Sydney Grade Cricket - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Sydney Grade Cricket is a cricket

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...

competition played in Sydney, Australia. The competition began in 1893 when a number of clubs, which had been playing for many years on an ad hoc basis, voted to create a formal competition structure.

This competition has grown substantially and by the 2009/10 season, the Sydney Grade Cricket Competition encompassed 20 clubs. Each of the clubs fields a side in each of the five senior grades as well as a side in the Poidevin-Gray Shield and AW Green Shield junior competitions.

The Sydney Grade Competition is considered one of the strongest amateur and semi professional cricket leagues in the world

Clubs

Clubs in the 2010–11 season

2010–11 Australian cricket season

The 2010–11 Australian cricket season consists of international matches played by the Australian cricket team in Australia as well as Australian domestic cricket matches under the auspices of Cricket Australia.-One Day domestic cricket:...

of Sydney Grade Cricket are:

Bankstown – One of the most successful clubs in recent years, the Bulldogs are the home team of the Waugh brothers (Steve
Steve Waugh
Stephen Rodger "Steve" Waugh, AO is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a successful medium-pace bowler...

, Mark
Mark Waugh
Mark Edward Waugh AM is a former Australian cricketer, who represented Australia in Test matches from early 1991 to late 2002, and made his One-Day International debut in 1988. Waugh is regarded as one of the most elegant and gifted stroke makers to ever play the game. His nickname is "Junior" as...

, Dean
Dean Waugh
Dean Parma Waugh is a former Australian first-class cricketer who played a match for New South Wales and also represented South Australia at List A level....

and Danny). Other notable players include Jeff Thomson
Jeff Thomson
Jeffrey Robert Thomson is a former Australian cricketer. Known as "Thommo", he was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket and was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history...

, Len Pascoe
Len Pascoe
Leonard Stephen Pascoe is a former Australian Test and ODI cricketer. He attended Punchbowl Boys' High School in New South Wales....

, Corey Richards
Corey Richards
Corey John Richards is a former Australian first-class cricketer and current Sydney First Grade Cricketer for the Bankstown Bulldogs.- Career :...

and Aaron Bird
Aaron Bird
Aaron Christopher Bird is an Australian cricketer who currently plays first-class cricket for the New South Wales Blues. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler....

.

Blacktown – Nicknamed the Warriors. Participated in the Sydney Shires Competition before entering the Grade Competition in 2002-2003. Home of Australian test off spinner Gavin Robertson
Gavin Robertson
Gavin Ron Robertson is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests and 13 ODIs from 1994 to 1998 after a first-class cricket career that saw him depart New South Wales for Tasmania and then return to New South Wales.Robertson is also a member of the band Six & Out with Australian fast...

and NSW paceman Don Nash
Don Nash
Donald Anthony Nash is an Australian first-class cricketer who played for the New South Wales Blues....

with West Indian bowler Corey Collymore
Corey Collymore
Corey Dalanelo Collymore is a Barbadian cricketer whose speciality is seam bowling. He has represented the West Indies team in both Tests and ODIs cricket. In a side that so often chopped and changed he became one of their most experienced bowlers...

signed for the 2010-11 season.

Cambelltown-Camden – Nicknamed the Ghosts. Has won three Green Shield competitions in three consecutive years: 2004-2005, 2005–2006 and 2006-2007.

Eastern Suburbs – Founded as the Waverley Cricket Club in 1894, it changed its name in 1996 to reflect a broader regional basis. Nineteen Australian players have played for the red, white and blue of the Dolphins, including the Gregory brothers, Jack Fingleton
Jack Fingleton
John "Jack" Henry Webb Fingleton OBE was an Australian cricketer who was trained as a journalist and became a political and cricket commentator after the end of his playing career...

, Greg Matthews
Greg Matthews
Gregory Richard John "Mo" Matthews is a former New South Wales and Australian cricketer who is now a television cricket commentator....

