Australian Cricket Society

The Australian Cricket Society is a fraternity of cricket lovers with branches in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. It was established in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1967.[1] As of 2016 Ricky Ponting serves as patron.[1]

Activities

Guest speakers at its Annual Dinners come from the 'Who's Who' of the cricketing world. Down through the years, they've included Sir Donald Bradman, Lindsay Hassett, Bill Lawry and more recently, Ian Healy, Dean Jones, Damien Fleming, Justin Langer and Barry Richards.[2] The Society supports youth and grassroots cricket through its Young Cricketer (male and female) and sponsorship of emerging talent through the Elite Cricket Academy.[2]

Publications

Each summer the Society publishes its flagship magazine, Pavilion, edited by Ken Piesse - a 48-page production with articles by renowned cricket writers and a forum for members and friends. The Cricket Society Scoresheet quarterly news bulletin keeps members informed of upcoming events.

Jack Pollard Trophy

In order to encourage cricket writing in Australia, in 1984 Jack Pollard donated a trophy to be awarded by the Australian Cricket Society to the author of the best Australian cricket book published over the previous 12 months.[3][2] It is sometimes called the Jack Pollard Literary Award.[4]

YearWinning authorTitle
1984Michael PageBradman: The Illustrated Biography
1985Richard Cashman'Ave a Go, Yer Mug!: Australian Cricket Crowds from Larrikin to Ocker
1986Phil DerrimanTrue to the Blue: A History of the New South Wales Cricket Association
1987Chris HarteThe History of the Sheffield Shield
1988Jack McHargStan McCabe: The Man and His Cricket
1989Chris HarteTwo Tours and Pollock: The Australians in South Africa 1985–87
1990Richard CashmanThe "Demon" Spofforth
1991Mike CowardCricket Beyond the Bazaar
1994Gideon HaighThe Cricket War: The Inside Story of Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket
1995Mike CowardAustralia vs the New South Africa: Cricket Contact Renewed
1998Gideon HaighThe Summer Game: Australian Test Cricket 1949–71
2000Gideon HaighMystery Spinner: The Story of Jack Iverson
2002Gideon HaighThe Big Ship: Warwick Armstrong and the Making of Modern Cricket
2003Mike Colman and Ken EdwardsEddie Gilbert: The True Story of an Aboriginal Cricketing Legend
2004Max BonnellHow Many More Are Coming?: The Short Life of Jack Marsh
2006Alf BatchelderPavilions in the Park: A History of the Melbourne Cricket Club and its Ground
2008Gideon Haigh and David FrithInside Story: Unlocking Australian Cricket's Archives
2010Alf BatchelderHugh Trumble: A Cricketer's Life
2011Rick SmithBlighted Lives: The Story of Harry and Albert Trott
2012Max Bonnell and Andrew SproulTibby Cotter: Fast Bowler, Larrikin, Anzac
2013Gideon HaighOn Warne
2015Daniel BrettigWhitewash to Whitewash: Australian Cricket's Years of Struggle and Summer of Riches
2016Elliot Cartledge and Tim LaneChasing Shadows: The Life and Death of Peter Roebuck
2017Gideon HaighStroke of Genius: Victor Trumper and the Shot That Changed Cricket[4]
2018Denis BrienAll the Kings' Men: A History of the Hindmarsh Cricket Club[5]
2020Greg GrowdenCricketers at War: Cricket Heroes Who Fought for Australia in Battle
2022Peter LloydWarren Bardsley: The First Mr Cricket
2023Max Bonnell and Andrew SproulBlack Swan Summer[6]

NB: The trophy is not awarded every year.

Veterans cricket

The ACS Melbourne Wandering XI plays up to 20 friendlies each season against like-minded players from the MCC XXIX Club, Lords Taverners and the Supreme Court of Victoria. The Society is a founding member of Veterans Cricket Victoria.[7] fielding Over 60 and 70 year old teams in the Victoria state wide competition and end of season carnival at Echuca. Seventeen ACS players have been chosen to represent Victoria at upcoming Over 60s Australian Over 60s and Over 70s Championships to be held in November 2022.

The Society has been a regular participant in Golden Oldies, Vintage Cricket carnivals and Exotic Cricket Tours around the world and has hosted like-minded overseas touring teams visiting Australia since 1996.

References

  1. "About ACS". Australian Cricket Society. 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  2. "Awards & Speakers". Australian Cricket Society. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  3. The Oxford Companion to Australian Cricket, Oxford, Melbourne, 1996, p. 423.
  4. "Haigh wins sixth Jack Pollard Literary Award". Books + Publishing. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. "SA Cricketing Book Wins Jack Pollard Trophy". Glam Adelaide. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  6. "Black Swan Summer Wins Literary Award". Pitch Publishing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  7. "VCV: Home". Veterans Cricket Victoria. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.