Almanac Cricket: Which Series Shaped My Own View of Cricket and What Defines Me as a Cricket Watcher?

 

Recently in luncheon mode with a few friends, the above question was discussed among the gathered muster with some varied and interesting personal reflections. My contribution to discussion centred on my small town cricketing family, my grandfather and the 1964 Ashes series between ‘the old enemy’ and Australia.

 

The following is my more considered reflections since that luncheon discussion which I thought I might share with readers. Some have been aided by a little research to jog and verify the memory bank.

 

The series that stimulated my interest in playing and watching cricket was the 1964 Ashes series between Australia and England – my cricket genesis so to speak. Back then, my grandfather, a cricket and overall sporting tragic, used to listen to Australia play international cricket until very late into the night on a Kriesler Bakelite wireless. In 1964 when I was a very young lad, I actually stayed up very late with ‘Pop’ listening to the Ashes cricket series called by Alan McGilvray.  McGilvray captivated me with his descriptive comments of both the play and players. With my parents blessing I continued to listen to late night cricket series broadcasts with my Pop throughout the 1960s.

 

What a series the 1964 Ashes battle was. Australia won the five test series 1-0 with 4 drawn. I can remember my Pop mentioning that the Tasmanian ‘Mercury’ and ‘Examiner’ newspapers were reporting the series as boring, but for me, as a young tyke, it was enthralling and I loved and was entertained by McGilvray’s commentary.  McGilvray made it seem as if I was there in the crowd at Trent Bridge, Lord’s and Headingley etc. In some cases, I was conflicted. Even though he was English, next to Bobby Simpson the Australian captain, ‘Fiery’ Fred Trueman became my favourite, as he was with some of my school mates as well. All at once I wanted Fred to take wickets but not take wickets – go figure!  I fell in love with his antics. He was an entertainer and I recall some saying in the day that he was more like an Aussie than a Pom. Australians loved him as much as their own.

 

Apart from ‘Fiery’ Fred and ‘Simmo’ my favourites also included the superb and highly successful Australian opening fast bowling duo of Neil Hawke and Graham McKenzie both of whom had a very good 1964 series. I also liked Freddie Titmus the English spin bowler, and Tom Veivers the Australian all rounder. Much to the jibing of my after school cow and sheep paddock cricket playing mates, I used to imagine I was both Trueman and Titmus when I bowled while trying to be an opener like ‘Simmo’ or Bill Lawry when I batted. I also became a fan of the great Australian wicket keeper Wally Grout. My friends and I played out the 1964 series time and again on Dodge’s Paddock where we had constructed a pitch among the sheep dung – the ball was always carefully fielded! Our bats and wickets were carved from old fence palings and our ball was variously a tennis ball, what was called a compound ball and any soft ball resembling a cricket ball. It was too dangerous bowling on the Dodge’s Paddock pitch with a proper cricket ball as we learnt very early in the piece!

 

 

My old hand carved fence paling bat. Found last year in a scrap pile by the current owner of my childhood home.

 

 

The Dodge’s paddock cricket urchins.  I’m on the left, centre row – where did all that hair go!

 

 

In the drawn fourth test match at Old Trafford, I recollect listening intently with Pop while McGilvray called ‘Simmo’s’ famous 311 and then the double century of Ken Barrington’s – what about that nose!

 

The 1964 series was Geoff Boycott’s first Ashes series as it was for Australia’s Bob Cowper and Ian Redpath. During summer afternoons I have often seen ‘Redders’ at Kardinia Park watching the Geelong Cricket Club play. On each occasion that I have seen him, it has been a very surreal experience for me and my thoughts return back to that cricket loving youngster of 1964.

 

After the 1964 series I entered a quiz/competition to win one of only a few cricket bats signed by the 1964 Australian ashes team.  One of the treasured items I still have in an old wooden memoir box is a letter from H J Heinz Co. Australia Ltd in Dandenong VIC dated 10^th December 1964.  It advises a ‘Master Allan Barden’ that with his correct and neatest entry in the State, he had won a ‘full size willow bat autographed by Australia’s famous captain Bob Simpson’ (actually it was signed by all the Australian team). While I may have got all the answers correct with my entry, it was my school teacher Aunt Berenice who helped me win by filling out my entry for me in her very, very neat hand writing.  My father accidentally broke my treasured bat playing cricket but that is another story.

 

Apart from the 1964 ashes series my interest in, and of, playing cricket, is largely due to my family background.

 

My great, great grandfather John Tabart played for Tasmania against Victoria in Australia’s, indeed the world’s, first intercolonial cricket match in Launceston in 1851. His photograph is in the cricket museum at Bellerive oval (Blundstone arena), Hobart. Another relative, Tom Tabart (John’s nephew) also played first class cricket for Tasmania from 1897 until 1909.

 

 

Tom Tabart (sitting front row right) Tasmanian Cricket Team 

 

My ‘Pop’ (1920s and 30s opening batsman and wicketkeeper) and all his sons, my father and his four brothers, all played cricket and were variously good fast and slow bowlers or batsmen or both. All were very strong Tasmanian country cricketers. My father was a fairly quick left arm opening bowler who was renown for his leg cutters. I used to watch him and my uncles play every Saturday. It was in late 1964 when I was asked by my Uncle Roger, captain of the local cricket team, to fill in at number 11 for a sick player. I remember my father making a century in that match hitting sixes and fours all over the place. He batted down the list and was not a stroke player or very stylish; more a swashbuckling ‘Bazball’ type. After fielding quite well (a very scared fielder at that!) and getting 10 runs and carrying my bat at number eleven, I became a regular player in the local men’s team. In one game I remember our family and cousins making up the majority of the team. My uncle Roger (captain, first drop and spin bowler), my father (opening bowler), Uncle Don (the other open bowler and opening bat), Uncle Ross (medium pace swing bowler) two cousins (John wicketkeeper and an occasional good spinner) and Bruce (very good fast medium leg cutter) then me as the young punk at the bottom of the list!  I should add that in my hometown there were three other clubs so my family did not overwhelm the town’s only cricket club. The local cricket competition was made up of six teams, four from Swansea and teams from Cranbrook and Bicheno.

 

 

Swansea Cricket Team early 1960s (three Bardens only in this team)! No. 11 probably taking the photo.

 

 

Tasmanian Country Cricket Team early 1960s.  My father front row, second from right.

 

My love of cricket in its traditional form was not supported by my luncheon colleagues who enjoyed some jibes and mirth at my expense. Call me old fashioned, out of touch, even pre-historic, but not for me my daughter’s love of T20, T10 or the ‘Bazball’ style of game. I remain very loyal to test series and Sheffield Shield.  The 50 over game and one day internationals I don’t mind. These days I also enjoy watching the Australian women’s cricket team but not much else.

 

 

More from Allan Barden can be read Here.

 

 

 

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