2006/2007 Report - A Grade
A season that started with so much promise! 16 players on paper and some big dreams. As you can guess it did not quite work out just as we had wanted. Losing team members early in the season put us on the back foot right from the start. The guys that were there week in and week out showed great courage and I am proud to say never gave up. It was a pleasure playing with these guys even though at times it felt we were a little out of our depth. In saying that we fought dam hard and had absolutely no luck all year (they say you make your own luck - someone please tell me the recipe).
There were some fantastic highlights this year; unfortunately not all of them were cricket:
- Sumit getting swooped by magpies at McCredie was very funny (I think Lockyer had trained them).
- Apparently me falling on my face trying to keep a yorker out (wasn't real funny from where I was).
- Old man Springall sliding like a junior in to the sight screen.
- Hoges top score in 5 years and it happens in A grade.
- Mulva getting a pair of 2 x sixes that is the 1st ball in both innings (legend). I don't think it has been done before and he is still waiting for his $100 from the opposition.
- Varmsey's one and only game. He told the skipper he wasn't a bowler and got 4/19 of 8 overs. I think he is!
- Bobby's fantastic 100 when he just could not get out.
- Gaurang's 7/63 was thoroughly deserved and pleasing to watch (one pretty good catch in that too!).
- Phil Woods missing his first game in years due to dropping a chopping board on his ankle. Get out of the kitchen Woodsy!
Plus many more memorable moments that saw a lot of guys trying very hard each week for not a lot of great results.
Let me introduce the team:
Robert Simpson - Fantastic cricketer, great leader and a pleasure to spend a Saturday afternoon with. With the bat and ball he always makes a difference, unfortunately, he was unable to play a full season due to school commitments and also provided us with some great young fill-ins when we needed them.
Sumit Kalia - He loves a battle and opened the batting all season with pure class. He bowled and fielded very well and is a genuine all-rounder. All his mates at Seven Hills obviously respect his talent also!
Gaurang Merani - Another fantastic all-rounder. He is a great team player and scored invaluable runs all year but unfortunately ran out of people at the other end to support him. He is awesome in the field and has a great cricketing mind.
Greg Leeson - He only kept wickets for us because Pearl Jam had no vacancies. Greg consistently kept well all year. He batted and studied hard all season and can bowl! Good luck in England mate. Don't forget you're an Aussie even though you would get a spot in there side easily.
Glen Mulvaney - The pair of sixes say's everything about this bloke, fielded like a champion all year and can catch. One of our best performers all year and just a pleasure to take the field with.
Chris Springall (The Rock) - Gave everything this year and got the team together every week. He was a fantastic help to me and a great cricketer. Thanks for everything.
Trent Hession - The true professional! You could not ask for any more from Trent. He has everything. He bowled his heart out all year and is a great batsman and true competitor. He has a plan for all batsmen. Is also the author of all interesting match reports this season.
John Walters - A brilliant cricketer with far too many work commitments. He gave his all this year and is a genuine wicket taker who can also bat. With no keeping duties this year the only stumping Johnny had a part in this season was when he was the bowler.
David Byrne - 8 phones, 6 different haircuts, lost count of the number of goldens and no balls! What a year. A great bloke and put his heart in every time he had the ball in his hand. He bowled very well, with no luck. He is quick with plenty of movement. When he had nothing left you could always bank on him after giving him a spell of 10 minutes. He thought he was Warnie. Well done mate you have done us proud all year.
Phil Woods - Had a great batting duel with Mulva all year and scored many valuable runs. Did well all year with the ball and was so close to a hat trick at Guilford (please ask Phil what happened on the hat trick ball and yes he will say it was a great ball but bad result).
Mark Hogan - Mark's season was cut short due to a back injury (Jackie's fault). He tried hard in every game and had a great knock of 29 before injury cut him down when in form.
Jenny & Hilton Byrne - I have put these two together for a reason, both are great people who shared every ball of our pain. Jenny by having to score every run - Hilton by filling in most of the season and being a magnet in the field. Every position Hilton was in the ball would follow hitting every part of his body. I can not thank you both enough for your help and support this year.
