to hold his spot.

7. Adam Gilchrist / Brad Haddin. I can’t see Gilchrist playing next season. If he does, he’s it. If he doesn’t, we lose nothing with Haddin, who has probably been the better bat of the two (on form) over the past two seasons.

8. Brett Lee. Must finally get the number 8 with Warne retiring. Surely.

9. Stuart Clark. Just imagine, if McGrath hadn’t taken all of 2006 off, Stu may still have yet to play a Test. And he was our best bowler in 2006. What a discovery.

10. Stuart MacGill / Cameron White / Dan Cullen / Beau Casson. MacGill is the obvious replacement for Warne, but he’s 35 and hasn’t been popular with selectors or team mates for years. White averages almost 50 with the bat, but has let his bowling slip since being made captain of Victoria at age 20. Cullen has been identified as the best off spinner in the country. Word around the traps is that Casson is the one who will be chosen in November. I would plump for MacGill initially. In the long term, I think Casson is a big chance, and that White should be our allrounder at 6 – if he gets serious about his bowling again.

11. Shaun Tait / Mitchell Johnson / Ben Hilfenhaus. All these three should have good international careers ahead of them. Tait is swift with good late inswerve. Johnson is swift, and being left arm offers variety. Hilfenhaus hits the deck hard, moves the ball off the seam and in the air. Any will do a job. Hilfenhaus looks like a 200 Test wicket bowler to me.

Best Albums of 2006

In no particular order.

1. A Matter Of Life And Death - IRON MAIDEN
2. Christ Illusion - SLAYER
3. Inhuman Rampage - DRAGONFORCE
4. Gillan's Inn - IAN GILLAN
5. Shot To Hell - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
6. Holy Diver Live (live) - DIO
7. Tales Of Rock 'N' Roll - MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP
8. Axes 2 Axes - EDDIE OJEDA
9. One Cure Fits All - THERAPY?
10. Score - 20th Anniversary (live) - DREAM THEATER

Mentions to For The Sake Of Revenge (live) by SONATA ARCTICA and Boned! by THE 12TH MAN.
Also mention for As Daylight Dies by KILSWITCH ENGAGE, which is apparently great, but which I haven't heard enough of yet.

The "Hope They Die A Thousand Deaths" goes to the following:
* Operation Mindcrime II by QUEENSRYCHE
* Yeah! by DEF LEPPARD
* 10 000 Days by TOOL

It was quite a slow year in terms of metal releases - at least, the metal that I listen to. I know that as I get older, the number of albums released in the genre of metal that I listen to and enjoy will shrink, meaning that either I have to expand, or stop getting new music.

Damn! :)

The Folly of Selling Ourselves Short

The original plan of this article was to praise the legacy of Jeff Lawler, who is leaving our Club to take up a promotion within his company in Melbourne. However, his departure has left a few questions to be answered that I am not sure are being done in the best interests of our Club.

But before that, cheers to Jeff Lawler, and the sterling service he has provided our Club in the six seasons he has played for us.
One suspects that his valedictory should have been a premiership victory in last season's 3rd Grade decider, though sadly it was not to be. Jeff's batting was an asset chased by all lower Grade captains. Though he was happy to relinquish the gloves at any stage, Jeff's wicket-keeping was more than tidy, and he took some absolute screamers on the few occasions I was able to play with him or watch him.
For the past four seasons, Jeff has been in charge of 3rd Grade (or one of the 3rd Grade outfits in the years our Club had multiple entries), and has engendered a familial bond with successive teams and their players. His quiet yet capable leadership has been a beacon for both seniors and youth in 3rd Grade over the time of his captaincy. It is no surprise that his teams have not only performed strongly, but have come back and snatched so many games in outright victory after having lost on first innings. A record like that speaks highly of the motivation and ability of the players in the side – but generally it reflects the talent of the leader who is able to inspire it.
Our Club has lost a wonderful leader, an excellent batsman and keeper - but most of all a mate. We shall miss your company Jeff. Our best wishes for your move go with you.

Now to the other part...

In searching for a replacement captain for 3rd Grade, a job that will most likely also encompass the role of third selector on the Selection Panel, a nomination has been received from Josh Elliott. As I understand it, he is the only person to have expressed interest in the position. He has sounded out Jeff, as well as other senior members of the team and the other Grade captains. He has ensured that if he is to become 3rd Grade captain he will have received everyone's full support.
He will receive everyone's full support. However...

