Local legend: Old Students legend Dave Shaw accepts his selection as captain in the Cricket Shepparton Team of the Century. PhotoS: Rechelle Zammit
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Cricket Shepparton royalty came together on Sunday afternoon as the association announced its much-anticipated Team of the Century.
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Part of its 100-year anniversary celebration, the powers that be at Cricket Shepparton named a 12-man side along with a scorer and manager, as it looked to honour those who had the biggest influence on the game in the region.
The final team came from an initial shortlist of 30 players the association released in September.
Captained by Old Students legend Dave Shaw, the team sported a mix of legends, with its make-up mirroring that of a standard cricket team.
The batting unit consists of Bill ‘‘Jasper’’ Jones, Ian Sartori, Rohan Larkin, Gary O’Brien and Greg Luscombe.
The selection committee opted for three all-rounders, with Chris Keady, Norm McArthur and Shaw getting the nod to form a dangerous middle order.
Packed house: The crowd at the Overlander for the Team of the Century function.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Peter Whitelock, Damian Woodman and Bryan Doyle were selected to headline the team’s bowling attack.
While the late Clyde Young would take his spot behind the stumps to round out the star-studded 12.
The association also took the chance to recognise two of its legendary administrators, with Bert Lightfoot taking the role of team manager and Lucy Scott the scorer.
Touching moment: The Young family accepts the late Clyde Young’s selection into the Team of the Century.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Team of the Century selection committee member Darryl Butcher explained the process behind narrowing it down to the final 12.
“It wasn’t any easy task and it took a long while,” Butcher said.
“We wanted to have five or six batters, a couple of all-rounders, a wicketkeeper and three quick bowlers and a spinner, so that was what we worked off.
“There was a lot of toing and froing with some of the positions, but in the end we had to make a decision and we ended up with this 12.
“At the end of the day it was based on their records and what they had done for cricket in general as well, and overall we are happy with what we ended up with.”
Wonderful tribute: Sue Price accepts the Team of Century selection on behalf on Norm McArthur.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
When it comes to an exercise like this there is always some debate involved, with the likes of Aiden Blizzard, Raelee Thompson, Alex Keath and Ryan Sidebottom among those unlucky to miss out.
But overall Butcher said the response to the team was positive.
“There is always going to be feedback when you pick a Team of the Century and conjecture surrounding who didn’t make it,” he said.
“But you can only do what you can do and I would have thought the majority of people would have agreed with the majority of the selections.”
Massive honour: Damian Woodman accepts his Team of Century selection.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The selection of the team was not the only drawcard of the event, however, as past and present legends of the association shared stories and reminisced on 100 great years of cricket in the region.
Butcher said the day could not have gone any better.
“The day flowed well, I think everyone enjoyed it and it was one heck of a reunion afterwards which I knew it would be,” he said.
“As a collective there would have never been a function like this that Cricket Shepparton had put on which brought so many players of this calibre together.
“The best way to describe the day was unbelievable.”
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