CRICKET my last game.

[mal]

The curtains were drawn yesterday as I played my last game of cricket.
It started in 1969 with my one and only Primary school game and continued
on through high school.
1969 was a long time ago, man landed on the moon that year.
My debut in senior cricket was as a little skinny 14 year old kid in 1972 playing Adelaide turf
and the end as a podgy unfit 48 year old in the United Church league.
Thats 34 years in this great game of ours.
I was given one last opportunity to play by the Adelaide Lutheran cricket club when
Ecky rang me up to fill in as they were short of players.
Ecky drove past a few pubs on the Friday night and asked a few drunks in the gutter if they could play, when they knocked him back he got a hold of me!
My last game was ordinary a 5 ball 1[3 edges, 2 misses] and 1 over 0/4.
The 1 run bettered Don Bradmans last score[0]
It was not a great game but I tried as hard as any game in my career.
Cricket is a great social game, I have made and kept enduring friendships.
I love the cricketing catch phrases, great catch mate, good try, not your fault, greta throw mate, carn mate lets get a wicket you can do it, well batted, well bowled etc.
The best comradeship is in the field in those gatherings after each wicket when the lads huddle and make comments, the backslapping, the....
Then we have a few beers after the game a religion to most of us.
I played the game at my optimum level, I never stopped trying, I competed to the best of my ability, this drawing the admiration of my team-mates and the respect of my opposition.
Premierships were the ultimate, captaining a few were my highlights.

The main thing about cricket is enjoyment and doing the best you can.
It was hard at 48 in the field yesterday, I gave 110% and if that was appreciated by the lads then that is what counts, and yeah I had a beer after the hame.
Its all over for me now, no regrets from the game I love.

[am Bays]

Hear Hear Mal, well done, mate.

It is a great game, which like you I'm not that gaod at but love it with a passion....

[mal]

Hear Hear Mal, well done, mate.

It is a great game, which like you I'm not that gaod at but love it with a passion....

Tassie lets get one thing straight I was GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!! in bygone eras.
I was ordinary in my last game

[am Bays]

Sorry, just going by your post, You're bloody good for playing the game IMHO

[mal]

Sorry, just going by your post, You're bloody good for playing the game IMHO

Thanks Tassie that means a lot to me,
regards
FIGMAL.

[dinglinga]

whens ur testimonial game!!!!!

New Trophy

Best Topic in Cricket = Mal Memorial Trophy

[sydney-dog]

Mal

the game has obviously been good to you and I have no doubt you have been good for the game, the local clubs and competition would of benefited from Mal playing the game for so long

now in retirement you have earn the right to use poetic license, may the catches get better, the runs flow faster and the wickets fall as often as an Italian striker in a penalty box

I would give everything to be able to play my last senior game of footy at the age of 48

you are a legend and keep enjoying the game my friend

[magpie in the 80's]

well FIGMAL now that the curtain is drawn, how about some stats on your illustrious career. e.g. highest score, best bowling, catches, premierships. who you played for in that time ? high points, low points etc etc

[Maddogmike]

MAL Our Pooraka 3rds are looking for a specialist number 8 and slip fielder if you ever wanna make a comeback.

[mal]

well FIGMAL now that the curtain is drawn, how about some stats on your illustrious career. e.g. highest score, best bowling, catches, premierships. who you played for in that time ? high points, low points etc etc

Where do I start
At 14 years old I played for the Grenfell Mail Exhange, Adelaide Turf as a number 9 batsman
and a leg break bowler.
Had a poor start until half way through the year when I voulenteered to be the
night watchman against Richmond, the skipper abided and that kick started the illustrious career.
Made 48 out of 150 and then took 7/46 and we won by 15 runs.
I then failed, I made about 80 runs in 12 digs and took 10 wkts for the year.
I played there for 4 years, until 17 and made a 100 in my last year there
and took heeps of wickets with my mystery balls a combo of off breaks, leg breaks,
toppies, wrong uns and straight balls.
I opened the batting and made a few 50's here and there, including 100 in a session last game of the year in 1976.
Played in a flag in 1976, took 4 wkts in the first semi, made 0 + 0/10[off 13 overs] in the g/final.
I had small fingers then and could grip a ball.
I will end chapter one by saying that I went out to Woodville when Johnny Nason was the coach
and tried my luck as a spinner, BUT I was 18 and girls + booze became a priority.

M8O'S + others if you want more, I can FigMAL more ........

