‘Swansong for WDCA at Melbourne Cricket Week…?’ by KB Hill

 

It’s 9.50am on this sultry Monday morning in the 70s, and Carlton’s Princes Park Oval is buzzing with activity………

The annual Country Week invasion has reached full momentum, as 25 or so cricketers complete their final warm-ups for the big week ahead on the outer grassy stretch of one of Melbourne’s great sporting arenas.

On the sacrosanct centre strip the Curator gives his final blessing, and paints the white strips of demarcation with the devotion of a Da Vinci.

He forgets, momentarily, the apprehension with which he has approached this week, and the damage that these ‘bush yokels’ could do to his beloved strip of turf.

A short while later, with batsmen at the crease, umpires in position and the opening bowler stepping out his run-up, the ‘Big Week’ is under way, as Associations throughout the state battle for Country Week supremacy on Ovals throughout the city……

 

Long-time WDCA Country stalwart Kent Braden dodges a sharp delivery

 

Melbourne Country Week first got underway in 1922…….For the first three years Wangaratta combined with Rutherglen, before fielding a team in their own right in 1925.

Apart from the intervention of World War II, droughts in 1968, ‘73 and ‘83, rain in 1949, and the onset of Covid in 2021 and ‘22, Country Week has soldiered on as the showpiece of country cricket.

At one stage, 66 teams were competing in 7 Divisions, and the prized Provincial Final was more often than not held on the MCG.

The 2026 version will comprise just two Divisions, with eight Provincial teams, and the remaining seven competing in Division 2.

Wangaratta won’t be one of them……

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The local interest in Country Week has been waning for a considerable period……

The warning signs were there six years ago when the Association was forced to pull out for the first time …….A number of last-minute player withdrawals had left them with just seven committed players.

Officials bemoaned how much things had changed from the early nineties when players used to vie for selection in one of two Wangaratta teams – the WDCA and the WSCA.

Cost appears to be one of the salient reasons for this downturn in enthusiasm………Associations now face an Expenses cost of around five figures; players are asked to fork out roughly $250 to cover their accommodation…….Many of them are also reluctant to forgo a week of their Annual Leave to spend playing cricket, especially when their out-of-pocket expenses are substantial.

Footy may also be a contributing factor………In days gone by, cricketers could seamlessly transition from one sporting commitment to the other. But greater demands are now placed on footballers – particularly during pre-season.

In recent years the WDCA has relied heavily on overseas imports to be their representative mainstays, whilst it has proven increasingly difficult to persuade the competition’s elite players to make themselves available.

The reputations of the immortals of local cricket have been forged, in bygone days , by how they had performed against the stiffer competition which invariably came in the cauldron of Melbourne Country Week.

Times change, I suppose……..The present generation can ‘take it or leave it’ with regards to testing themselves in representative cricket, whereas players of three decades or so ago craved the opportunity to back up from a Club game and win a spot in Wangaratta’s North-East Cup and Mac Holten U21 Shield sides the following day.

And if you were a youngster, you were always sought-after to play in the Social competition on Sundays.

Besides Melbourne, you had Bendigo Country Week in mid-January, which proved attractive to holidaying school-teachers and students.

The structural change of the competition now sees just three A-Grade sides based in the city……Players from neighboring towns understandably don’t revere the tradition and passion of Country Week as did the stars of generations past.

It’s hoped that the WDCA’s absence from Melbourne is only temporary………I fear, though, that this could be its death-knell……

 

 

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MELBOURNE COUNTRY WEEK – DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS

 

1925: The WDCA announces a strong team, under the leadership of a cricket fanatic, Charlie Ladds, and issues the following decree: ‘Any player not fulfilling his engagement without satisfactory explanation will be disqualified from competition matches for the remainder of the season…’

Wangaratta lose their first two matches, then trounce Daylesford – 259 to 94……Vic Nicoll (82) and Les Lowther (92) head the run-feast.

1933: In a side laden with batting talent down to number 11, Wangaratta’s bowling attack boasts the pacy Kneebone brothers and left-armer Bert Carey, among others……They win the C Grade title in front of a crowd of 300 at Brunswick Oval, Fitzroy, with a score of 7/248 in reply to Beechworth-Myrtleford’s 243.

Carey captures 27 wickets for the Week.