. Current players include Brad Haddin, Nathan Bracken
Nathan Bracken
Nathan Wade Bracken is a former Australian cricketer. A tall left-arm fast-medium bowler, Bracken is capable of swinging the ball both ways. He has represented Australia in all forms of the game...

and David Warner
David Warner (cricketer)
David Andrew Warner is an Australian cricketer. A quick-scoring left-handed opening batsman, Warner is the first Australian cricketer in 132 years to be selected for a national team in any format without experience in first-class cricket...

.

Fairfield-Liverpool - Nicknamed the Lions. Home of Australian bowler Doug Bollinger
Doug Bollinger
Douglas Erwin Bollinger is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays first-class cricket for the New South Wales Blues and international cricket for Australia. He is a left-handed batsman and a left-arm fast bowler...

and NSW players Grant Lambert
Grant Lambert
Grant Michael Lambert is an Australian cricketer. He plays First Class cricket for NSW and grade cricket for Fairfield-Liverpool. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler and a right-hand bat. His best bowling effort was 4/80 against Tasmania in 2005/06...

and Ben Rohrer
Ben Rohrer
Ben Rohrer is an Australian cricketer who has represented the NSW Blues. Rohrer made his debut against Tasmania in March 2007 and scored a century in his debut, the first player to do so since 1993/94. He did this in the second innings after surviving a hat-trick ball from Ben Hilfenhaus in the...

.

Gordon - The Stags were founded in 1905 and have recently celebrated 100 years of Grade Cricket. The club has six first grade titles. Thirteen players have gone on to represent Australia, including Victor Trumper
Victor Trumper
Victor Thomas Trumper was an Australian cricketer known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby...

, Charles Macartney
Charles Macartney
Charles George "Charlie" Macartney was an Australian cricketer who played in 35 Tests between 1907 and 1926...

, Bert Oldfield
Bert Oldfield
William Albert Stanley "Bert" Oldfield was an Australian cricket player. He played for New South Wales and the Australian cricket team as wicket-keeper....

, Brian Taber
Brian Taber
Hedley Brian Taber is a former Australian cricketer who played in 16 Tests from 1966 to 1970....

, Ian Davis
Ian Davis
Ian Davis was a longtime top senior partner and director at management consultancy McKinsey & Company, serving as managing director from 2003 to 2009. He succeeded Rajat Gupta on July 1, 2003. He joined McKinsey in 1979, retired in 2010 and currently serves as a senior partner emeritus.Davis was...

, Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist AM , nicknamed "Gilly" or "Churchy", is an Australian international cricketer who currently captains Kings XI Punjab and recently captained Middlesex. He is an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, who redefined the role for the Australian national...

and Phil Emery
Phil Emery
Philip Allen Emery is a former Australian and New South Wales cricketer. He was a wicket-keeper and valuable left-handed batsman....

. Currently the Stags have Beau Casson
Beau Casson
Beau Casson is a former Australian cricketer who played for Western Australia and New South Wales, in a career spanning from 2002 to 2011, and has represented Australia at Test cricket. Primarily a left arm wrist spinner, Casson is also capable with the bat and has a highest First-class score of 99...

, who captained the club in 2009–2010.

Hawkesbury – Nicknamed the Hawks. Their home grounds of Owen Earl and Bensons Lane 2 and 3 are infamous for the number of mosquito flies and shocking heatwaves that occur. Owen Earle Oval and the Bensons Lane Complex, which includes all 3 grade grounds, are among the best wickets in the Sydney Grade competition. The main oval has recently been upgraded with a new picket fence. Recent players: Stephen O'Keefe
Stephen O'Keefe
Stephen Norman John O'Keefe is an Australian cricketer and current New South Wales player. O'Keefe made his First-Class debut for New South Wales against Tasmania in November 2005. O'Keefe took 2 wickets and score 10 runs on debut...

