A glittering evening at Kooyong as Legends Night returns

24oct6:00 pm10:00 pmA glittering evening at Kooyong as Legends Night returns

Event Details

24 October, 2022

130 cricket lovers gathered at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club for a special event as MC Brian James commences proceedings at the first Legends Night in three years.

Taverners Victoria Cricket Inclusion Awards

Two stand out Players and Volunteers from the All Abilities cricket team at Research Eltham Collegians CC and the Victorian Blind Cricket Association were celebrated alongside 3 new Taverners Victoria Legends. All in the company of past Taverners Legends, Brad Hodge and CA “Hall of Fame” member, Merv Hughes.

Congratulations to our inaugural Cricket Inclusion Awards  – All Abilities recipients:

Hannah Ryan – Most Celebrated Player
Hannah is one of 3 women in the RECCC All Abilities Team and played all 6 seasons since forming in 2016. She is a valued batter and wicket keeper, trains hard and her dedication has seen her skills and understanding of the game improve every season.

Wayne Jessop  Most Valued Volunteer,
Wayne has organised and coached the RECCC All Abilities team since inception in 2016. His coaching ability, disability support care and expertise is extraordinary. His positive attitude is shared with everyone involved and his commitment is only surpassed by his humility. Wayne is a very worthy winner of the Volunteer Award.

Research Eltham Collegians currently participate in Division 3 of the Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Assoc. (MAACA) which includes older teens and adults with intellectual disabilities. The rules and conditions of play are modified to suit the abilities of all players.

Recipients of the Cricket Inclusion Awards  – Blind and low vision, from the VBCA were:

Lachlan Hayward – The Most Celebrated Player
Lachlan is an up and coming, Australian B1 player who has shown significant skills development and outstanding work ethic. His effort has been rewarded with a spot in the National Mens Blind Cricket Team to tour India in December 2022.

Brett Wilson – Most Valued Volunteer
Brett was chosen for his outstanding dedication as a coach of the VBCA and Victorian, NCIC Blind and low vision team. Brett always takes the time and care to help anyone and has also been a tireless volunteer with extra duties around the VBCA.A crowd of 130 cricket lovers gathered at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club for a special event as MC Brian James commences proceedings at the first Legends Night in three years.

Len King, Ken Eastwood and superstar, Meg Lanning –
Our newest Victorian Legends …

Umpire Len King officiated in 7 Tests between 1989 and 1993, (6 on-field and 1 as 3rd Umpire). Len also umpired 25 ODI’s (23 on-field), 35 First class matches, 6 Interstate One Dayers and 166 Premier 1st XI matches, with 7 of these being Finals.

Len described his Test umpiring debut, with the West Indies playing the Aussies at the SCG, as like having sex for the first time, only it lasted 5 days! David Boon scored a century and Alan Border took 11 wickets and made 75 runs to assist in a 7 wicket win for the home team.

Len was on the VCA Umpires Panel for 13 seasons and another 7 as a VCA Umpire’s Director up until 2000/01.

Ken Eastwood the Left hand Victorian Opener from 1959/60 to 1971/72 scored 2,722 runs for the Vics, including 2 double centuries, 177 and 164. In the 1969/70 season Victoria won the Sheffield Shield, Ken lead the scoring with 584 runs. Ken achieved the rare feat of scoring more 100’s than 50’s for Victoria, only equaled by Dean Jones.

“Easty” replaced Bill Lawry for his only Test appearance in 1971. While missing out with the bat, he picked up the wicket of Keith Fletcher bowling his Chinamen.

Ken’s massive contribution to Footscray CC includes multiple awards, being a 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI Premiership captain, Assistant and Batting Coach, net captain and long term committeeman. After retiring from playing District cricket at age 54, he umpired in the VTCA for 26 years, retiring at the age of 81.

Brad Hodge spoke on behalf of our 3rd Legend inductee, Meg Lanning who is taking a break from the relentless pressures of over a decade at the top of International Women’s cricket. He described Meg as one of the most elegant batters he has seen, an amazingly talented sportswoman taking time out in New York to sort out the next stage of her life at 30.

Little more needs to be said about Lanning’s achievements, captaining Australia twice and winning multiple World Cup and World T20 titles is well documented. The future is a wait and see for Meg.

Congratulations to all our three latest Legends who have done Victorian Cricket very proud indeed.

Time

(Monday) 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

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