Michelle Goszko and Dirk Wellham have joined an illustrious list of Cricket NSW royalty in becoming life members 227 and 228 at the association’s Annual General Meeting on Monday Night.
Wellham who has the distinction of making a century on both 1st Class and Test Match debuts, played 68 first-class matches for NSW, scoring 4297 runs at 44.29 with 9 centuries plus 25 half-centuries. An astute captain who had success in leading NSW to Sheffield Shield titles as well as a Domestic One Day crown.
Michelle Goszko is one of the most passionate cricket people you will meet having carved out a distinguished career on the field for NSW notching 100 appearances in the Women’s National Cricket League.
Her most noted innings was her double century for Australia on Test Match debut. With other highlights include winning a World Cup for Australia at Eden Gardens.
The cricket world was in shock last year when Michelle suffered a stroke and it is encouraging to see that she has been fighting her way back to health and remains involved in coaching and commentary roles.
Cricket NSW Chairman John Knox paid tribute to both Wellham and Goszko.
“Dirk and Michelle were both significant on-field contributors to cricket in New South Wales and thoroughly deserve their Life Memberships,” Knox said.
“While their on-field achievements have been well documented, they have also made generous contributions with their time and knowledge off the field to help inspire more people to play and love cricket.
“We congratulate them and more importantly thank them.”
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.
Ashton Agar is particularly likeable, mainly due to the first impressions rule. How could you not love a guy who played as he did in his Test debut, making 98 batting at number 11? The following year, over 400 baby boys in Australia were named Ashton. It is highly likely that at least some of these children were named after AC Agar.
What does this have to do with Taylor Swift?
How about we think a bit more deeply about this, shall we?
Taylor Alison Swift came into the world in December 1989, and according to the highly reliable Wikipedia profile, the famous American singer-songwriter was named after music legend James Taylor.
I propose another potentially ambitious and less likely argument that TA Swift may have been named after MA Taylor, who made his test debut in 1989 and left an enduring impression with the bat on the 1989 Ashes Tour.
Could Mr and Mrs Swift have followed the Ashes closely from their Wyomissing home in Pennsylvania?
Is it possible that the media and general population may have overlooked the slim chance that Mark Taylor was the real reason for the naming of Taylor Swift?
Could they foresee that the left-hand opening batter would become a future Australian Test captain and had leadership aspirations for their daughter?
We are all aware that this would not be the first time there has been speculation around whether the selectors had the correct Taylor; ‘Peter Who’ anyone?
Let’s explore this further, shall we?
James Taylor’s middle name is Vernon; if Mr and Mrs Swift were such big fans of JV Taylor, why not utilise a middle name starting with V for their daughter? There are plenty of suitable options, such as Veronica, Venus, Vanessa, Vera and Victoria, to name just five. The fact that they opted for Alison as the middle name strengthens the case for her being named after MA Taylor.
The other question left lingering in my heart is nature versus nurture. If Taylor grew up assuming that she was named after a famous singer-songwriter, would that influence her to become the music personality she is today?
If in her childhood, her parents had shown her VHS tapes of the 1989 Ashes series and waxed lyrical about Mark’s majestic 219 at Nottingham, could we potentially have seen her develop a love of the summer game? Better still, what if her parents had gifted her a Symonds Grand Monarch cricket bat for her birthday instead of guitar lessons?
To leave you with the most indisputable evidence, there are clues in some of the track names from her album called 1989 that I cannot but assume TA Swift is secretly a cricket fan.
Welcome to New York – Surely, this song is referencing the first international cricket match played in Manhattan in 1844
Style – Name a member of the 1989 Australian Ashes team that did not possess style in spades.
Out of the Woods – A tribute to English willow.
All you had to do was stay – Taylor showed empathy for the 13 Englishmen that only played one Test in the 1989 campaign.
Shake it off – Her method for combating sledging.
Wildest Dreams – A tribute to all players with their names etched on the honour board at Lord’s.
How You Get The Girl – This references the GD Campbell wedding proposal from the balcony at Lord’s.
This Love – A simple statement about her love of the summer game.
These are only the prominent examples; I am sure for the more profound thinkers out there, it would not be hard to find other links to Taylor Swift’s songs and cricket.
In the famous words of Dennis Denuto in The Castle, “I rest my case.”