(NSW & Aust), Peter Forrest
Peter Forrest
Peter James Forrest is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays for the Queensland Bulls. With a rookie contract in the 2006-07 season, Forrest made his first-class debut for New South Wales against Queensland on 1 March 2007...

(NSW & Aust A), John Hastings
John Hastings (cricketer)
John Wayne Hastings is a cricketer for the Victorian Bushrangers.-Statistics:A tall all-rounder who combines right-arm fast-medium bowling with strong lower-order batting. At the end of the 2006–07 season he was recruited from New South Wales, where he had represented the state in under-age and...

(Vic), Anthony Kershler (NSW). Hawkesbury also produce regular members of NSW under-17 and 19 teams (many as captain).

Manly Warringah - Founded in 1878, Manly was a foundation club in the Sydney grade competition. The Waratahs have won the first grade title four times and in 2005–2006 won the club championship title. Recent players include Mark Cameron
Mark Cameron
Mark Cameron is an American athlete. He was an Olympic weightlifter for the United States.-Weightlifting achievements:*Bronze Medalist in Senior World Championships *Pan Am Games Champion *Silver Medalist in Pan Am Games...

, and weatherman Tim Bailey
Tim Bailey
Tim Bailey is an Australian television presenter and is seen nightly across the Ten Network in New South Wales as weatherman.Bailey started his career as a journalist in his hometown of Hobart with the Hobart Mercury, following in the footsteps of two generations of his family.In Hobart he was a...

is a big fan.

Mosman - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border
Allan Border
Allan Robert Border AO is a former Australian cricketer. A batsman, Border was for many years the captain of the Australian team. His playing nickname was "A.B.". He played 156 Test matches in his career, a record until it was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh...

is probably the most famous former Mosman player. The Whales are also home of Australian test paceman Brett Lee
Brett Lee
Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...

, after playing his junior cricket in Wollongong, before playing for Campbelltown Camden. Brett's brother Shane
Shane Lee
Shane Lee is a former Australian cricketer.Lee, an all-rounder, was a hard hitting batsman and medium pace bowler. He was a promising junior, representing the Australia U-19 team...

, a former NSW captain, has also played for the club.

North Sydney
North Sydney Cricket Club
North Sydney District Cricket Club is a cricket club in Sydney, Australia. The Bears as they are known were founded in 1858 playing club's such as Callen Park Mental Hospital, North Sydney joined the Sydney Grade Cricket Competition as an initial member in 1893...

- The Bears were formed in 1893 as a foundation club in the grade competition. The club is based at North Sydney Oval
North Sydney Oval
-Development:* The first cricket pitch was laid on 6 December 1867, making it one of the oldest cricket grounds in Australia.* The first structure built, in 1879, was a simple pavilion overlooking the cricket ground...

, a regular venue for first class cricket in NSW. The club's most famous players include Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)
William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...

, Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...

, Stan McCabe
Stan McCabe
Stanley Joseph McCabe was an Australian cricketer who played 39 Test matches for Australia from 1930 to 1938. A short, stocky right-hander,...

, Stuart MacGill
Stuart MacGill
Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill is a former right-arm leg spin bowler of the Australian cricket team, with a domestic career at Western Australia, New South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Somerset...

, Trevor Chappell
Trevor Chappell
Trevor Martin Chappell is a former Australian cricketer, a member of the South Australian Chappell family which excelled at cricket...

, Doug Walters
Doug Walters
Kevin Douglas Walters MBE in Dungog New South Wales, known as Doug Walters, is a former Australian cricketer. He was known as an attacking batsman, and also as a typical ocker.-First-class career:...

, Sid Barnes
Sid Barnes
Sidney George Barnes was an Australian cricketer and cricket writer, who played 13 Test matches between 1938 and 1948. Able to open the innings or bat down the order, Barnes was regarded as one of Australia's finest batsmen in the period immediately following the Second World War...

, Charles McCartney, Phil Marks and Kerry O'Keefe. Phil Marks (ex NSW batsman) is currently the clubs batting coach.

