Captains for 2015-16

The General Committee of Management would like to announce this seasons (2015-16) captains.  We thank them all for putting their hand up to do the thankless task in leading the troops around for this season.

1st Grade: ADAM SEMPLE

Adam has been appointed captain for the fourth successive season. He has an  imposing record as skipper leading the 1st Grade side to the semi-finals twice while narrowly missing a place in the finals series last season when relegated to seventh position on quotient. He also led the side to victory in the 2012-13 State Challenge Final and the 2013-14 Twenty20 Cup.

Adam is a leader by example being one of the club’s greatest 1st Grade cricketers. He is the best all-rounder having scored 4,117 runs and taken 176 wickets in the top grade. He is second only to Usman Khawaja (4,827) in batting and to Jake Wilson (188 wickets) in bowling.  He has won the Player of the Season Award and the Clubman of the Year Award.  

2nd Grade: JOHN McLOUGHLIN

An astute student of the game John will back up again this season after captained 2s for the first time last year.  He did well leading the side to seven solid wins while taking out the batting aggregate with 495 runs.  His total included his fifth career century when he hit 135 against Campbelltown-Camden at Raby Oval in the first round of the season. He also hit two fifties in a total which took him to 3,123 runs in 2nd Grade—the highest in the grade and the first to top 3,000. He has 5,443 club runs—second only to Usman Khawaja’s 5,576.

John is also the joint holder of the club’s highest ever 1st Grade batting partnership. Against Gordon in 2009-10 John (157 not out) and Eddie Otto (163) put on a mammoth 293 for the 2nd wicket in 287 minutes at Chatswood Oval to successfully chase down Gordon’s 9-354 declared.  He is also only the second player to take more than 100 catches for the club holding 107.  In 2006-07 he was named as the Most Promising Player in the Club.

3rd Grade: RODNEY STAFFORD

Rod will captain 3rd Grade for the second time this season. He is one of the best all-rounders produced by the club in its 14 years. His record is 2,668 runs and 356 wickets–only one of four players to pass 300. A former 1st and 2nd Grade captain, last season the then 34 year old took over the 3rd Grade side with the intention of reviving the fortunes of the side after a few disappointing summers. And while the team ended up 10th, the fact they won five of their last seven games was a good indicator for the future.

Rodney is clearly the greatest leg-spinner produced by the club. He started with Randwick in 1997-98 and with his 110 wickets for that founding club he has a career record of 466 Sydney Grade Cricket wickets. On 16 occasions he has taken five wickets or more in an innings with 7-20 his best. In 2002-03 he was named Most Promising Player in the Club.

4th Grade: DAVID BOURKE

David has been appointed captain for the fourth successive season having first taken over in 2012-13.  David has played Sydney Grade Cricket for 20 years having started with the old Petersham-Marrickville club in 1995-96. A fast bowler in those days, he took 6-63 against Fairfield in his 1st Grade debut in 1997-98 when just 19. He is listed in the Association’s records as one of the youngest to take five wickets in an innings on debut.

Concentrating on his batting in later years David Bourke is now the second highest run-scorer in 4th Grade with 2,869 runs and fifth highest for the club with 4,202. Only David Townsend (3,633) has scored more in 4th Grade. Last season he had an amazing run with the toss winning 12 in a row! He lost just two.

In 2011-12 David was named Clubman of the Year.

5th Grade: LUIS SIDDALL

 After just two seasons with the club Luis will captain the 5th Grade team for the first time. He takes over from the retiring Grant Rimmer. A right hand middle order bat and leg-spin bowler Luis played with Randwick Juniors in the late 1990s. He played 11 games in 5th Grade over the past two seasons for 125 runs with a best score of 42*. At 34 years of age and a History Master at Shore who has published a book and numerous articles on ancient history, Luis brings a level of maturity to the role which he now takes on with enthusiasm. Our 5th Grade team is the club’s most successful and Luis will be looking to add to its imposing record of making the final series 11 times in 14 years.