Celebrating 175 years - Melbourne Cricket Club

MCC CRICKET
“Clubbies” return to glory days
While the MCC has a long and
distinguished history competing at
Cricket Victoria’s elite club level, a
lesser known cricket competition is in the
midst of a major resurgence.
The MCC Club XI Cricket Competition,
managed by MCC and aimed at a level of
cricket between elite and social, has expanded
to incorporate two divisions, a growth that
seemed unlikely only a few years ago.
Interest had dwindled and its future was
seriously questioned, but the competition now
has 18 teams in two divisions from 11 clubs,
many of them “old school” teams.
Much of the credit can go to the
competition convenor of the past 11 years,
David Talalla, who has worked tirelessly to
return the competition to its former glory. The
new Division 2 trophy will be named after
David in recognition of his contribution.
To cap off the resurgence, the MCC fielded
two teams this summer for the first time in a
decade, with the Division 1 team reaching the
finals for the first time since 1990/91.
Led by former MCC First XI player
Kane Bowden, the Division 1 team bowed
out in the semi finals to Old Xaverians at
Xavier College.
One of the highlights of this season has
been the sight of former MCC players
returning to play at Club XI level in what has
become something of a past players’ reunion.
The competition’s credibility is enhanced
when First XI premiership players such as
Promising signs for our lady cricketers
Rachel Hildreth sends
one down.
As the MCC Club XI Cricket Competition goes from strength to strength, the MCC’s Division 1 team
reached the finals for the first time in more than 20 years.
Warren Ayres, Michael McCarthy and
Richard Herman are donning the creams.
In all, 43 players represented the MCC in
Division 1 this season, expanding the network
of past players coming back into the fold.
The MCC Club XI Cricket Competition is
steeped in history. It originated in the early
1900s when, to give all players a game of
cricket, the MCC organised an internal
competition and formed several teams.
As MCC News readers will have noted, late last
year the club took the historic step of fielding
MCC teams in the Victorian Women’s Cricket
Association competition for the first time.
Under the guidance of Team of the Century
wicketkeeper Robert Templeton as head coach, the
girls have shown encouraging signs.
As was anticipated given the experience levels of
the players, progress up the ladder will be slow, but
with both teams recording morale-boosting
victories after Christmas there is plenty of
potential.
The First XI has largely found the going tough
after a spirited start to the season, coming
face-to-face with some of Australia’s best
cricketers such as Meg Lanning, Jess Cameron,
Elysse Villani and Emma Inglis.
However, their resolve has been strong and it all
came together on January 27. The girls journeyed
to Bendigo to play Plenty Valley in the opposition’s
recruiting region and secured a nail-biting
two-wicket win.
Charlotte Killeen has been a valuable contributor
with bat and ball, scoring almost 250 runs and
Eventually, groups of these players formed
their own teams.
The MCC home ground is H.G. Smith
Oval in Parkville, but we play most
matches at away venues to enjoy the
magnificent facilities provided by the
old school teams.
To find out more, please contact MCC club
sport administration officer Matthew Simpson
on (03) 9657 8888.
MCC’s Victorian under 18 team members Teagan
Parker, Charlotte Killeen and Kyra Black.
taking nine wickets, while Kyra Black is our
leading runscorer. Captain Anna O’Donnell, Natalie
Plane, Hannah Bailes and Gretel Cannon have also
been among the wickets.
The Second XI, coached by former MCC player
Graeme Lay, was first to register points in MCC
colours, the first of two wins coming on January 13.
The MCC has hosted four training sessions for
girls within our recruiting regions and we welcome
new players for next season. Anyone interested
should contact Steven McCooke on (03) 9657 8888.
March 2013
MCC NEWS
11