Northern District - Nicknamed the ND Rangers, Northern District is home to former Australian and NSW captain Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor (cricketer)
Mark Anthony Taylor, AO is a former Australian cricket player and Test opening batsman from 1988–1999, as well as captain from 1994–1999, succeeding Allan Border...

, Chris Peebles, former Sri Lankan International All - Rounder Upul Chandana
Upul Chandana
Umagiliya Durage Upul Chandana is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He was more specifically a leg spin bowler and was also an outstanding fielder....

and former home of Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist AM , nicknamed "Gilly" or "Churchy", is an Australian international cricketer who currently captains Kings XI Punjab and recently captained Middlesex. He is an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, who redefined the role for the Australian national...

for a season. Current club captain David Ball achieved a double hat-trick in the 2009/10 quarter final against Eastern Suburbs.

Parramatta - Formerly Central Cumberland, the club was founded in 1843 and a foundation member of the grade competition. It claims to be the oldest living club in NSW & second oldest in Australia. Home of Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....

, John Benaud
John Benaud
John Benaud is a former Australian cricketer.John Benaud is the son of Louis and Irene Benaud . His only sibling is fellow cricketer Richie Benaud, who is older by 13 years. John is married to Lindsay Benaud with two children...

, Doug Walters
Doug Walters
Kevin Douglas Walters MBE in Dungog New South Wales, known as Doug Walters, is a former Australian cricketer. He was known as an attacking batsman, and also as a typical ocker.-First-class career:...

- winner of 3 First Grade Premierships. Bob Simpson
Bob Simpson (cricketer)
Robert Baddeley Simpson AO is a former cricketer who played for New South Wales, Western Australia and Australia, captaining the national team from 1963–64 until 1967–68, and again in 1977–78. He later had a highly successful term as the coach of the Australian team...

is a coaching advisor.

Penrith - Like the local rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

team, the Penrith Cricket Club are known as the Panthers. Penrith are currently under the guidance of John Benaud
John Benaud
John Benaud is a former Australian cricketer.John Benaud is the son of Louis and Irene Benaud . His only sibling is fellow cricketer Richie Benaud, who is older by 13 years. John is married to Lindsay Benaud with two children...

as their coach. Sri Lankan coach, Trevor Bayliss
Trevor Bayliss
Trevor Harley Bayliss is a former coach of the Sri Lanka national cricket team. Bayliss is a former cricketer for New South Wales and a former coach...

, played his Sydney Grade Cricket career at Penrith. Penrith won the 2008/2009 club championship. Patrick Cummins also plays for Penrith, being the first test player from Penrith for some decades.

Randwick Petersham – Nicknamed the Randy Petes. Home of international batsman Simon Katich
Simon Katich
Simon Matthew Katich is an Australian cricketer. He is the captain of the New South Wales Blues, and also captained, up until the end of the 2007 season, Derbyshire County Cricket Club...

, as well as Nathan Hauritz
Nathan Hauritz
Nathan Michael Hauritz is an Australian cricketer who has represented Australia in Tests, One-dayers and Twenty20 Internationals. He is mainly noted for his off spin bowling....

, Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja is an Australian cricketer. He was awarded player of the Australian Under 19 Championship in 2005 and also played for Australia in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka as an opening batsman. His club side is Randwick-Petersham....

and Burt Cockley
Burt Cockley
Burt Cockley is an Australian cricketer who currently plays for the New South Wales Blues. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler....

. England's Monty Panesar had signed for the 2011/12 season

St George
St George Cricket Club
St George Cricket Club is a cricket club based in the St. George area that competes in Sydney Grade Cricket. Many famous Australian Test cricketers have represented the club.- Test players :...

– Established in 1911, the club was the home of Sir Donald Bradman and Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)
William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...

, Ray Lindwall
Ray Lindwall
Raymond Russell Lindwall MBE was a cricketer who represented Australia in 61 Tests from 1946 to 1960. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He also played top-flight rugby league football with St...