Apart from the attack that 1st Grade has corralled this season, there is a real dearth of fast bowlers in the Club at present – certainly a dearth of talented ones who have previous performances on the board.
At present 2nd Grade find themselves in somewhat of a crisis bowling-wise, with their opening combination unable to breakthrough the opposition consistently. The medium pace of Steve Holz and Mick Norris are the major wicket-takers in the team. In their past two matches, the bowling attack has been monstered, with no one able to exert any influence on the opposition to bring them back to a manageable level. Josh played in one of these matches – the game against Lake. He took 0/36 off 6 overs. Reports suggested he was unable to find the line and length needed, but then again, neither could any of the other bowlers.
In 2nd Grade, Josh has always lifted against the better sides – Albion Park, Oak Flats and Warilla. His average of 14.41 against Albion Park, compared with, say, 33.67 against Lake Illawarra and 24.50 against The Rail, suggests he rises to the big occasion.
Only last season, Josh was chosen in 1st Grade, on merit, when skipper Matt Meurant wanted a job done. As Josh has always done against the better sides, he rose to the big occasion, and as Oak Flats smashed 6/301 declared at Cavalier Park, Josh took 1/41 off eleven overs and performed the task that his captain needed of him.

In any true selection of Kiama teams, Josh Elliott would be one of the first players chosen in 2nd Grade. He is the opening bowler 2nd Grade teams need – quick, able to exert his presence, a game-breaker. Opposition teams respect him, and often just try to see him off rather than lose their wicket to him. Two of the 2nd Grade competition's best batsmen in recent years, Trent Glover and 'Crackers' Cummins from Albion Park, have both been Josh Elliott victims on four occasions each. No mean feat.
To me, it appears that as a Club we are shooting ourselves in the foot if Josh Elliott is anointed as 3rd Grade captain. We immediately rob 2nd Grade of the opening bowler they require, and 1st Grade of a first choice replacement should one of their fast men be unavailable.
21 year olds should not be playing 3rd Grade, unless the Club has an enormous amount of talent that forces such a player to be in 3rd Grade, or the player's skill level is only of that standard. Neither of these is the case here.

Cricket is, and always will be, Josh's second sport. Though he is not one to take the easy option, he is generally clear on the issue that he is playing cricket for fun. When it comes to higher honours on the cricket field, he can take it or leave it.
Josh does not lack in leadership ability. He has shown that in his cricket, and he has certainly shown it in his rugby league career, both on and off the paddock.
There is no doubt that Josh will do a great job in the role. The responsibility may even lift his own performance. His enthusiasm will lift his side. He will make the tough decisions required on player selection. He alone will not win Kiama a 3rd Grade premiership.

Is this the direction we wish to have our cricket Club continue in? I realise that this is only my opinion, and that I appear to be bagging a lot of people who certainly do not deserve this kind of criticism, but to me we have done this for far too long on too many levels. It has held us back in many ways from becoming a real power in our competition. What is worse is that, in all the years that players have been 'held back' to play 3rd Grade when their performance or ability or both dictated that they should be playing higher, Kiama has still not lifted a 3rd Grade premiership.
Josh is not the only person in this category, but events in the past week have brought his case to the forefront.
There is every chance that I am overstating this case, and that everything will work out for all involved. However, I fear that by selling our Club short on this issue once again, we will be contributing to our own mediocrity – not only this season, but in the seasons to come.

New Year's Resolutions

The cricket season has reached the festive hiatus once again, giving the Kiama Cricket Club a chance to step back, take a breath, and review how it has progressed so far, and what needs to be done in the coming three months.
At the break, Kiama sit in first place in 1st Grade, fifth in 2nd Grade, fourth in 3rd Grade and sixth in 4th Grade. That is simplifying what to this point has been a difficult season, and one that will have a few more twists and turns before it comes to its conclusion.

