A Passion for Cricket

By Lachlan Stonehouse

Cricket is a game played by two teams, the make-ups of which may be diverse in age, race and gender. It’s a wonderful, spirited game that can often get lost in an emotional moment or an unfair event. This is what I love about our game; the unpredictability, the innate variation and unique occurrences. I wrote this book because I wanted to explore my time and experiences in the game, reflecting on what has happened over my 44 years of involvement. I am not unique, I’m just one person, and my story is repeated throughout Australia and the world by equally committed participants dedicating a lifetime to the sport we love.

I wanted to pay tribute to all the players past and present, and unsung volunteers, parents, grandparents, friends and partners, for being involved and supporting cricket at the grassroots level. The pay you receive is the appreciation of those around you for tipping out the bins, bringing in the chairs after the game, fundraising and loving your club. You are the structure and operation of the cricket world that binds it together, allowing cricketers to participate, free from administration and preparation, rewarded by a win or terrific performance. You are always there and available. This book is for you.

Gideon Haigh has kindly written the foreword for me:

A Passion for Cricket, then, is not a title chosen lightly, and its aggregation of anecdote, opinion, reflection and reportage struck an immediate chord with me. Including age, geography and starting our career in a pair of white jeans, Lachlan and I have a bit in common—not, I hasten to add, ability, as I never threatened to play at a level above the park! But I’ve played cricket with people very like angry Dean Kann, aka ‘Mr Cruel’, and Alphabet, who’d rather swim an esky across a river than take the long way round on land.

A Passion for Cricket provides a unique perspective on the current cricket crisis involving Smith, Warner and Bancroft; reviews of the significant changes in test cricket; dirty deeds from Bodyline to Waugh/Warne cheating; and perspectives on some of the greatest players of our time.

There is plenty of humour: 'The old people's home'; the man who said, “He could take Tendulkar's and Kohli's wicket in the same over”; ‘The explosion’ and countless jokes, humorous insights and anecdotes.

One piece of commentary involves Bodyline and the uproar in Adelaide when several Australian players were struck by Larwood. The uproar was exacerbated by the losses Australians would suffer with the bets that had been placed. Hammond and Fingleton state that betting was rife and out of control. Who would bet against the Australians when they had Don Bradman on board?

One of the fascinating sections involves six paragraphs that contain the surnames of over 200 test cricketers. The cricketers represent all test playing nations - this is a challenging task to find them all.

At the end of the day, what a wonderful ride I have had playing and coaching cricket! My innings isn’t over. For me, there is another book in the making and many more matches to come. I love the game that has given me so much enjoyment over the years—a great result. I hope you will enjoy my stories, analysis and coaching tips. You hold the ‘soul’ of cricket in your hands.

“Cricket takes you places, both literally and in your dreams”.

Lachlan Stonehouse

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Oct 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781925959550

Lachlan Stonehouse

Lachlan Stonehouse is still playing at Burwood Cricket Club in Melbourne, having played 28 years in the Eastern Suburban Cricket Association and Eastern Cricket Association. This equates to 362 games played either side of a 16-year district cricket commitment where he played another 252 games at St Kilda and Hawthorn East Melbourne. He played a few games for the Victorian second XI and represented the Victorian Institute of Sport. Eight seasons of mid-week cricket for Melbourne High and Vicwood CC (Burwood Teachers College), a stint in the UK, Willowfest and school cricket means Lachlan has played over 750 official games. Adding in social games this total may be closer to 900. Lachlan has played 70 games with his son William at Burwood, in two premierships including the 2017/18 Eastern Cricket Association A Grade flag. In addition, Lachlan has coached and contributed to the game at Tooronga and Burwood, plus given service to the Eastern Cricket Association, playing representative games and coaching underage teams, most notably premiers in the U18 Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union representative team in the inaugural year of the competition. Lachlan enjoys writing, golf and adventurous walks. A second cricket book is already in the making, to highlight the wonders of the game to non-cricketers and those in love with this beautiful game. He has two children, Beth and Will, and a great cricket loving wife, Pauline.