In our final edition of the Cricket Library Weekly for 2022, we are joined by special guest Mary-Anne Henderson who after successfully predicting the winner of Weber WBBL|08 drops by to give her predictions for the KFC Big Bash season.
Join us for all of the usual banter you have come to expect including more data than you can poke a stick at in the highly popular 'Tabbsy's Take' segment.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.
“A unique look at cricket through poems and I have never seen or read anything like this before. A must-read for any cricket love” Amazon Review
Cricket librarians all around the world would agree that a high quality audio visual section will enhance the library experience for librarians and borrowers alike. In years past, access to VHS tapes, DVDs, Compact Discs and Cassettes were sufficient to meet the basic requirements of an audio visual section. These days however with technology moving at a rapid rate, the influx of audio books has opened a whole new world for those wishing to expand their horizons.
Cassette tapes were a staple in Cricket Libraries prior to advancements in technology
Modern technology has enabled librarians and private citizens alike the opportunity to listen to a wealth of cricket related material through devices such as MP3 players, mobile telephones, tablets and computers. This creates endless possibilities for those who are looking to expand their libraries but do not have the budget to undertake extensions. Adding electronic files to your favourite device ensures you can essentially listen to your favourite cricket book anywhere at any time.
In some great news for listeners of audiobooks, For The Love Of Cricket – Haiku Poems Inspired By The Summer Game is coming very soon to an audiobook.
“Right from the first page you can see the passion and love of the game of cricket from Matt Ellis and Matt Fiction,” Matthew T on an Amazon Review. “This shows in their writing and brings back memories of big cricket moments from the past. A unique look at cricket through poems and I have never seen or read anything like this before. A must-read for any cricket lover.”
One of the exciting features of “For The Love of Cricket: Haiku Poems Inspired By The Summer Game” is that it presents a light and refreshing take on cricket, which highlights some of the key moments that inspired a love of a game in the authors as well as the players who continue to ignite the flame that keeps burning brightly.
SF Devlin, another reviewer on Amazon, said, “What a read! A wonderfully written book for anyone that loves cricket. As a tragic myself, I loved reading about past players, current players, and upcomers alike. The Haikus are just an added bonus!”
With each page of “For The Love of Cricket: Haiku Poems Inspired By The Summer Game,” cricket lovers will resonate with its offerings and be inspired to reflect on the place of cricket in their hearts and minds.
Astute readers or in this case listeners will ensure they get themselves a copy as soon as possible. To find out as soon as it becomes available, leave your details below and we will get in touch.
John Cena is legendary for his work in the squared circle and is one of the biggest superstars in the WWE.
We loved hearing Cricket Library Podcast guest Maisy Gibson recounting her experience of having a hit in the nets with the larger-than-life Professional Wrestler.
Kepler Wessels faced a hurdle in his career when he played the West Indies in 1984. He made 32 runs in his four innings in the West Indies and In the first test in Perth he made 13 and 0 with runs needed in Brisbane to keep his spot in the team.
After a first-innings duck, Kepler changed his mindset to have an incredible summer, notching 61, 98, 70, 90, and 0 with an epic 173 in the Sydney Test to prove his credentials against the premier pace bowling attack in the world.
He spoke with Matt Ellis on the Cricket Library Podcast about the shift in approach that helped him to have success and what that success meant to him.
Kepler Wessels speaks about having the mindset to overcome the West Indies pace attack when they were at the peak of their powers. #keplerwessels#cricket#podcast#fyp#retro
In the interview Kepler also shares his reflections on the origins of his passion for cricket, breaking into First Class Cricket at age 16 whilst still at school, moving to England and the influence of Tony Greig in getting him to Australia to play World Series Cricket.
We hear about Kepler’s test debut, where he made a big hundred, and we clear up who was to blame for the run-out of Greg Chappell in that innings.
Kepler speaks of the surprise of returning to play international cricket for South Africa, the thrill of beating Australia in their first game of the 92 World Cup and the disappointment of bowing out in a rain-affected semi-final.
He shares the plan they hatched to dismiss Allan Border in the famous Sydney Test Match of 1994 and the elation of scoring a century at Lord’s at the back end of his career.
Of course, we don’t let him get away without asking who the three people he would most like to join him at the cricket nets.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.
In our final edition of the Cricket Library Weekly for 2022, we are joined by special guest Mary-Anne Henderson who after successfully predicting the winner of Weber WBBL|08 drops by to give her predictions for the KFC Big Bash season.