1st Grade, apart from a disappointing first round loss to Lake Illawarra, has done almost everything they can do to this point of the season. One Day losses to Lake and Oak Flats, and the One Day washout against Warilla, meant that the Club missed out on the overkill of semi-finals for the One Day competition. To be quite honest, I see this as a huge boost to 1st Grade's chances in the real competition. More Sunday cricket is the last thing players in our Club want, despite the pressure building from areas of the Association. By avoiding this fixture, our players can concentrate on the cricket at hand, and there are some crucial games still to come.
No one needs to remind Kiama 1st Grade of how the wheels fell off in January and February of 2006. However, it should be uppermost in their minds when competition resumes on January 6. 1sts have played some enterprising cricket this season, and scored some vital bragging points against Albion Park and Oak Flats in particular. There is nothing more important than momentum heading into March. Last season 1sts didn't have it. This season they must have it if they are to make an impression on the other teams. Has our number one team learned the lessons of last season? We'll soon know the answer.
Matt Meurant and Dale Scifleet have had superlative seasons so far, and they will need to continue in this vein of form. Tim Wolf has been good in the supporting role with the bat, and Josh Jones similarly with the ball. More runs need to come from the openers, where no doubt there will be pressure to perform, or face losing their spot to other players looking for an opportunity.

Up to the end of November, 2nd Grade had nothing but smiles on their faces after the way the season had progressed. Following disastrous losses to Lake Illawarra and Gerringong in the last two rounds, the holes have opened up in the team performance, and been exposed as a chasm and not as easily papered over as it may have appeared. The team's position as fifth is a little misleading as they have already received their two day bye, which they don't receive points for. However, some concerns have been discovered that need attention.
There has been little continuity in selections due to the unavailability of different players every weekend. This always makes it a difficult job to find cohesion, but 2nd Grade is always that way. Players have to be able to stand up and take responsibility for their own performance.
Without being derogatory to the skipper, a season where Steve Holz is the leading wicket-taker is a concern for not only his own team but for the side above him. The so-called strike bowlers have been largely ineffective, creating an enormous amount of pressure on the medium pacers to gain breakthroughs. While this worked well early in the season, the savage attacks inflicted upon the side by Lake and Gerringong have proven that other answers must be found, and soon.
This is also somewhat true of the batting. Apart from the capitulation in the second innings against Gerringong, 2nds have posted useful 200+ totals almost every match of the season. In 2nd Grade, if you score over 200, you should not be losing games. Though some are claiming the batting is not in perfect health, it is the bowling attack that is suffering hypothermia.
What is the answer? In general, it will be up to those who have already been tried to try and pull it together. If they can't, then blooding different kids may be what has to be done to ensure this doesn't occur again next season.

Having finished runner-up in last season's competition, 3rd Grade have quietly worked their way to Christmas without fanfare, and sit nicely placed to make a good run home to March. Though they are perhaps not the all-encompassing, all-dominating side that ended last season, they will not be taken lightly by their opponents this season.
Their form has been mixed. A reasonably comfortable victory over likely improver Oak Flats was followed by a first innings loss to Shellharbour City, which Kiama promptly turned into outright victory for themselves the following weekend. A narrow loss to great rival Albion Park and to their usurpers in last season's final Lake Illawarra has reminded the team that it won't just happen for them if they don't work at it.
It is a largely different team that has been on the field this season compared to last, which is as it should be. Successful lower Grade sides should find their players moving up the Grades if they have the form on the board. Selection policy after the New Year break will be an important factor in how 3rds fare for the remainder of the season. In previous seasons 3rds have been generally left alone as a unit to mold into a finals-winning outfit. Whether or not that is the case again in 2006-07 will have a bearing on the outcome for not only 3rd Grade, but all Grades.

After a period of success, including three consecutive premierships, with a team filled with players who were obviously playing in a Grade below their ability, 4ths have struggled in recent seasons to win games. This season has seen little change, except that the team is blooding the players of tomorrow for higher Grade representation, and doing a fine job of it. Under the tutelage of Ian Pearson, 4th Grade has become the Kiama nursery, with plenty of youngsters getting a chance to experience Grade cricket.
While this is a good thing for the Club, and the job done by Ian and Bruce McNaught in particular is to be applauded, one wonders if gaining experience in Grade cricket in a side that is unable to win a majority of its games is helping their development. This is certainly not meant as a criticism, but just as a precursor to when our thoughts turn to preparing for next season, and if we can do some things better than we have over the last couple of seasons.

January will prove to be the making or breaking of all of Kiama's four Grades teams this season. Our Club needs to retain the focus and drive that has got us into the position we are in, and carry on it that vein. The time to push for the success that all of us in our Club crave is now.