Book preview

A Passion for Cricket

Insights, intrigue and humour

in our great game

Lachlan KW Stonehouse

This is an IndieMosh book

brought to you by MoshPit Publishing

an imprint of Mosher’s Business Support Pty Ltd

PO BOX 147

Hazelbrook NSW 2779

https://www.indiemosh.com.au/

Copyright 2019 © Lachlan KW Stonehouse

All rights reserved

Licence Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the author and publisher.

Disclaimer

Although the author has made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to countless people for their assistance. Special thanks to my proofreaders. The book has been aided by contributors such as the Herberts, Dean and Jon (who also coerced me into playing competitive cricket) and Geoff Hesford (who sponsored me throughout my district cricket days).

My editor Adam Finlay and publisher IndieMosh have been an enormous help—thank you. Thanks to Gideon Haigh, an inspirational writer whom I admire.

Thanks to everyone I have played against and the clubs I have played for. It has been an honour to represent your colours.

Last of all thanks for those who encouraged me including my Pa, Nan, Padma, Glenn and Graham Matthews. My family have been and continue to be there for me: Pauline, Bethany, William, Mum, Dad, Robyn, Claire, Wesley and Tim.

Foreword

Lachlan Stonehouse is cricket. Aggregating all forms and formats, he reckons he’s closing in on a thousand games, more than a quarter of those at district level for St Kilda and Hawthorn East Melbourne. He’s coached and chronicled, administered and enthused. The game is in his bones and his blood, and perhaps it always was: his great great great uncle, Edward Hardmond Whitlow, represented Victoria in the first intercolonial against New South Wales a hundred and sixty years ago. It will outlive him too: he recently won a second premiership with his son William.

A Passion for Cricket, then, is not a title chosen lightly, and its aggregation of anecdote, opinion, reflection and reportage struck an immediate chord with me. Including age, geography and starting our career in a pair of white jeans, Lachlan and I have a bit in common—not, I hasten to add, ability, as I never threatened to play at a level above the park! But I’ve played cricket with people very like angry Dean Kann, aka ‘Mr Cruel’, and Alphabet, who’d rather swim an esky across a river than take the long way round on land. The latter features in a match report of a game Lachlan played at Willowfest which is a classic of the genre.

Alphabet’s got the day off, having been up all night watching the wrong soccer match. Things are looking a tad ordinary. Orally’s in—if he can’t bat, we’re in deep shit. He can, so we’ve got a game on our hands. The fat lady can sit down—apologies to Debbie Rigby. At tea we’re 2 for 91 off 33. In the 36th Orally’s out for 47, 3 for 105. Joely’s turn, and he can bat too. The battle continues, and when the Captain falls for 60 in the 43rd, it’s 4 for 154. T-Bar is fired for a duck next over, 5 for 155. Enter Darkie. Joely’s run-out for 30 in the 48th, 6 for 176. Strop lashes out at a few before being out in the 50th, 7 for 186. We need 38 off 32 balls. Stevie’s in—couldn’t keep bees today, but he opens for the U16s. He leg glances the first ball for a single and hopes rise. Darkie’s on fire and when the final over begins we need three to win. The ump then joins in and fires Stevie for 17, first ball. Jacko’s in and like a true professional has a look at the first couple. Jacko’s pondering life on the lake, when suddenly like a gift from the gods, a cover drive: two runs, we can’t lose, a single, we win, a four, we shit it in.

But the love of cricket is not a frivolous theme. There is a generous spirit to Lachlan’s book—a desire to share a lifetime’s joy and comradeship. There is also a note of urgency—that if nothing is done to restore its connective tissue, cricket’s body will atrophy and wither. These are damning judgements:

Our Australian cricket team are in part abhorrent role models for young kids taking up the game, yet supported by Cricket Australia who are poor at identifying, leading and setting high expectations for behaviour.

Many local parents and clubs set a far higher standard for team and individuals than any professional team. It becomes very important to set standards and expectations right from the earliest involvement in the game of cricket …

Since I have been at the local level there has been no assistance to promote the game and the clubs that make up our grassroots cricket. Be careful when Cricket Australia say participation is up. This may be the case given non-competitive participation is now included in their data for the well-supported Milo cricket programs. Cricket is slowly dying as more senior cricket competitions diminish, with amalgamations and club numbers in decline.

