GABBA - Queensland Cricket

I woke up one cold morningin England late last monthto see a missed call on mymobile phone. It was WadeSeccombe so I rang himback. We chatted for 10minutes about football andthe likes, and all of a suddenhe dropped a bombshell I’llnever forget.There was an eerie silence. Icouldn’t believe it. An iconof Queensland cricket, aBulls teammate for 14years, was retiring.I was flabbergasted. I didn’tknow what to say. I stilldon’t, really, because wordscan’t adequately describethe contribution ‘Chuck’ hasmade over such a long andillustrious career.He’d done the full preseasonand, like everyoneelse, I just assumed hewould play on. He was super-fitand there had beenno suggestions he wouldhang up the gloves.For a few days, so far fromhome and without the opportunityto drop in to seehim for a chat and a beer, Ifelt really strange. Thingsjust weren’t right.Not long backfrom England andquickly into thefirst-class season,I’ve still not hada chance to catchup with him faceto face. But I willbecause when itcomes to wicketkeepersand peoplethey don’tcome any better.I’ve often said‘Chuck’ was thebest pure glovemanI’ve everplayed with.That’s no slighton Ian Healy,Adam Gilchrist orChris Hartley, oranyone else. It’sjust a fact. And his phenomenalrecord backs it up.Yet as good a gloveman ashe was, he’s an even betterbloke.He was just sensational tohave around; the sort ofbloke you’d want to go towar with. The ultra professional,he was a fierce competitor,at his best whentimes were tough. A loyalteammate who would doanything for a mate.I really appreciated that‘Chuck’ took the time to ringme and tell me the newspersonally but, in hindsight,you wouldn’t expect anythingelse. He’s all class,and epitomizes what Queenslandcricket and the Bullsare all about.I couldn’t begin to count thehours I’ve spent standingbeside the now 33-year-old‘keeping maestro, sittingwith him in the rooms, travelingwith him or trainingwith him. Or just enjoyinghis company.Yet it wasn’t until the mid-Wade Seccombe (left) and Jimmy Maher enjoy the first Shield win of 1994-95.90s that I fully appreciatedhis worth behind he stumps.‘Chuck’ had been hit on thehip batting in a gameagainst WA one day andcouldn’t ‘keep. I had to fill inwith the gloves for threehours, and when I woke upthe next morning I couldhardly walk either.As a captain, too, he was anincredible ally. He alwayshad a good feel for how agame was going … what theball was doing, whether abowler was getting tired,whether a batsman was gettinga little impatient.He was alwaysone stepahead of thingsand I called on hisadvice all thetime.Going through thethings you do beforethe start ofthe season, it didn’tseem quiteright that ‘Chuck’was missing. Icouldn’t helpthinking ‘he’ll beback tomorrow’.That he won’t beback, at least notin a Bulls uniform,makes me sad.We’ll miss himbecause you don’treplace people like WadeSeccombe overnight.But we’ll catch up soon,mate, and have that chatand an icy cold XXXX Gold …my shout!9