To everyone associated with the Cavaliers, all the best for the festive season. And let's kick some arse in 2007.

Individualising the Team Game

On a weekend where the top three Grades again asserted a certain degree of dominance over Jamberoo, and individual efforts were again the lead story, one can only ask “What is going on with Fourth Grade? Have they slipped into the Twilight Zone? Are they still playing? Where are the results?” Hopefully more news will be available following this weekend...

First Grade was again dominated by the new acronym MSJ – Meurant Scifleet Jones. The triumvirate again carved out the majority of the work in disposing of a Jamberoo team desperately trying to rebuild itself.
Dale's century was his first for Kiama in 1st Grade. He has scored them just about everywhere else - 2nd Grade, Kiama juniors, junior rep teams, Burns Cup, even overseas in the united Kingdom – but his 128 not out was his first in the top Grade for us. To some eyes it has been a long time coming, but surely centuries are not the be all and end all of batting (I guess I am biased, as I did not score one in Grade cricket...). Consistency is the key, and that is what Dale is beginning to bring to his batting. He is the dominant player at the top of Kiama's order, and the key to big team totals. He of course carries a double burden in being a key to the bowling attack, and his figures of 2/21 were vital again last weekend.
Matt added yet another half century to his aggregate this season, sharing a partnership of 140 with Dale for the third wicket. Like Dale, he is an important part of the bowling attack as well, taking 3/25 to complement his runs.
Josh just can't seem to get going with the bat since he won the batting average 18 months ago, something that will no doubt be troubling him. Perhaps the key is for him to go in without putting pressure on himself, and trusting his instincts for a few innings. Thinking too much can muck up one's batting just as regularly as not thinking enough. It doesn't seem to have affected his bowling too much, providing another classy spell last weekend in picking up 3/36.
The scorecard shows that these three again provided the impetus and the bulk of the winning formula for First Grade. No doubt the Club's opponents have also noticed this imbalance, and will be planning for it appropriately.

Second Grade won its match against Jamberoo, but some general ineptitude, loss of concentration and other factors made it a lot closer and a lot tougher than it should have been. In other words, business as usual for 2nds.
Jamberoo were bowled out for 125, but it should have been about 70. Missed catches, and an ambivalence in the field that defied the unusual sight of a pre-game warm-up gave Jamberoo more opportunities than they deserved. You can completely exonerate Jordan Inwood from this – he was fantastic, earning the Kiama equivalent of Mike Hussey's nickname “Mr Cricket” in a tireless fielding effort. Following this, the batting failed to live up to expectations, and struggled to chase down a mediocre total with any dominance. It was a given that there were a couple of decisions that probably went against their batsmen, but this cannot disguise the fact that passing a small total eight wickets down against a team that are in no way a threat to make the finals was not a great performance.
Steve Holz continues to show his other bowlers how to get wickets in 2nd Grade – by bowling at the stumps. It is an underrated commodity in this day and age. While openers Brendan Shaw and Daniel Reilly bowled well, as their figures attest, they took a combined one wicket to Steven's three, by not following the golden rule – if the batsman misses, you hit.
Mick Norris put in his best performance of the season to date, taking 2/23 with the ball and a match-winning 30 runs with the bat. But it was the way he did it that was more impressive. His second spell with the ball homed right in on the stumps, with added pace and good movement. His batting was filled with the strokes we all know he can play, with aggression and intent. It was the best I have seen Mick bat in the past 18 months. After a slow start, he is getting closer to his best, and that's what the Club needs.

Third Grade returned from the bye to smash Jamberoo by 10 wickets, and barely raised a sweat by doing it. In a performance that 2nd Grade should probably have emulated, Kiama bowled their opponents out for 70, and got the runs in a hurry without losing a wicket.
Questions still abound for 3rd Grade. Is Luke Bombaci's lack of practice affecting his bowling? He has so far been far less effective than he was last season. He went on a run spree at opener last weekend, but the majority of the 70 Jamberoo runs came from his bowling. Certainly there is no need to panic yet, but hopefully some reappraising of the situation will bring better results in the future.
Bryn Coleman took his relegation to 3rds well, and finished not out in the run chase. He has a very promising future, not only as a batsman but as a real team player. His introduction to Grade cricket this season has been highly successful thus far, and hopefully his elevation back into 2nds is only a mere formality.
Josh Elliott finished with the remarkable figures of 6/9, which included 4 wides. Jellie is an enigma in the Club, one who seems to bounce around Grades like he enjoys bouncing batsmen at the crease. Currently recovering from another shoulder injury sustained during the football season, Josh has not extended himself this season, and as such is not pushing the higher Grades. Despite this, he is one of the few bowlers our Club has who is an enforcer, who has the presence and (more importantly) pace to run through opposing teams. Figures like those taken last weekend will ensure he is not resting in 3rd Grade very long. At peak fitness and form, Josh is a key ingredient in the premiership push by 2nd Grade – or even 1st Grade. His season has better tales to come.