[magpie in the 80's]

well FIGMAL now that the curtain is drawn, how about some stats on your illustrious career. e.g. highest score, best bowling, catches, premierships. who you played for in that time ? high points, low points etc etc

Where do I start
At 14 years old I played for the Grenfell Mail Exhange, Adelaide Turf as a number 9 batsman
and a leg break bowler.
Had a poor start until half way through the year when I voulenteered to be the
night watchman against Richmond, the skipper abided and that kick started the illustrious career.
Made 48 out of 150 and then took 7/46 and we won by 15 runs.
I then failed, I made about 80 runs in 12 digs and took 10 wkts for the year.
I played there for 4 years, until 17 and made a 100 in my last year there
and took heeps of wickets with my mystery balls a combo of off breaks, leg breaks,
toppies, wrong uns and straight balls.
I opened the batting and made a few 50's here and there, including 100 in a session last game of the year in 1976.
Played in a flag in 1976, took 4 wkts in the first semi, made 0 + 0/10[off 13 overs] in the g/final.
I had small fingers then and could grip a ball.
I will end chapter one by saying that I went out to Woodville when Johnny Nason was the coach
and tried my luck as a spinner, BUT I was 18 and girls + booze became a priority.

M8O'S + others if you want more, I can FigMAL more ........

FIGMAL you cannot stop a book with only one chapter. so we insist, you continue the innings
did you play against a guy called jeff reed from west torrens (i think)

[mal]

well FIGMAL now that the curtain is drawn, how about some stats on your illustrious career. e.g. highest score, best bowling, catches, premierships. who you played for in that time ? high points, low points etc etc

Where do I start
At 14 years old I played for the Grenfell Mail Exhange, Adelaide Turf as a number 9 batsman
and a leg break bowler.
Had a poor start until half way through the year when I voulenteered to be the
night watchman against Richmond, the skipper abided and that kick started the illustrious career.
Made 48 out of 150 and then took 7/46 and we won by 15 runs.
I then failed, I made about 80 runs in 12 digs and took 10 wkts for the year.
I played there for 4 years, until 17 and made a 100 in my last year there
and took heeps of wickets with my mystery balls a combo of off breaks, leg breaks,
toppies, wrong uns and straight balls.
I opened the batting and made a few 50's here and there, including 100 in a session last game of the year in 1976.
Played in a flag in 1976, took 4 wkts in the first semi, made 0 + 0/10[off 13 overs] in the g/final.
I had small fingers then and could grip a ball.
I will end chapter one by saying that I went out to Woodville when Johnny Nason was the coach
and tried my luck as a spinner, BUT I was 18 and girls + booze became a priority.

M8O'S + others if you want more, I can FigMAL more ........

FIGMAL you cannot stop a book with only one chapter. so we insist, you continue the innings
did you play against a guy called jeff reed from west torrens (i think)

Nah my District career never got off the ground, I was simply not dedicated and I reckon not good enough as well.

I will continue some more MALnificent times another day as the boys may want to free up postings for the India v Australia game tonight.
As for Jeff Reed , no

[Ecky]

Thanks very much for coming out and playing for us Mal.

I'm surprised you haven't mentioned yet your CLASSIC catch yesterday! Mal was fielding at point and the batsman hit a skier and Mal was the only fielder remotely near the ball. It was swirling around in the breeze and Mal had to run about 15m to make a diving catch. It even got him a fielding vote and it turned out to be the crucial dismissal of the day - breaking a 50 run partnership just when Enfield were starting to look threatening.

Not bad for a 48 year old who was fighting for his life at this time last year after being diagnosed with cancer.

[pipers]

This isn't Uncle Mal is it?

[mighty_tiger_79]

MAL

you have to play one more game for the year so the FOOTY SA FAN CLUB of yours can truly appreciate what a great sportsman you are.

[magpie in the 80's]

well FIGMAL now that the curtain is drawn, how about some stats on your illustrious career. e.g. highest score, best bowling, catches, premierships. who you played for in that time ? high points, low points etc etc

Where do I start
At 14 years old I played for the Grenfell Mail Exhange, Adelaide Turf as a number 9 batsman
and a leg break bowler.
Had a poor start until half way through the year when I voulenteered to be the
night watchman against Richmond, the skipper abided and that kick started the illustrious career.
Made 48 out of 150 and then took 7/46 and we won by 15 runs.
I then failed, I made about 80 runs in 12 digs and took 10 wkts for the year.
I played there for 4 years, until 17 and made a 100 in my last year there
and took heeps of wickets with my mystery balls a combo of off breaks, leg breaks,
toppies, wrong uns and straight balls.
I opened the batting and made a few 50's here and there, including 100 in a session last game of the year in 1976.
Played in a flag in 1976, took 4 wkts in the first semi, made 0 + 0/10[off 13 overs] in the g/final.
I had small fingers then and could grip a ball.
I will end chapter one by saying that I went out to Woodville when Johnny Nason was the coach
and tried my luck as a spinner, BUT I was 18 and girls + booze became a priority.

M8O'S + others if you want more, I can FigMAL more ........

well we're waiting

[mal]

M80'S Iwill make it brief.