Quite so. Unknowingly echoing Lachlan’s sentiments, The Sydney Morning Herald reported recently that much of the data about participation levels in Australian cricket is unreliable, and that the game at grassroots may very well be a good deal smaller than CA has grown accustomed to claiming—claims on which, one might add, executives have had bonuses based.[1]

That’s not good for cricket. That’s not good for any of us. In A Passion for Cricket, Lachlan makes an understated but effective case for the game’s civilising influence—how, as well as being a helluva lot of fun, cricket can be ‘more than a game’, in providing a kind of moral and civic education. I love the story of Lachlan at school at a time when his grades were a little on the low side, paying a visit with his father to the headmaster, Lou Barbaris.

Lou looked at him and asked, Does he play cricket?

My father answered Yes.

Lou said, He’ll be alright.

Lou knew. He’d be proud of this book. So should Lachlan be.

Gideon Haigh

July 2019

Introduction

When I think about what is important in life, I can identify many things such as marriage, kids, work, personal achievements and a myriad of other important relationships. I must profess that I have always insisted that ‘passion’ is an important element to have for any endeavour. If you have passion then you can accomplish anything because you are intrinsically driven by the pure excitement of exploring, moulding and enjoying your hobby.

For me, the one constant over my lifetime has been cricket. I was encouraged by many people in the beginning, to get involved, to enjoy the success in making runs and taking wickets, to be in a premiership side with your mates and to practice and see the benefits. Cricket kept me out of trouble and away from many of the tempting teenage enticements. I had commitments each week with training and play. All I could think about in the off-season was my next game of cricket. I travelled to England to play, leading to five consecutive seasons, adventure and appreciation for the rigours of a full-time cricketing career. The more you play the better you get. I pushed for selection in higher grades and representative sides and learnt about the level of competition and skills others had. This made me want to work even harder.

I also needed a career to support family and children, so eventually these life endeavours needed to be placed first as I transitioned away from playing the best cricket. Local cricket has its own enjoyment and characters. Local cricket does allow for a family, with less time commitment. You gradually transition through the grades, still finding that love of the game that drives you. I was lucky enough to play with my son, one of the great thrills I have experienced in cricket. To see my son Will improve and achieve, score a century, be part of premiership teams and just enjoy the game is fulfilment enough.

The game has provided me with so much. Great friends, great competition, success, hard times, community involvement and Saturdays filled with adventure. Cricket is not a game for the faint-hearted; it is like life, with many ups and downs, and it is the determination that ultimately leads to success and enjoyment. People play for many different reasons, one being the camaraderie and enjoying the people around you, battling with them to achieve something. The essence of cricket is found locally in all the games that are played around the world each day and year where two teams compete, not for massive amounts of money, but for the honour of competing and doing their best as individuals and teams.

Writing a memoir and providing a collection of stories that I have collected over my life in cricket has been a pleasure. I have tried to incorporate the ups and downs, the personal commitment required, the loyalty clubs expect, the humour and the passion. Cricket is not about the individual, it’s about the game. This collection of stories, match descriptions, coaching, thoughts and historical reflections reflects the power of being a club person. I hope it will resonate with readers across the cricketing community.

Cricket is personal to me. Besmirching this great game seems to occur all too frequently these days as the commercial powerbrokers take over, causing a stampede for money. For all the adults and children involved in cricket, who support the game at the grassroots, I hope that one day Cricket Australia will recognise the huge effort local associations and their families put into the game. Community people are all unpaid and contribute for the love of the game or their children. We are lucky to have great facilities and parks to support this great game of ours. We can only hope for Cricket Australia investment at the community level.

Many of my comments centre on the Victorian structures that support local cricket and the suzerainty called Cricket Australia. (An overview table of the cricket hierarchy, from local clubs through to national level, is provided at the end of the book.) These comments could be applicable to any country and any of their supporting structures from India to Peru, South Africa to Canada, from England to Hong Kong or Australia to Pakistan. We are all part of the broader cricket society and we all love the game. No matter where you are from, I encourage you to reflect on the circumstances of your own association, the positives and the opportunities to make this game even better.