Can Kiama threaten for several premierships this season? Are all Grades travelling as well as they believe they are? You can bet that this weekend's matches against perennial antagonist Albion Park will shed more light upon those thoughts, and give a much clearer picture of the journey ahead.

Leading the Charge

Funny how winning weekends seem to bring out good stories, and losing ones just bring out negatives. Usually at Kiama, we are also able to see negatives in winning weekends. That has probably been covered enough in the past.

The glittering jewel in the crown of the weekend was the continuing form of Club Captain/Coach Matt Meurant. His 4/13 off four overs, and 60 not out to anchor the run chase against The Rail, was yet another important all-round contribution which has been the hallmark of his cricket in 2006.
For the last half of 2005-06, and the first half of 2006-07, Matt has been Kiama's most consistent player, scoring runs and taking wickets with monotonous regularity, and that in a side that has taken some fair pastings in the 2006 calendar year. Having come into our Club cold at the beginning of last season, and having not played in recent times, Matt not only had to get to know the players in the Club and their nuances, he had to perform himself. Having won the John Watts Medal last season, and been the major contributor this season, one would say that he has succeeded.
I often get asked “How does Matt go? Can he play?” It may seem like a strange question, but it is a fact that few people in our competition really know who Matt is. With only one season under his belt in our competition, opposing teams are still trying to work out if Matt is a threat to them, or merely another interloper who will fail to make a mark on the South Coast.
For those that have not been paying attention... the answer is “Yes, he can play” and “Yes, he is a threat”.
Matt's start to the season – 205 runs at 102.50 and 10 wickets at 6.60 – is an indication of how seriously he is taking his role. It is obvious he is still not happy with the way our Club trains, something that will not come as a shock to anyone in Kiama. Despite this, Matt has taken the reigns himself, and led by example with runs and wickets. He has also been happy to entrust responsibility in the younger members of his squad – Matt Unicomb, Andrew Ross and Jordan Inwood.
If it wasn't obvious to people before, it should be crystal clear now that Kiama has a player of immense ability leading our Club, one whose influence will be felt on every match this season. Hopefully Matt will have a few more people following him over the top to charge at the enemy during the course of the season.

The other star of the weekend was an unlikely one. Andy Sheehy has played all of his cricket for our Club almost exclusively in 3rd Grade, and almost exclusively as a batsman. Over the course of the past three seasons, he has scored 393 runs at an average of 10.34, with a highest score of 34. Not exceedingly spectacular, by any means. I have not brought this up in order to embarrass Andy (there are plenty who have done a lot less), but merely to enhance what is a quite remarkable story.
With a player shortage last weekend, and 3rd Grade in the middle of a bye, Andy was picked to make his debut in 2nd Grade. Opening the batting and chasing down 163 runs is a daunting task on your debut, especially on an unfamiliar turf wicket. However, his partnership with Nathan Barr reached 167 and remained unbroken as 2nds won the match against The Rail by 10 wickets in one ball under 30 overs. It was only the third time since 1946 that Kiama 2nd Grade had won a one day match by 10 wickets. The partnership is in the top ten 2nd Grade partnerships for Kiama for ALL wickets, not just the 1st wicket.
Andy's contribution? Well, he finished on 60 not out, and who knows what may have happened had Kiama batted first? It was just Andy's third half century in Grade cricket, and ranks as the highest score on debut in 2nd Grade for Kiama since 1969.
What is it that brought about this amazing feat? How do you post the type of scores that Andy has done for the past couple of seasons, only to excel at his first opportunity at a higher Grade? I guess if we knew the answer to that, we'd all be better players. Certainly Nathan Barr, Andy's partner on the weekend, would probably like to know. Barrie has spent the past couple of seasons smashing most 2nd Grade bowling attacks (last weekend was no different, finishing on 86 not out), but as yet has been unable to translate that to consistent and big runs in 1st Grade. His 2nd Grade stats of 1349 runs at 22.11 dwarf his 1st Grade figures of 376 runs at 12.97. He is still only young and has the chance to fix that, but he probably wouldn't mind the extended opportunities that some other batsmen have received in 1st Grade in recent seasons.