Join us for all of the usual banter you have come to expect including more data than you can poke a stick at in the highly popular 'Tabbsy's Take' segment.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.
Kepler Wessels has the distinction of representing both Australia and South Africa in International Cricket.
In this edition of the Cricket Library Podcast, Kepler Wessels joins host Matt Ellis to share his reflections on the origins of his passion for cricket, breaking into First Class Cricket at age 16 whilst still at school, moving to England and the influence of Tony Greig in getting him to Australia to play World Series Cricket.
We hear about Kepler’s test debut, where he made a big hundred, and we clear up who was to blame for the run-out of Greg Chappell in that innings.
He shares his mindset for taking on and conquering the almighty West Indies pace attack of the 1980s.
We get some insights into the Sheffield Shield final in the 1985/6 season and his dismissal of Mark Waugh in that game.
Kepler speaks of the surprise of returning to play international cricket for South Africa, the thrill of beating Australia in their first game of the 92 World Cup and the disappointment of bowing out in a rain-affected semi-final.
He shares the plan they hatched to dismiss Allan Border in the famous Sydney Test Match of 1994 and the elation of scoring a century at Lord’s at the back end of his career.
Of course, we don’t let him get away without asking who the three people he would most like to join him at the cricket nets.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.
The picturesque seaside Coogee Oval is set to come to life in October when Cricket Ireland will grace our shores with what promises to be some high calibre cricket between 1-7 October 2022.
Cricket Ireland, who will be preparing to participate in the highly anticipated ICC T20 World Cup, will have the chance to acclimatise to Australian conditions in a series of matches against a SCG XI, NSW XI and their hosts, the current Kingsgrove Sports T20 Premiers.
The Lefand Cricket Week warm-up fixtures are:
• 4 October: Ireland XI v Randwick Petersham XI (T20; Coogee Oval; start time 1pm)
• 5 October: Ireland XI v SCG XI (T20; Coogee Oval; start time 1pm)
• 7 October: Ireland XI v NSW XI (T20; Coogee Oval; start time 1pm)
Cricket Ireland’s High Performance Director Richard Holdsworth is excited about linking up with the Randwick Petersham club again after a partnership was formed after their previous visit to Australia in 2015.
“We are delighted to return to Sydney for a warm-up programme of matches organised though our friends at Randwick Petersham Cricket Club. We enjoyed the hospitality of Randy Petes as part of our preparation programme in 2015 when we were heading into the 2015 Men’s World Cup and have subsequently formed a formal partnership with the club. This partnership has seen a number of our current senior performance squad spend a summer playing cricket with the club, and while the COVID pandemic put a temporary hold on this movement of players, we hope to resume such opportunities over coming years. “We would like to thank Club President Mike Whitney, CEO John Stewart and their team for supporting and hosting us during this period, and look forward to reacquainting ourselves with the club’s fantastic facilities.” enthused Holdsworth.
Randwick Petersham Club President Mike Whitney AM is thrilled to have Ireland back particularly having seen the development of former Overseas Scholarship Programme recipients saying
“We are excited to welcome Cricket Ireland back to their second home at Coogee Oval and I can’t believe it is eight years since they were here. It is even more special this time as former Overseas Scholarship Programme recipients Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector and Barry McCarthy are part of this team and we are proud to see their development and strong performances on the international stage following their time with us.
Whitney went on to suggest that locals adopt Cricket Ireland as their second team and that their preparations at Coogee are the catalyst for a strong showing in the ICC T20 World Cup.
“It’s our hope that Ireland enjoy their stay in Coogee and gain valuable match preparation, against quality opposition, setting them up for a successful T20 World Cup campaign. Everyone at the Randy Petes are backing the Irish and we ask that Ireland becomes your second team!”
Upon completion of their time in Coogee, Ireland will then travel to Melbourne to play two official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up matches, before moving to Hobart for the first round of the tournament proper.
The official fixtures will be:
• 11 October: Ireland v Warm-up opponent (T20; MCG; start time 7pm)
• 13 October: Ireland v Warm-up opponent (T20; Junction Oval; start time 3pm)
• 17 October: Ireland v Qualifier 1 (T20 World Cup Round 1; Hobart; start time 7pm)
• 19 October: Ireland v Scotland (T20 World Cup Round 1; Hobart; start time 3pm)
• 21 October: Ireland v West Indies (T20 World Cup Round 1; Hobart; start time 3pm)
In our final edition of the Cricket Library Weekly for 2022, we are joined by special guest Mary-Anne Henderson who after successfully predicting the winner of Weber WBBL|08 drops by to give her predictions for the KFC Big Bash season.