Every inclusion in this book means something to me. At times my cricket career wasn’t pretty (and perhaps still isn’t); at times it was fun and at times very serious, yet throughout I couldn’t wait for the next Saturday morning.

There is something in this book for all cricketers, and those that just love the game.

Happy reading.

Lachlan Stonehouse

Melbourne, September 2019

My life in cricket

Many people don’t understand the pure love for a game. When you can’t wait for the next weekend for the game to start. You have been practicing in anticipation for perhaps that unexpected moment of success. The game of cricket is a lottery when you don’t practice. The better you get the more predictable it can get, with success measured from week to week. The more competitive, the more ups and downs, and the downs can destroy some people, so they don’t play anymore. This is such a pity.

But those who don’t know the game or have never played tend to measure success based on how many runs you scored, or how many wickets you took. This doesn’t help the player, as the highs are peaks, not a consistent continuum of never-ending success. As cricketers, we break a low score down into the shot of the day. For a bowler, it might be getting a ball just once past the edge of a test cricketer. Cricket is a long game for which those who don’t play can’t understand how you can have no success and continue playing. Cricketers are on the whole pretty robust and play the game for a myriad of reasons, from personal success to camaraderie. So, it is important to be a bit subtle with a cricketer and their performances because this might not be the main reason they play.

I can remember my first game of cricket. It was for Wyclif Uniting Cricket Club in the mid-1970s. It was exciting transitioning from school cricket to real games. The greatest part of playing was the anticipation over the week, sharing the build up with schoolmates, catching up with boys from other schools to form a team and hoping to do well. Friday nights were exciting. I couldn’t wait for Saturday to arrive. Game time could have been at 4am and I would have been ready by 2am! Game day has always been special. What will happen? Who do they have playing? Where are we playing? and many more unknowns that made every Saturday an adventure. This is the essence of cricket, unparalleled enjoyment for playing, being part of a team and regardless of any outcome, stories to tell and fond memories of the day.

Cricket can change very quickly from the idyllic when teams are being selected, when you realise parents, selectors and clubs are making decisions on individual players. Everywhere you play and perform there are subjective decisions about your prospects and future in the game. Trevor Chappell just had to be good being the brother of Ian and Greg! Who knows whether he was crushed by expectation? Obviously the underarm incident didn’t help. I wonder how Trevor reflects on his career and achievements. Cricket is wonderful because we all have an opinion. This doesn’t help Trevor at all. Selectors make decisions, often lucrative ones for certain players, and for others a rejection you just can’t understand. Take Glenn Maxwell as a test case for behind-the-scenes subterfuge! We have all been told his personality doesn’t fit with the team and that he has been ‘blackballed’ from the test arena. He must be very tough mentally and robust to have to deal with the ongoing questions and implications that the decision has raised. Cricket is competitive and selectors and the public are all looking for players that can deliver, have star appeal and win matches. We all have opinions when players don’t deliver. Nic Maddinson is a prime candidate, put into the How did he get a game and why so many? category. We will never know, but we can claim New South Wales preferential selection as the main reason he was given a game.[2] When you live outside NSW this is viewed as favouritism.

Club cricket is no different as favourites seem to be better treated, others not given a go. Subjectivity prevails. The love of the game can be eroded very quickly by parents, clubs and selectors. We know that depression and health issues are evident throughout our society. Cricketers are no different. Whilst it is positive to play sport, many may compensate for other life factors by playing this great game. It may be the only thing that keeps them sane. I would hate to think that this beautiful game could cause people to be depressed, and leave the game. It is a reality we need to face. Senior clubs are diminishing, numbers are down, our cultural profile is changing, life pressures are immense, and people’s time is spread across multiple interests. It’s a gloomy picture if you look at the game in this context.