Two excellent victories over The Rail for 1st and 2nd Grades have put both teams firmly in the top four, and established that both will be contenders for higher honours this season if they can continue to produce efforts like those last weekend. With good players still to return in the coming weeks, everything augers well in the lead up to the New Year break.

A Need to Remain Focused

The season has reached November, and though the rain has once again washed away the Club's chances of holding aloft the Country Cup, the signs in the S.C.D.C.A. competition have been promising without raising false hopes. Outright victories for the top three Grades in the last round against Shellharbour have been eagerly accepted, but not without knowing the fact that they weren't as emphatic as they perhaps should have been.

First Grade have recovered from their poor first outing, and won their next two matches impressively, before having the anticipated clash with Warilla washed out last weekend.
At their best, with their strongest side on the paddock, First Grade can win this season's premiership. It's been a long time since we've been able to say that, but it's true. The team on a whole have the experience now. Marquee players Scifleet, Meurant and Jones are the keys, along with off-season acquisition Glenn Cleary, who is proving to be a real bonus for the side and the Club.
We certainly do not want to get ahead of ourselves. The second half of last season is proof of that. However, it needed to be said. Not since 1994/95 has our Club had any real opportunity to be considered a real threat to take out the First Grade premiership. It is not a cocky taunt. There is a real belief in the Club now, something Kiama are always loathe to throw out there in case it comes back to bite us in the arse. This season, believe it. The Cavs are coming.

Hurdles still need to be cleared, of course. Apart from Dale and Matt, the batting has still been too inconsistent, and the other guys need to find some runs, and quickly – not because of any great pressure from Second Grade, but just to contribute. Dale and Matt have big shoulders, but they won't be able to do it every week. Contributions from everyone is a vital and immediate responsibility of all the batting order.
The bowling attack seems to be settling nicely. Dale, Matt and Glenn, along with Josh and OB, will no doubt be the backbone of the team for the season. There is excellent variety between the five of them, and all are contributing to the cause.
This weekend will be a water test. Dale is in Dubbo with the Southern Zone squad, and Firsts will need to find runs and wickets from elsewhere. We'll all know more about our real chances after the round has been completed.

Seconds have won two of their three matches. Thirds have won both of their two games, last weekend's yet another of the 'lose 1st innings, win outright' scenarios that they got entangled in last season. Fourths haven't yet troubled the winning column yet, but have put together some impressive performances. Things appear rosy in the Garden of the Cavaliers. On the surface...

There is still a lot of work to be done. The Club needs to perform strongly in the lower Grades, to continue offering up possible solutions and alternatives to the top Grade. We need to be vigilant in continuing to win games well in the lower Grades, and to have players scoring runs and taking wickets. So far, individual performances have been winning matches for Thirds and Seconds – not team performances.As individuals, as teams, and as a Club, we need to remain focused through to the Christmas break. Everything looks promising on the surface at the moment. Let's not allow that to change through a slackening off in intensity. The start has been good. Let's make the next six weeks just as profitable.

Emerging From the Shadow

Since my return to our Club from the dark depths of Erskineville seven years ago, I have had the pleasure and privilege of not only watching from a distance, but also batting with some of our finest young players. At that time, it was generally fairly easy to see that they were (going to be) good. They played the bowling like they were facing an 8 year old sister, they all had a thirst for more runs, and they each had their own unique style and strokes that spoke volumes for their class.
On December 4, 1999, I batted with 15 year old Dale Scifleet at Kevin Walsh Oval. Chasing 287 for victory, I joined Dale at 2/67 and had the best seat in the house to witness what, until last weekend, was the highest individual score for Kiama in Second Grade. Dale defied his years to simply dominate the attack. His driving and cutting was a joy to watch – especially when you are at the other end struggling to get the ball off the square. In what seemed like a blink of an eye, Dale had his century. Our partnership of 136 contained the bare 32 from me, and remained a 2nd Grade record for the 3rd wicket... until last weekend. Dale finished with Joe Murphy as a runner (giving everyone a laugh) and 159 sparkling runs, and remains one of the finest innings I have witnessed for Kiama. A career was about to bloom.