Join us for all of the usual banter you have come to expect including more data than you can poke a stick at in the highly popular 'Tabbsy's Take' segment.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.
In addition to this yarn, we hear about Luke’s pathway to First Class Cricket, forging for himself a career with the QLD Bulls having first represented QLD Country whilst working as a police officer.
In this edition of the Cricket Library Podcast, Luke shares some stories from his early days playing in the backyard to making his 1st Class debut against the West Indies, being a part of five different Big Bash clubs, lifting the Sheffield Shield, taking over 200 wickets and providing some handy cameos with the bat.
A passionate Queenslander who represented his state with distinction and continues to put back into the game at the Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club in Brisbane and the Bulls Masters program which does some magnificent work raising funds and developing cricket in QLD.
We trust you will enjoy our chat with Luke Feldman and that his three selections to join him for a net will generate some healthy banter from our listeners.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to share stories that inspire a love of cricket.
The well-known Australian Actor and Singer has shared the stage and screen with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.
In 2019, Marty added another chapter to his illustrious career as an Actor and Singer when he released the highly popular single We had a good thing going.
It is Wednesday 5 January 1994 and one of the more memorable SCG Test Matches is in the balance with Australia finishing day four at 4-63 with Allan Border at the crease with Mark Waugh with Fanie De Villiers on a roll having dismissed Slater, Boon, nightwatchman Tim May and opener Mark Taylor in an inspired spell late in the day.
High quality Test Match cricket was unfolding before our eyes in a low scoring game that could still go either way with Australia chasing the target of 117. Things were tense, AB was coming to the close of his career, and in fact this is the last time I would see him bat live. He had made 49 in the first innings before he was out caught behind off the bowling of De Villiers.
These facts all fade into the background for me however, with the highlight of the test match coming for me after stumps on day four when my brother and I were milling around out the back of the Member’s Stand chasing autographs. Top of our list was the skipper who we were hoping to catch before he pulled stumps on his career.
We waited quite some time before we spotted AB trying to make his way discreetly out of the ground on his way to the team bus. There was no time to lose and we did not want to miss out, so I raced up to the great man with a poster in hand ready to ask the question.
Trying my best, I asked the question as politely as I could. AB stopped, looked at my brother and dropped his bags on the ground letting us know that in order for us to have his autograph we would have to carry his bags to the bus.
As loyal members of the Duncan Fearnley Junior Cricket Club, it was certainly a privilege to have this honour bestowed upon us. It is not every day that the Australian captain asks you for a favour and we made sure we did not let him down.
Once the bags were securely stowed under the bus, AB having signed plenty of autographs for the others on a similar quest to ours, we had accomplished our mission and secured what we considered the pièce de résistance.
Unfortunately, Australia did not get the job done the following day with South Africa claiming a remarkable 5 run victory as Australia collapsed to be all out for 111. AR Border was bowled by Allan Donald without adding to his overnight score and Fanie De Villiers the hero for the visitors finishing with 6-43 off 23.3 overs.
Border’s men bounced back in Adelaide before the skipper led the team for three more Test Matches in South Africa before retiring with an incredible 11 174 runs to his name at 50.56. Phenomenal numbers for the man who took over the captaincy from Kim Hughes in what was a tough period for Australian cricket.
When people ask me my favourite memories of Allan Robert Border, I think of him winning the World Cup in 87, bringing home the Ashes in 1989, lifting the World Series Cup on multiple occasions, his mental toughness, brilliance in the field and his more than handy work with the ball. Alongside all of his obvious on field attributes, the day I carried his bags to the bus in exchange for an autograph is certainly up there with one of the best.
What is your favourite memory of the great AR Border?
In our final edition of the Cricket Library Weekly for 2022, we are joined by special guest Mary-Anne Henderson who after successfully predicting the winner of Weber WBBL|08 drops by to give her predictions for the KFC Big Bash season.
Join us for all of the usual banter you have come to expect including more data than you can poke a stick at in the highly popular 'Tabbsy's Take' segment.
Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us start conversations that inspire a love of cricket.
thecricketlibrary.com 