This is part of my book’s aim. Not all is lost. We’re in a new era, with the emphasis less on the means of winning, such as ‘sledging’ and other underhanded tactics to preserving the ‘spirit of the game’ in all its glory. I’ve seen and been involved in some dreadful sledges, from ex-teammates, towards my under 16 son based on Facebook posts and pictures and from spectators riling up the opposition.

Many of the comments in this book centre on the owners of the game. We often think this is Cricket Australia and state associations that rightfully have the power to set direction and expectations for leagues across Australia. I’ve been at the local grassroots of cricket for 30 years, so, please don’t jump over backwards expecting any local favours or influx of money, training or guidance from state associations or Cricket Australia. Our Australian cricket team are in part abhorrent role models for young kids taking up the game, yet supported by Cricket Australia who are poor at identifying, leading and setting high expectations for behaviour.

Many local parents and clubs set a far higher standard for team and individuals than any professional team. It becomes very important to set standards and expectations right from the earliest involvement in the game of cricket. Reading this book will enlighten you to what is happening in the suburbs each weekend. Keep in mind what support could be provided by Cricket Australia to assist. It is not all gloom in cricket with large numbers of boys and girls involved with Milo cricket as the entry point.[3] A good strategic move by Cricket Australia to get kids involved early.

Cricket has many great points; being largely a non-contact sport is a great differentiator for parents managing the early developmental days of their child’s motor coordination. Teaching the basics without a competitive element enhances the wellbeing of kids. It’s a given that other sports do this as well, so it isn’t just associated with cricket. This is the basis for the adoption of the ‘spirit of cricket’, to be played fairly and in a robust manner, yet focused on preserving the essence, to attract and promote team performance and enjoyment of the game. The start of ‘real’ games does blur this essence as I’ve heard fathers and mothers say we won that one (even though there isn’t any scoring), placing great emphasis on ‘winning’ even though most U10 games are about everyone having a chance and a ‘go’. When ladders and finals are in play, coaches, parents and spectators seem to imagine the junior game they are watching is a life and death situation. Often these games turn into a powder keg, escalating out of control. There are guidelines for all those associated with the game, often never read or adhered to and that is unfortunate.

If the game is to be in good hands, leaders of clubs who have seen dreadful, often soul-destroying behaviour must demonstrate and focus on attributes to encourage ongoing involvement in the game. It is hard to take away parental influence when club behaviour and parental reinforcement are inconsistent. Tough discussions need to be had to explain the club’s stance and behaviours required for playing at the club. Administrators do need to stand up in very difficult situations, given they are volunteers and may not have the skills required for such discussions. It is easy to see, given this example, how standards can be overlooked or put into the ‘too difficult’ category.

I do hope that the overwhelming storyline through this book is my ultimate love for this great game. There are elements that still don’t sit well with me and I have always probably been a little too righteous in my approach and a bit black and white, but this hopefully makes you think a bit more about the game and things that you can do to enhance it. There is no readymade solution to magically keep more people in the game. We need to move with the times and provide many options for cricketers to continue to play. The section on the future of the game will give some insight.

One thing that can be done now is education for all clubs, team managers and players to impress upon them that the focus should be on their behaviour and codes of conduct when playing. It shouldn’t be on the opposition, but the process or approach you take to playing the game and the things under your control. Stephen R. Covey in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) introduced the circle of control in business many years ago and this really hasn’t changed. Be in control of what the team does well and celebrate good performances and good teamwork because I’m positive this will achieve wins. In tennis circles we have great examples of gracious winners and losers. Roger Federer springs to mind; he carries himself in the same manner on either side of the ledger. By contrast, Serena Williams provided the latest example of a tennis ‘brat’ in September 2018, behaving abysmally. Time will tell if that is to be tolerated. Her meltdown is captured for eternity and her child will eventually see this behaviour. I don’t think the World Tennis Association provided an adequate deterrent to Serena or other athletes from future behaviour meltdowns. It may be that greater sanctions were not possible. We all know that the umpire is the ultimate decision-maker and should be acknowledged as such. He wasn’t in this case. In our local cricket league, poor behaviour like Serena’s would have meant a minimum of one match suspension and possibly one match for the captain of the team. Serena’s punishment was poor, receiving only a fine, although the negative publicity probably hurt even more.