On March 2, 2002, I batted with 14 year old Mitchell Gowland at Cavalier Park. Batting first against a Jamberoo First Grade side that would go on to win the competition, the top order had struggled. From the boundary, I had witnessed the finest bowler of my generation, Graham Stinson, bowling at top speed and engaging in plenty of talk with the young prodigy. Unfazed by it all, Mitch kept quietly compiling runs. By the time he had reached 30, there was nothing but silence directed at him, and Stinson had bowled himself out of the attack. I only batted with Mitch for seven overs, but had the distinct pleasure of being at the crease with him when he brought up his first half century for Kiama First Grade. His unbeaten 64 remains one of the finest innings I have seen for Kiama. A career was about to bloom.

On November 20, 2004, I batted with 17 year old Will Sheridan at Cavalier Park. Against an Albion Park side that would go on to win the next two premierships, Kiama collapsed for only 62 in the one day fixture. However, the shining light in that was Will, who batted through most of the innings, displaying the traits he is renown for – standing tall and driving everything with power and velocity. His timing was unquestioned, as he saw off the good balls and put the bad ones away. Though he only scored 23, his was an effort that staved off what could possibly have been the lowest total ever by a Kiama First Grade side. Batting with him that morning was a real eye opener as to his true talent. Though by this stage of his career he already had a First Grade century against Shellharbour, and one of the most brilliant innings I have seen for the Club with his 89 against Narara-Wyoming in the Country Cup match at Maitland, here he again proved he had the right stuff. A career was about to bloom.

Now, I can add another to that list.

Last weekend, on October 21, 2006, I batted with 17 year old Matt Unicomb at Cavalier Park. Last season, Matt had shown signs that he was going to be a very good batsman. He had been hampered as, unlike the three aforementioned players, he had played practically zero Grade cricket during his junior days, which had left him at some sort of disadvantage. Despite this, he lifted the Second Grade Batting Aggregate, and had shown enough to be confident of his future.
I joined Matt at 1/52, and was immediately impressed not only with his strokes, but his demeanor. He wasn't fazed by the few deliveries that beat him. He was patient, waiting for the bowlers to bowl to him, rather than chasing what appeared to this ageing eye to be 'boundary balls'. Each shot was marked by genuine timing. Not everything found the gaps, but he never appeared in trouble. On a couple of occasions Matt missed the opportunity for quick singles – but he never missed it twice in succession. We put on 94 before I threw away my chance for a hundred. Matt was determined not to miss out. When he finally made it, just before tea, he was ecstatic, and his teammates were the same.
Apart from his driving (reminiscent of Will Sheridan) and his pull shot, Matt has an absolutely unique shot to leg, where, with a lot of bottom hand, he forces any ball directed towards leg stump through square leg in a cross between leg glance and stand-up sweep shot, that generates so much power the ball generally races away to the boundary. I have never seen anyone else play this shot, and it comes so naturally to him. Not only that, it scores him a lot of runs.
At drinks in the second session, Matt was given five overs to reach a double century before the inevitable declaration took place. Before being dismissed for 178 in the second of those five overs, he gave it a red hot go, scoring 18 runs in those 9 deliveries.
Matt was given three lives in his innings, none of those before he reached 92. His partnership for the third wicket with Ben King-Gee totalled 140, and is now the Kiama record for Second Grade for that wicket. Matt's score of 178 eclipsed Dale's 159 as the highest score by a player for Kiama in Second Grade.

I have little doubt that I have now played my last match with Matt. His apprenticeship is over, and he goes on now to the next step of his development. Where will it take him? Who knows. Dale has played Grade cricket in Sydney, is a current Southern Zone representative, and is the finest all-rounder in the South Coast competition. Mitch has played for New South Wales Under 17's, and now plays Second Grade in the Sydney Grade competition. Will has represented Australian Under 19's, and now plays for A.C.T. in the Cricket Australia Cup. The genes are pretty fair.

A career is about to bloom.