1936: Charlie Heavey, a former Victorian Second XI player, captains the side when Wangaratta takes out the A Group crown……Alec Fraser (96) guides his side to 4/229. Warrnambool, in reply, manage 212.

The triumphant team returns to a Civic welcome, with Heavey being proclaimed for his strong leadership: ‘Whenever the team has been in a bad position Charlie has been able to pull it together with bat and ball’……Whorouly’s Wils Nicoll, with 276 runs, at an average of 138.00 for the week, leads a strong batting line-up.

 

 

1937: Stalwarts Clem Fisher and Alec Fraser combine for a hefty opening stand of 250…..But this is a long way from their record – 304 against Yallourn/Traralgon in 1934.

1938: Wangaratta do battle with Colac in the A Grade Final and overcome a lethal burst of bowling from a tall, angular left-arm bowler named Bill Johnstone – destined to become an Australian great. They go on to win a tightly-contested game.

1954: The fearsome pace duo of Max Bussell and Jack Beeby cut a swathe through a classy Shepparton line-up in the A Grade Final after Wangaratta had set a target of 163. Captain Mac Holten (53) and left-hander Joe Tanner (46) are the main contributors…

 

 

Bussell’s memorable performance in taking 8/27, limits Shepp to 92 in reply, but he heaps praise on his whirlwind partner, Beeby, for sustaining pressure at the other end.

1957: Wangaratta had reached the Provincial Group Final the previous year, but were outpointed by North & South Peninsula.

They scrape into the ‘57 Final by the narrowest of margins when number 11 batsman Graeme Kerr scores a run off the last ball of the innings against Mildura on Day 4.

Rain washes out play in the Final and Wangaratta, with the superior percentage, are declared the Provincial Premiers over their opponents, Geelong.

 

 

1962: Wangaratta convincingly belted Geelong (226 to 111) on Day 3, but when the teams meet in the Final at the MCG the tables are turned. Geelong pass their target of 135 for the loss of only four wickets. This Week marked the debuts of two long-term CW stars, John Welch and Robin Kneebone.

1967: Euroa, in their first Provincial campaign, upend North-East neighbors Wangaratta. It was always going to be a difficult run-chase for Wang, who are chasing 8/216, but Euroa left-arm medium-pacer Peter (Boxer) Brodie finishes off the good work of his brother Terry, and Ray McLaine, by mopping up the lower-order and dismissing Wangaratta for 103.

1969: In a rain-marred Week, Wangaratta sneak into the Provincial Final to again face Euroa. Unfortunately the weather again intervenes and Euroa are handed the title because of their superior percentage.

1970: Opening bowler Brian (Skimmy) O’Brien bowls unchanged through Maryborough’s innings, then repeats the effort the following day, taking 9/91 to help clinch victory against Central Gippsland.

1971: The headlines for the Wangaratta-Warrnambool clash on the opening day are: ‘Crash, Bang, It’s Cricket’………’Hero of Wangaratta’s swashbuckling innings of 5/236 was Greg Rosser, whose unbeaten 113, with 11 fours mercilessly punished Warrnambool’s pace and spin bowlers……Warrnambool muster a substantial 200 in reply, to finish well short.’

The two teams meet again in Friday’s Final, but this time the roles are reversed. Thanks to a dashing 71 from Denis Hill, Wangaratta reach 156, but Warrnambool are able to pass them with just three wickets down.

1974: In a disastrous Week, Wangaratta lose all four games, to be relegated to A Group for the first time in 20 years.l

1975: Greg Rosser and Paul O’Brien combine for a record fourth-wicket stand of 245 against Grampians at the Punt Road Oval (Rosser 146, O’Brien 107).

1976: Wangaratta reach the A Group Final facing Maryborough at Carlton. They collapse sensationally, to be all out for 43. The Newspaper headline the following day says: ‘It’s not Cricket, chaps,’ critical of Wang for walking off after their total is passed, instead of playing on. Nevertheless, Wang is back in Provincial…..But alas, they head down to A Group two years later.

1986: The shape of the WDCA is changing and a new breed of player represents the Association as they storm to an effortless Division 4 premiership……They easily account for Grampians in the Final at University – 7/228 to 104.

 

 

1990: Wangaratta takes out the Division 3 title with a comprehensive win over Central Gippsland in the Final. Barry Grant’s superb 119 delivers the goods, with Scott Clayton (55) lending solid support.

Barry Grant finishes with 287 runs for the week, whilst Scott Clayton chalks up 211.