Like many, I have been appalled by Serena’s behaviour and that of our own Australian cricketers, who have crossed the line of our Australian values of a fair go and mateship. All players and administrators can do is demonstrate the right behaviour and encourage others to follow, and our local competition levels set a very high benchmark that our professionals could learn a lot from. The excessive money in broadcast rights has left many of us wondering what hope there is for the game in the future. Have faith that things are well at the local level and improving due to many volunteers’ hard work. The health of the game could be further diminished if people didn’t have a community spirit or love of the game.

I was devastated by the Smith, Warner and Bancroft betrayal. I can see some hope to get back to those days when I had butterflies and excitement during the week leading up to a game. My teammates were great, we shared stories and played cricket and now have memories. It is a time I will always term ‘beautiful’ because it was a naïve, innocent and fun introduction to sport and life. I never lost sight of loving the game and continue to be invigorated by the young guys playing who just want to enjoy the same elements I did.

First innings:

Taking the crease

Family firsts

Before I was even a thought, there was cricket being played in our family at a reasonable level. This might be the reason why cricket is so important to me and has meant so much over the last 44 years. Maybe I was destined to get involved.

My great great grandmother’s brother Edward Hardmond Whitlow, born 1832 in Manchester died 29 November 1870 in South Melbourne, played for the Melbourne Club and represented Victoria in the First Intercolonial Match played at The Domain, Sydney on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of January 1859, viewed by 26,000 people. Playing alongside Whitlow was T. W. Wills, the founder of today’s Australian Football League (AFL), who took 11 for 49 in the match. My ancestor Whitlow was less dominant but contributed, with 1 for 14 off 9 in the second innings and three runs in each innings, the second score being the match winning shot. The Argus, Melbourne’s morning daily newspaper, covered the match and mentioned Whitlow.

Victoria: First Innings

Whitlow was the next man, and, after giving a chance which Howell was not quick enough for, and for which one was scored, got a nice half-arm hit to leg for two. His near stump was then disturbed by Ward.[4]

Victoria: Second Innings

Whitlow was called upon to go in and win, which he did by making a splendid drive past mid-wicket, Victoria winning by two wickets and one run.

A full pitch, driven for three, finished the business, and Whitlow, almost before the scorers had time to proclaim that all was over, was seized, legs and wings, by stalwart Victorians, and carried whoopingly round the ground until the proximity of Cunningham and champagne brought the triumphant procession to a halt. It was a ticklish thing up to Whitlow’s ripping hit, which finished the match.

My grandfather William (Bill) Stonehouse played in the Corangamite Cricket Association for Terang Presbyterians in 1933/34, for Camperdown from 1935 to 1946, and for the Ex Students in 1951. My uncle Brian also played for Camperdown East in 1952. William Hill Stonehouse’s figures for the 1935/36 season included 12 games for 157 runs at 13 and 24 wickets at 12.4 plus 6 catches. I never saw him play and was told that he once had a hat-trick.

Now my son is playing and carrying on a tradition that dates to before 1859. I’ve played 70 games with Will and a couple of premierships together and two as his coach in representative games. In 2019 Will was selected in the Eastern Cricket Association team of the year for A Turf, making 377 runs and taking 12 wickets.

In the beginning

I had always been encouraged to play cricket and football from an early age by my grandparents, a family friend Padma, and my parents, Rosemarie and Noel. I enjoyed these games and others from an early stage. I was enrolled at Surrey Hills Primary School for Grade 3 in 1973 and quickly made friends with some of the other keen sporting types. Lunches consisted of cricket and football with a good dose of ‘Brandy’ thrown in. Brandy for those who don’t know is a game that commences with a ball and everyone in a circle with their legs shoulder-width apart. The ball gets dropped and as it comes to you your feet are used like the flippers on a pinball machine to flick the ball and try to get it through someone else’s legs. When it goes through someone’s legs they are ‘IT’. They have the ball and aim to hit other people so that they are on the IT team. This progresses until everyone has been hit with the ball. There are no prisoners so the harder you ‘brand’ someone the