, Arthur Morris
Arthur Morris
Arthur Robert Morris MBE is a former Australian cricketer who played 46 Test matches between 1946 and 1955. An opener, Morris is regarded as one of Australia's greatest left-handed batsmen. He is best known for his key role in Don Bradman's Invincibles side, which made an undefeated tour of...

, Brian Booth
Brian Booth
Brian Charles Booth is a former Australian cricketer who played in 29 Tests from 1961 to 1966. He captained Australia for two Tests during the 1965–66 Ashes series while regular captain Bob Simpson was absent due to illness and injury. Booth was a graceful right-handed middle order batsman...

and Kerry O'Keeffe
Kerry O'Keeffe
Kerry James "Skull" O'Keeffe is a former Australian cricketer and now a commentator for ABC Radio. O'Keeffe played 24 Tests and 2 ODIs between 1971 and 1977.He was a spin bowler, bowling leg breaks...

. Recent players include Moises Henriques
Moises Henriques
Moisés Constantino Henriques is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays for the New South Wales Blues. An all-rounder, Henriques is widely considered to be one of the best young talents in Australian cricket.-Early and personal life:...

. The club became the first club to win the Sydney Grade Cricket Competition three times back to back. It achieved its 100th premiership in all grades in 2009–2010 season. The club also celebrates its centennial during the 2010–2011 season.

Sutherland – One of the newer clubs in the competition, the Sharks were formed in 1965. Past greats include current Australian Chairman of Selectors Andrew Hilditch
Andrew Hilditch
Andrew Mark Jefferson Hilditch is a former Australian cricketer who played in 18 Tests and 8 ODIs from 1979 to 1985. He played for New South Wales from 1977 to 1981 and for South Australia from 1982 to 1992...

, John Dyson
John Dyson
John Dyson is a former international cricketer who is now a cricket coach, most recently in charge of the West Indies....

, Steve Rixon
Steve Rixon
Stephen John Rixon is the newly appointed Australian cricket fielding coach.He played in 13 Tests and 6 One Day Internationals between 1977 and 1985. He came into the Australian side as wicket-keeper in 1977–78 after Rodney Marsh joined World Series Cricket, losing his place on Marsh's return...

, Len Pascoe
Len Pascoe
Leonard Stephen Pascoe is a former Australian Test and ODI cricketer. He attended Punchbowl Boys' High School in New South Wales....

, Stuart Macgill
Stuart MacGill
Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill is a former right-arm leg spin bowler of the Australian cricket team, with a domestic career at Western Australia, New South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Somerset...

and Stuart Clark
Stuart Clark
Stuart Rupert Clark is an Australian International cricketer who plays domestic cricket for the New South Wales Blues. He plays as a right-arm fast-medium bowler...

. It is the home club of Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath
Glenn Donald McGrath AM , nicknamed "Pigeon", is a former Australian cricket player. He is one of the most highly regarded fast-medium pace bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century...

, Phil Jaques
Phil Jaques
Philip Anthony Jaques is an Australian cricketer. He is a left-handed opening batsman who has played first-class cricket for New South Wales, Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and Worcestershire, as well as international cricket for Australia...

and now Steve Smith
Steve Smith (cricketer born 1989)
Steven Peter Devereux "Steve" Smith is an Australian international cricketer who currently plays for the New South Wales Blues. An all-rounder, Smith bats right-handed and bowls right arm leg spin. Smith has played for the Kent Second XI, New South Wales, the Sutherland Cricket Club and Illawong...

.

Sydney Cricket Club
Sydney Cricket Club
Sydney Cricket Club play in the Sydney Grade Cricket Competition. In 2007 the UTS-Balmain club merged with the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust and are now known as Sydney CC or Sydney Cricket Club or just simply Sydney Tigers. The Tigers play out of Drummoyne Oval. With over 100 years of history and...

– A merger in 2007 between the UTS Balmain Cricket Club (a member of Grade Cricket since 1897 as Balmain) and the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...