1998: Wangaratta sneak into the Division 2 Final but their bid to return to Provincial is thwarted by Ballarat. Grant plays another commanding innings (75) in the team’s 5/166. Ballarat still need 22 runs off 5 overs, but manage to reach their target with 7 wickets down.

 

 

 

2001: Barry Grant, one of the greats of Country Week, scores 336 runs, comprising knocks of 87, 22, 106 and 121.

2002: He enjoys a similarly fruitful campaign belting 124*, 22, 84* and 47, as Englishman Jon Shaw also takes 12 wickets. “Time after time Baz rises to the challenge, and he’s done it again,” says proud manager Rob Worthington.

2008: Wangaratta enjoy an excellent week, as they convincingly defeat Yarra Valley. Englishman Joe Ashdown is on song in the Final, taking 5/19, to limit the Valley to 9/140.

In reply, Wangaratta pass the total in 35 overs, with Aidan Ryan (70*) and Luke Morgan (44*) taking charge of the game.

 

 

2010: Sri Lankans ‘Lucky’ Perera and Nelum Kumara proved their worth with solid performances in a good week for Wangaratta. They reach the Final against South-West, but are just pipped.

Perera scored 44 of Wangaratta’s 9/167, but South-West lose seven wickets in passing the total. Jon Shaw is the star of the week.

2016: Wangaratta had easily accounted for Yarra Valley earlier in the week, but the Valley has the last laugh in the Final as Damien Cupido (of football fame) leads the way in chasing down Wang’s 9/148. They do it with ease, reaching their target in just 36 overs.

 

 

 

2018: It’s a triumph for veteran Kent Braden as Wangaratta sweep to the Division 3 premiership with a convincing win over old rivals Central Gippsland. Chasing a formidable target of 175, Wangaratta lose five wickets in the chase as Braden (53) and Tom Nightingdale (53*) pave the way.

It’s possibly the finest of Braden’s 18 Country Week campaigns.

2023: Wangaratta are among the seven teams contesting Division 2 after a three-year hiatus…. International players Koote Pienaar, Pranav Menon and Harkaran Mann are the stars of some scintillating batting performances, which see Wang amass their highest team scores since 1975, in the opening two days.

Mann (99.3), Menon (60.25) and Pienaar (43.8) head the batting averages.

Wangaratta again amass a highly-competitive 247 in the Final, but Warrnambool have all the answers in reply, as they lose just five wickets in passing the target.

 

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SOME WDCA COUNTRY WEEK FACTS AND FIGURES

 

Games Played: 354. Won: 170. Lost: 135. Draws/Washouts: 47. Ties: 2

Premierships: 10. Provincial: 1. A-Grade: 4. C-Grade: 1. Division-3: 3. Division-4: 1

Runners-Up: 14. Provincial: 5. A-Grade: 2. Division-2: 2. Division-3: 5

Most CW Trips: Max Bussell 22 (1949-75), Clem Fisher 20 (1935-51), Barry Grant 20 (1985-2014), Kent Braden 18 (2002-2024), Peter Nicoll (1960-1985).

Most Centuries: Barry Grant (5), Alec Fraser (5).

Most Scores over 50: Barry Grant 20, Alec Fraser 14, Wils Nicoll 10.

Highest Scores: Ron Nicoll: 168 ret v Benalla 1938. Alec Fraser 158* v Yallourn/Traralgon 1934. S.Stewart 148* v Seymour 2012. Greg Rosser 146 v Grampians 1975.

Frank Archman 136* v Warragul 1933.

Outstanding Run Aggregates: Ron Nicoll 443 (1938), Barry Grant 336 (2001), Frank Archman 318 (1933), Alec Fraser 310 (1933), Alec Fraser 307 (1938).

Outstanding Wicket Aggregates: Bert Carey 26 (1933), Max Bussell 21 (1954), Max Bussell 17 (1960), Brian Fisher 17 (1986), Ken Kneebone 16 (1938).

Most Wickets in a Game: Bert Carey 11 (7/9 & 4/22) v Bacchus Marsh 1932. Bert Carey 11 (6/13 & 5/27) v Kowree 1930. Bert Carey 11 (6/11 & 5/39) v Colac 1933.

Brian O’Brien 9 (9/91) v Central Gippsland 1970. Max Bussell 8/27 v Shepparton 1954.