There you have it a great team with not such good results, although not from lack of trying. I as many in the team was surprised at the step from A Reserve to A Grade.
I enjoyed the way we played the game and most of the opposition sides were good blokes. We had some interesting opponents and if that is the only way they can win then enjoy!
Thanks boys, I am very proud!
Regards
Glenn Kennaway
A Grade Captain
PS. A special thank you to all that filled in for us this year, in particular Bobby's boys from school and the B4 Premiers.
Individual Awards
Robert Simpson - 105 no vs Wenty Waratahs - 02/12/06
Gaurang Merani - 7/63 vs Wenty Waratahs - 03/03/07
Batting Award - Sumit Kalia
Bowling Award - No qualifier
Fielding Award - Gaurang Merani
| A GRADE - STATISTICS 2006/2007 | ||||||
| BATTING | ||||||
| Player | Innings | N.O. | H.S. | Runs | Average | Catches |
| Robert Simpson | 8 | 1 | 105* | 226 | 32.29 | 4 |
| Sumit Kalia | 15 | - | 82 | 381 | 25.40 | 2 |
| Gaurang Merani | 9 | 3 | 68* | 124 | 20.67 | 4 |
| Greg Leeson | 12 | 2 | 48 | 164 | 16.40 | 11 |
| Michael Homsy | 2 | 1 | 13 | 16 | 16.00 | - |
| Brad Murphy | 2 | - | 27 | 31 | 15.50 | - |
| Glenn Kennaway | 14 | 3 | 23* | 156 | 14.18 | 5 |
| Adam Shearman | 2 | - | 21 | 27 | 13.50 | - |
| Chris Springall | 15 | 2 | 25 | 164 | 12.62 | 4 |
| Trent Hession | 16 | 2 | 39* | 163 | 11.64 | 5 |
| John Walters | 11 | 1 | 41 | 107 | 10.70 | 4 |
| Glen Mulvaney | 13 | 2 | 20* | 117 | 10.64 | 6 |
| David Byrne | 17 | 1 | 40 | 170 | 10.63 | 4 |
| Phil Woods | 12 | 2 | 21 | 105 | 10.50 | 2 |
| Mark Hogan | 3 | - | 26 | 29 | 9.67 | 0 |
| Mark Griggs | 2 | - | 9 | 14 | 7.00 | - |
| Andrew Pittman | 1 | - | 6 | 6 | 6.00 | - |
| Hilton Byrne | 2 | - | 10 | 10 | 5.00 | - |
| Steven Sarlog | 2 | - | 10 | 10 | 5.00 | - |
| Justin Field | 2 | - | 5 | 5 | 2.50 | - |
| C Matthey | 2 | - | 4 | 5 | 2.50 | - |
| Vamsey Doddala | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | 2.00 | - |
| Nick Connellan | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
| Adam Fahey | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
| Ashmeet Jolly | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
| Matthew Kenyon | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | --- | - |
| BOWLING | |||||
| Player | Overs | Maidens | Wickets | Runs | Average |
| Varmsey Doddala | 8 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 4.75 |
| Greg Leeson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5.00 |
| John Walters | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5.00 |
| Gaurang Merani | 50 | 7 | 10 | 235 | 23.50 |
| Phil Woods | 72 | 9 | 12 | 303 | 25.25 |
| Sumit Kalia | 72 | 8 | 11 | 288 | 26.18 |
| Trent Hession | 158 | 23 | 22 | 584 | 26.55 |
| Glenn Kennaway | 18 | 1 | 4 | 107 | 26.75 |
| Robert Simpson | 35 | 8 | 4 | 119 | 29.75 |
| Dave Byrne | 163 | 29 | 19 | 570 | 30.00 |
| Mark Hogan | 8 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 30.00 |
| Glen Mulvaney | 22 | 5 | 1 | 88 | 88.00 |
| Justin Field | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | --- |
| Chris Springall | 5 | 1 | 0 | 35 | --- |