Trust. The Tigers play out of Drummoyne Oval
Drummoyne Oval
Drummoyne Oval is a multi-use stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches during summer; and during winter it is home to Drummoyne Rugby Club Est. 1874 and the Balmain Australian Football Club in the Sydney AFL competition. The stadium has a capacity of 5,000...

. The most famous players from this club are Archie Jackson
Archie Jackson
Archibald "Archie" Jackson , occasionally known as Archibald Alexander Jackson, was an Australian cricketer who played eight Test matches as a specialist batsman between 1929 and 1931. A teenage prodigy, he played first grade cricket at only 15 years of age and was selected for New South Wales at 17...

, Arthur Mailey
Arthur Mailey
Arthur Alfred Mailey was an Australian cricketer who played in 21 Test matches between 1920 and 1926....

, Greg Hayne (who has scored a record 12,000 runs for the club), Graham Thorpe
Graham Thorpe
Graham Paul Thorpe MBE is a former English cricketer who played for Surrey and England. A left-handed middle-order batsman and slip fielder, he appeared in exactly 100 Test matches.-Early life:...

, Paul Awramenko, Russel Arnold
Russel Arnold
Russel Premakumaran "Rusty" Arnold is a former Sri Lankan cricketer of Tamil descent. Arnold made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1997 and his One day international debut against South Africa later in the year. Originally an opening batsmen, Arnold has since moved down the batting order...

, Nathan Bracken
Nathan Bracken
Nathan Wade Bracken is a former Australian cricketer. A tall left-arm fast-medium bowler, Bracken is capable of swinging the ball both ways. He has represented Australia in all forms of the game...

and Jason Krejza
Jason Krejza
Jason John Krejza is an Australian cricketer. He also plays for the Tasmanian Tigers and Leicestershire. Krejza's father was a association football player from Czechoslovakia and his mother was born in Poland...

.

Sydney University - Founded in 1864, it was a foundation member of the grade competition. It has four first grade titles and twenty test players including Tom Garrett
Tom Garrett
Thomas William Garrett was an early Australian Test cricketer and, later, a distinguished public servant.-Early life:...

, Greg Matthews
Greg Matthews
Gregory Richard John "Mo" Matthews is a former New South Wales and Australian cricketer who is now a television cricket commentator....

, Imran Khan
Imran Khan
Imran Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistani cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics...

, Stuart Clark
Stuart Clark
Stuart Rupert Clark is an Australian International cricketer who plays domestic cricket for the New South Wales Blues. He plays as a right-arm fast-medium bowler...

and Stuart MacGill
Stuart MacGill
Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill is a former right-arm leg spin bowler of the Australian cricket team, with a domestic career at Western Australia, New South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Somerset...

.

University of NSW Grade Cricket Club, nicknamed the Bumble Bees. Home to former Test players Geoff Lawson
Geoff Lawson (cricketer)
Geoffrey Francis Lawson, OAM is a former Australian cricketer and the former coach of the Pakistan cricket team....

and Michael Slater
Michael Slater
Michael Jonathon Slater is a former Australian cricketer who played in 74 Tests and 42 ODIs for the Australian cricket team from 1993 to 2001...

. Entered the Grade Competition in 1973–74.

Western Suburbs – Home of Australia captain/batsman Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke (cricketer)
Michael John Clarke is an Australian cricketer. He was appointed captain of the Test and ODI teams on 30 March 2011. Nicknamed 'Pup', he is a right-handed batsman, and occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler...

and Phil Hughes
Phillip Hughes (cricketer)
Phillip Joel Hughes is an Australian cricketer. He is a left-handed opening batsman who is widely considered to be one of the most promising prospects for Australia's future. He made his Test debut at the age of 20 after just two seasons with New South Wales...