The Recipe for Success

"Pssst! Hey! Can I have a word? Just a quiet one between you and me. I've got something to show you. Something I've been working on. It's a recipe, and if I've got it right, it should be worth a dollar or two. Of course, I'm not looking to sell it. I just want it to be right. And to work.
I call it the Recipe For Success. A tacky title to be sure, but hopefully an accurate one.
You see, I've been observing our cricket Club for close to three decades now, and I've seen talented players and talented teams never reach the heights that they were meant to, or achieve the success that they could have. And that last tiny step, the step from Contenders to Champions, is not really that huge - if you know how to negotiate it"
One of the things that our Club must first accept is that we are a little light on in terms of player depth. People may scoff at this remark, pointing towards last season, where we had three sides reaching the semi-finals, with one of those reaching the final. That is true. Yet the real truth is that as a Club we had virtually no players putting pressure on those in Grades above them. First Grade lost almost every match after Christmas, but retained basically the same squad. The critical shortage of specialist batsmen is also a concern. Somehow, this must be overcome.

And it can be. With the correct ATTITUDE being utilised by everyone in the Club, we can overcome any hurdle, and taste premiership success again.

The following steps should be carefully digested.

1. Take PRIDE in your PERSONAL PERFORMANCES

It sounds like a simple premise, but take my word for it, it hasn't been done. One of the things that has held our Club back in recent years has been the attitude that 20 runs is 'enough', or a couple of wickets is 'enough'.
"My job is done."
"I've held my spot"
"If we don't win it can't be seen as my fault"
As an individual, you should be focused enough to not only want to succeed, but to succeed at a greater level. Being satisfied with 20 runs or 2 wickets won't win cricket matches. Everyone should not only be striving for big scores or big hauls, you should have enough pride and determination in your own performance to WANT IT every week. No one can do it every week, that is a given. But if you are not striving for it every week, you become a weak link in the chain.

2. Take PRIDE in your TEAMMATES

Having conquered your own performances, you must be aware and supportive of the performances of your teammates. Some will succeed, some will fail, but you need to be able to support them no matter what. A teammate may fail, in which case they will need reassurance that the next innings will be their redemption. When a teammate succeeds, it is a time for congratulations, while also trying to drive him to greater heights.
It is okay to feel less than cordial if your teammate is bagging wickets or slashing runs while you are struggling - as long as you don't show it. Don't bring your teammates down to your level - bring yourself up to their level!

3. Take PRIDE in your TEAM

Always be a part of the team, not a dead weight. People who sulk and brood through an afternoon, whether it be on or off the field, bring down the rest of the team in the process. Celebrate the good times. In the harder times, stay in the game and talk positively on the field. Enjoy a joke when they come, stay committed to the cause. Leave negativity out of the equation.
Get to know your teammates, especially newer ones into the Club or Team. Don't allow the team to become a closed shop. Everyone must not only feel as though they are a part of the team, they must also open the team to everyone.
Fight together as a team in adversity. If quick wickets begin to fall when batting, or they have dried up when bowling, support each other as a team, and drive the team to break the cycle.

4. Take PRIDE in your CLUB

Slowly but surely we are getting better at this (mainly as some of our kids move up the Grades, and some of our elder statesmen begin moving back through the Grades) but more work is needed. The relationship between the players of different Grades is something that tightens the bonds of the Club, and improves everyone's performances. The chief role in doing this is for more players to return to the Grand Hotel Beer Garden after each day's play, to tell the tales of the day's happenings. Driving competition between the Grades, and individuals in other Grades, helps to not only bond the Club, but push everyone to a higher level, to get the better of that particular Grade or player next weekend. Healthy competition between the Grades, and healthy support of their cause as well. Being aware and wanting to be aware of what is happening with all other Grades each Saturday is a major part of becoming the best we can be.

5. Take PRIDE in your GAME

Don't ever forget – it is only a game. If you stop enjoying the contest, you'll be doing yourself, and everyone involved, no favours by continuing. If you are just sulking over poor performances, wake up to yourself and get on with the show. It's a bloody GAME for goodness sakes!!! Enjoy the struggle, laugh at ineptitude, and have a beer at the end.

Cricket philosophy is easy. I can preach it to you ad nauseum if you would like. Actually putting it into practice and proving its worth is a completely different and more difficult thing to do. I'd like to see it happen, if only for a season.
In the long run, it all comes back to taking pride in your personal performance.

It can't happen with JUST you. But it can't happen WITHOUT you.