"Your Ashes" - Melbourne Cricket Club
I guess it’s only right to establish "Your Ashes." with some enlightening and varied contributions from the other MCC, that is, the Melbourne Cricket Club—as opposed to cricket’s headquarters, Lord's, being the domain of the Marylebone Cricket Club (A rowdy bunch, indeed).
The Melbourne Cricket Club plays in the Victorian Premier Cricket Competition, fielding four Men’s and three Women’s teams—the club has a long and successful history.
Before we get going, here’s a quick recap of what "Your Ashes" is.
“Your Ashes”
Introducing "Your Ashes," a SpeakingNick project that invites you to embark on a nostalgic journey through the iconic Ashes series between England and Australia. Share your cherished memories and personal experiences of this historic rivalry, from the intense battles to the emotional connections forged from afar. Join us as we celebrate the enduring legacies and extraordinary tales that make the Ashes a timeless testament to the spirit of cricket. Your story awaits.
Cue: Michael Sholly (Sholl), multiple Premiership captain at the Demons.
“Tragically it was the 1970/71 series. Might have been the first time a Test was live on TV. Keith Stackpole (Stacky) opened the batting and made a double (200).”
The tragedy might be in the time between now and then! Sholl went on:
“The series had so many firsts: A washout Test meant that the first one-day international was played at the MCG—I was there and sat in the Northern stand—I was only 9-years-old!
England unleashed a bouncer barrage led by John Snow. Captained by a cranky ageing Yorkshireman, Ray Illingworth, they were universally hated. This all culminated in him taking the team off the ground in Sydney as the crowd on the hill were throwing beer cups at Snow.”
I haven’t met a Yorkshireman that wasn’t cranky!
“The six test series became seven after the washout. Bill Lawry was axed as captain and replaced by Ian Chappell.”
Beefy Botham’s mate!
“England won the series. Oh, and Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee debuted.”
Thank you Sholl, you don’t look your age! Sholl is at the Lord’s Test in his full MCC uniform.
Mark Anderson (Dos) has been a mainstay at MCC forever, filling numerous roles, here’s Dos’ “Your Ashes”
“1974/75 series, Speaky.
Remember scoring the Brisbane Test in the ABC Cricket Book!
Jeff Thomson (Thommo) vs. Tony Greig (Greigy) was a highlight there, and then Colin Cowdrey was called in to take on Lillee & Thommo at the WACA (Perth) as a 41-year-old
Also, the Doug Walters century in a session. Thommo crashing into Fitter & Turner in Adelaide and wrecking his shoulder and the fun fact that Tom Brooks & Robin Bailhache umpired the whole series.
That’s an enthusiastic cricket fan (Dos) in the adidas Rome’s under Tom’s right elbow at the Melbourne Test!!!”
Brilliant, Dos
To Italy’s finest ever cricketer, Peter (Pepsi) Petricola another Melbourne standout.
"The most significant series for me was 2005.
At the start of the summer, I was playing a game in Leicestershire, and some kids wearing soccer shirts rode their bikes past the ground and yelled out, "Cricket is for Pakistanis!" A couple of months later, when the series was at the peak of its drama, the same kids were setting up two sets of stumps on the outfield at the local ground and playing a game of cricket with their new Woodworm bats! It was amazing how much interest there was in that series."
No doubt Leicester City fans, Pepsi. Of course, Freddy Flintoff used a ‘Woodworm’ bat in the 2005 series.
To Chris (Broph) Brophy, universally loved down at the Demons!
Not quite a series but the 1977 Centenary Test at the MCG.
“Went to the first two days with my Father. First day on the right of the old ‘Smokers Bar’, near where you would find the old ‘Squash Bar’. Day two, on the left near the Mezzanine Bar. I think I was eight, so not partaking in refreshments.”
Getting the picture with Broph?
“Day one, dull skies and lots of pomp and ceremony. Pretty sure Australia won the toss and batted. McCosker gets hit by Willis, wickets fall regularly, Greg Chappell makes a painstaking 40, Marsh slogs a few for 28. All out 130 odd I think. John Lever’s sprightly very long run up stuck in the memory. Pretty sure Pom’s 1 for at stumps. Left a bit downcast.
Day two, all hell breaks out and England are all out for 96. Absolutely lasting memory big Max (Maxy) Walker charging in from the Southern end and uprooting Tony Greig’s stumps.”
Unfortunately school beckoned so that was it for live cricket. We only got the last session on the ABC TV so much of rest of the match was via radio. I was glued to it, Hookes five fours of Greig, happy again, Marsh becoming first Aussie keeper to make a ton, McCosker coming out to bat, helping him home, Skull’s leg breaks, Cosier at short leg, willing Randall to go out, even after being smacked in the head by Lillee and finally Lillee absolutely buggered nailing Knott in front for his 11th wicket and the win.
Every young Aussie wanted to be Lillee.
Brilliant Broph!
Andrew ‘Kipper’ Kent - Premiership Captain/Coach
Sorry, Kipper’s always been ‘different’!
I’m not sure if I have much for you, Speaky
“Not much has changed then, Kip?”
No series in particular, more just watching one-day cricket, especially day-night matches. Being on holiday’s in cheap accommodation in summer with a ceiling fan rotating around the room whilst I was stuck to the plastic couch from being over heated and sweaty, desperately trying to get the TV to pick up reception using a coat-hanger for an antenna.
Mr. Kent has always been pretty frugal!
Then when the image was finally clear I can hear myself yelling don’t move, don’t move. Also, the 1992 World Cup I recall fondly—Wasim Akram! Made my own tournament booklet.
Excellent, Kipper. No go look after those kids!
And to one of Kipper’s mates, Nick Quinn, also a Premiership player with the Demons.
1989 - the earliest memory I have, watching Boony (David Boon) and S.Waugh, also Terry Alderman swinging onto Graham Gooch’s front pad, all of them putting England to the sword. Brilliant stuff.
The one that resonated most, strangely enough, was 2005. I was playing cricket in the North East (Tynemouth CC) surrounded by Geordies, and arrogantly expected us to win 5-0. Ben Milliken (Melbourne CC player), Pepsi (Petricola) and myself watched Day 1 from a pool in Ibiza—you knew something was off for the Aussies when Hayden and Ponting were getting pinned (hit in the head) playing the pull and hook.
The longer the series went, the more I copped it whilst playing club cricket, from the opposition at first then by my own team mates. To be fair, it was a welcome distraction from the warm beer and late-night curries from South Shields!
I also played against Gary Pratt the week or so before he famously ran Ponting out at Trent Bridge—he was a tosser, or pratt, if you will!
That's when I really loathed the Poms but also loved watching them tame the Aussies.
And the series of Shane Warne was the greatest individual series - Ashes or otherwise - I ever saw. 1993.
Great stuff, Quinny. I'm pretty sure Ponting hasn’t forgotten Gary the Pratt yet, either.
Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed the read.
Send me an email with your own “Your Ashes” memories. I’ll get back to you, promise.
speakingnick@gmail.com