. They also have a couple of NSW players, Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith (cricketer)
Daniel Smith is an Australian first-class cricketer. He plays for New South Wales in the Pura Cup and Ford Ranger Cup competitions...

a wicketkeeper. Wests have had some notable former Australian players play for them. These players are Bobby Simpson, Dirk Wellham
Dirk Wellham
Dr Dirk MacDonald Wellham is a former Australian cricketer who played in 6 Tests and 17 ODIs from 1981 to 1987. Dirk Wellham is one of two players to score a century in both his first class and Test debuts. He was the first player to captain three Australian states having captained New South...

, Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson is the name of:*Alan Davidson , also British diplomat*Alan Davidson , Australian cricketer*Alan Davidson , British author...

, Greg Dyer
Greg Dyer
Gregory Charles Dyer is a former New South Wales and Australian wicketkeeper. Dyer played in 6 Tests and 23 ODIs from 1986 to 1988, including playing in the victorious 1987 World Cup Final....

, Greg Matthews
Greg Matthews
Gregory Richard John "Mo" Matthews is a former New South Wales and Australian cricketer who is now a television cricket commentator....

, Gary Gilmour
Gary Gilmour
Gary John Gilmour is a former Australian cricketer who played in 15 Tests and 5 One Day Internationals from 1973 to 1977....

and Dave Gilbert. NSW newcomer Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Aaron Starc is an Australian cricketer who currently plays first-class cricket for the New South Wales Blues. He is a left-arm fast bowler....

also plays for Wests.

Grade Cricket

The competition consists of 20 clubs who field one side in each of the five grades. In the 1st Grade competition, each side plays every other side over a total of 19 rounds. All other grades play only 15 rounds, thus missing out on playing 4 teams each season. The additional 4 rounds that are played by the 1st Grade sides are generally one day matches that take place on Sundays (won by Sydney University in 2010/2011).

The 2010-2011 season, for all grades, includes 10 two-day matches (generally played on two consecutive Saturdays), 4 one-day matches and 1 Twenty-20 match. The 1st Grade sides played an additional one-day match and 3 Twenty20 matches. The 1st Grade Draw can be found here and the 2nd Grade draw, which is identical to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade draws, can be found here.

The final series generally consists of Qualifying Finals, Semi-Finals and a Final. These matches are played over two days, with the First Grade Final being played over three days. In the Qualifying Finals, the 1st placed team plays the 6th placed team, 2nd plays 5th and 3rd plays 4th. The three winning teams (or better placed team in the case of a draw) and the best placed losing team go through to the Semi-Finals.

Points are allocated to the teams according to the results of each match. These points go towards the Club Championship which is awarded at the end of the regular season.

All of the current NSW first-class cricket players are selected from their performances in Grade Cricket. This includes those players who also represent Australia although the demands of the international schedule means the Australian players rarely get to play at grade level these days.

First Grade Premiers

2010/2011 Sydney University
2009/2010 St George
2008/2009 St George
2007/2008 St George
2006/2007 Bankstown-Canterbury
2005/2006 Fairfield-Liverpool
2004/2005 Sydney University

Poidevin-Gray Shield

The Poidevin-Gray Shield, or PG's as it is more commonly known, comprises teams who represent their grade sides in an Under 21 competition. All points received in this competition go towards the Club Championship. Sydney University defeated Hawkesbury 2010/11.

A W Green Shield

The A W Green Shield, or Greenies as it is more commonly known, comprises teams who represent their grade sides in an Under 16 competition consisting of 7 preliminary rounds, qualifying finals, semi-finals and a Final.

Many of NSW's top cricketers have come through this prestigious competition. The A W Green Shield is currently regarded as the toughest junior competition in the world, making it very difficult to both gain selection into and compete in. All points received in this competition go towards the Club Championship.

Bankstown won their second straight AW Green Shield in 2010/2011 defeating Western Suburbs at Blacktown Olympic Park

Club Championship

Allocation of Points According to Results

Aggregate of Certain Multiples of Points for Club Championship

Randwick Petersham won the title in 2010/2011.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.