5 centuries...2 against Booney + REB 's mob [Western Youth]
Highest 110 not out
Average ??? about 35...more if I faced Booney and Bayman[Wingfield]
Best bowling 7/18 6/9 and a few 5 wkt hauls.
Average about 20.
Highest finals score 88 v Wingfield
Most wkts final 5/18 v Fitzroy
Won Association batting twice in career.

Worst batting 1983 final v WYC made 6 in 2 hours and bowled by the late
Champ Neil Prior...we lost by 4 runs.

Worst bowling 3 overs 0/59 v Port Districts.
Also 3 overs 0/57 v Salisbury West.

Biggest disapointments...failing consistently in finals, after making runs all year
and making 1 run in my last game for Eckys mob.
Biggest achievements...Wickets in finals, after poor figures during the year.

Captain last 20 years on and off.

Biggest thrill...Forming the Croydon Dons in 1999-2000 as a new club in United Churches
and winning a flag as a new entity.
Winning my only bowling trophy for North Pines aged 45.

Fastest bowler faced ...Chicko Vincent ETHELTON[?] in the late seventies.
Fastest bowler seen...Robbie Donaldson WYC
Best batsman seen....Rob Abbott Woodville districts
Favourite opposition... Western Youth, nice guys, great rivalry.
Worst oppostion ...Plympton/Beltania church leagues
Biggest shock...Language in United Church league.[not Adelaide Lutheran or Enfield]
Disapointments...Comps with 35 or 40 over o/d games, crapp games....injuries
Favourite opposing player....Phil Mcartney WYC.

I played for 7 clubs[including the last game for eckys mob]

Thats it M80'S I could rave on for another 1000 lines but people would think I
am a big head.
When you play as long a I did your bound to make some runs/ take wickets.

[magpie in the 80's]

Thats it M80'S I could rave on for another 1000 lines but people would think I
am a big head.
When you play as long a I did your bound to make some runs/ take wickets.[/quote]


thanks for that MAL/FIGMAL/BIGHEAD or what ever you go by NOW

[Booney]

M80'S Iwill make it brief.

5 centuries...2 against Booney + REB 's mob [Western Youth]
Highest 110 not out
Average ??? about 35...more if I faced Booney and Bayman[Wingfield]
Best bowling 7/18 6/9 and a few 5 wkt hauls.
Average about 20.
Highest finals score 88 v Wingfield
Most wkts final 5/18 v Fitzroy
Won Association batting twice in career.

Worst batting 1983 final v WYC made 6 in 2 hours and bowled by the late
Champ Neil Prior...we lost by 4 runs.

Worst bowling 3 overs 0/59 v Port Districts.
Also 3 overs 0/57 v Salisbury West.

Biggest disapointments...failing consistently in finals, after making runs all year
and making 1 run in my last game for Eckys mob.
Biggest achievements...Wickets in finals, after poor figures during the year.

Captain last 20 years on and off.

Biggest thrill...Forming the Croydon Dons in 1999-2000 as a new club in United Churches
and winning a flag as a new entity.
Winning my only bowling trophy for North Pines aged 45.

Fastest bowler faced ...Chicko Vincent ETHELTON[?] in the late seventies.
Fastest bowler seen...Robbie Donaldson WYC
Best batsman seen....Rob Abbott Woodville districts
Favourite opposition... Western Youth, nice guys, great rivalry.
Worst oppostion ...Plympton/Beltania church leagues
Biggest shock...Language in United Church league.[not Adelaide Lutheran or Enfield]
Disapointments...Comps with 35 or 40 over o/d games, crapp games....injuries
Favourite opposing player....Phil Mcartney WYC.

I played for 7 clubs[including the last game for eckys mob]

Thats it M80'S I could rave on for another 1000 lines but people would think I
am a big head.
When you play as long a I did your bound to make some runs/ take wickets.

Good work mal.

I'll pass that onto Phil,aka Big Ted and Im sure he will respond in kind.

Yes,Chicko was fast even in the early 90's,obviously had lost alot of pace but the arm still had some sling in it.As for Rob Donaldson,just for the other readers here,in two GF's in a row Rob made 100,in one he took 7/ and the other 6/,pretty good under pressure you would say.

I didnt play against mal until later in his career as I was making my way up,he was on his way down.One thing you should do mal is get out and have a look at the comp we are playing in now,which,IMHO is much stronger than Independant ever was,as you are aware,WYC,Port Districts and Woodville dominated for many years,(WYC more so,he he),much tougher to do so in the comp we are in now.Well done on a *ahem* great career,hope to see you at the YC or the West Thebby some time soon.(BTW,REB is in town ATM,he might just be at the Youth Centre on Saturday,I know I will be!)

[mighty_tiger_79]

MAL

you said the best batsman you ever saw was Rob Abbott, you have got to be joking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

couldnt find the middle of the bat if they were bowling beach balls at him