If someone said at the beginning of my cricket journey that I would be part of a dominate club team for 7 years, win a premiership, be part of the State squad for four-plus years, play first-class cricket and receive the Peter Burge Medal as the best individual cricketer. I would have said, “Tell him he’s dreaming!" Love ‘The Castle.’ for all you movie connoisseurs.
Picking this ‘Best of’ Brisbane Grade team requires a personal context. Following is a short reflection of my career to help define my intrinsic selection criteria.
I decided to have a serious crack at grade cricket in 1984 after playing a handful of Warehouse games in the previous three years. I walked down the road to Toombul and started in 3rds; I finished in 1sts with a 4 for' and received Toombul's club 'Player of the Year’. I was excited to think I would now, rip into 1st grade.
Toombul had other ideas and bought 4 younger quicks from around the state and started them in the higher grades. So, I started in 3rds for my second season. In proving the club wrong, I was playing in the 1sts by Christmas. This led to an invitation to participate in a Queensland fast bowling squad. Inclusion in the state Squad was a great honour following the next season.
But once again the powers that be, decided to bring in younger quicks and leave me out. Back in those days, you read the paper to see who was in the Queensland Squad, if your name was not listed don’t turn up for the first Gabba training session. It was back to Toombul practice with an ‘angry fast bowler’ mindset. This was a recurring theme, fighting my way back into squads and I had to average 5 wickets a game to play my first game for Queensland. Again, I was selected from outside the Queensland Practise squad.
Toombul developed into a quality team during my time. We came last in my first season and for the last six seasons playing in the finals.
Looking back the ‘angry bowler’ psyche was a key positive element for success on a long hot day, bowling on a flat batting track. Jeff Thomson and Harry Frei were great Toombul role models in this area.
In my time around the State quad, there were at least 11 bowlers picked ahead of me. It was a dominate time, from Carl Rackemann at the start to Andy Bicel’s arrival as young a net bowler. I have always stated there were better quicks around our state who due to work and living away from Brisbane could have played at higher levels. I was a very determined young man who wanted to play for this state and could get down to the Southeast corner.
There will always be many opinions over selections as quality players abound. The debate becomes the healthy outcome of the process. My story is a highlight to this end.
I looked at players Toombul had difficulty getting the better of. I have included some shield players as they made a huge difference to their Grade teams. Easts were our toughest opposition of my era as we played them in consecutive finals. It used to be said if your team made the finals; it was as good as the bottom half of the English county first-class competition.
My grade team from a bowling perspective first, opening batters are last.
1. Andrew Hammelmann
A great into the wind bowler. Beautiful line and length giving nothing away with movement off the seam and through the air. He could bowl all day if needed.
2. Craig Jesberg
Played the game of his life to help Easts beat Toombul in a final at the Gabba. Taking wickets at ease (10 for the game) and scored a game-changing 100. His ability to move the ball off the straight both ways plus a good bouncer provided quality firepower as a strike weapon.
3. Brendan Buckley
Was the ‘quicks’ quick for the team. At time scary and able to get the ball up and into the ribs worrying quality batters. As a batter, he could hit the ball a long way too.
4. Paul Stenhouse - Captain
The fourth quick and a hard-hitting batter. He bowled seam up and decked the ball both ways keeping it tight and at the batter. He hit the biggest 6 off me in a final sailing over my head and the dog track at the Gabba.
5. Bob Joyce
Was a bowling allrounder, often sending down 20 plus overs of off-spin in an afternoon. I was his last wicket in a 7 for’ where his arm ball left me totally confused me.
6. Peter Anderson – Wicket Keeper
The best natural gloveman of my time with silky hands and anticipation. As a bowler, you always felt extra confident running in knowing any half chance would result in a wicket. When batting, he could unleash every shot in the book.
7. Sam Scuderi
Brilliant far North Queensland, batter. I first played against him in the Charters Towers' Gold Field Ashes when he scored hundreds at ease. Sam played one season in Brisbane late in his career and by force of runs demanded inclusion in the state squad. He returned to the family farm after the year.
8. Brad Inwood
A quality, technical batter whose score would creep up on you. Coming in at number four he would accumulate runs smoothly and quickly. It was always a relief to see him walking back to the dressing shed. He was a gun in the field with run outs a real danger.
9. Peter Clifford – Vice captain
Cliffo was the missing key to Toombul's long run of success. He could change the direction of a game, take it to another level leaving the rest of us pondering what just happened and how did he do it? I judged my high standard for training on bowling well to him in the nets. He also took 5 wickets in a game once, bowling the most ridiculous nude balls. Clever left-field thinker, always scheming to find a victory.
10. Peter Cantrell
Excellent opener who could bat all-day. He knew where his off-stump was and could force the bowler into his hitting zone. As the day progressed he would take the bowling attack apart. 1st class slip fielder and handy off-spin bowler.
11. Steve Monty
An old school focused opener who could occupy the crease for long periods. I once bowled 20 overs to him for 20 runs. He was 20 not out. He could always blunt the bowling attack and set a great platform for a total. Good hands in the slips.
As I said earlier, debate becomes the healthy outcome.
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