ADF team captain, PO Nick Knight, in action at the crease against the QLD U19s.

Photo: ABPH Kade Rogers

By LCDR Ian Pfeffer

In a display of pure domination, Navy swept away the opposition to take the ADF National Cricket title in Brisbane last month.

Winning the championship for the first time since 1999, Navy dominated the carnival, winning all three of its 50- over round-robin matches including a 58-run win over RAAF in the final.

Captained by POET Nick Knight, Navy fought hard to win the first match against Army in their first outing.

Army batted for the full 50 overs & built their total steadily to finish at 7 for 192.

Two Navy debutants took the bulk of the wickets.

SBLT Matthew Minahan-Ryan bowled quickly into the wind, taking 3 for 20, while ABBM Scott Rickard ground out 2 for 42, both from 10 overs.

Army took quick wickets in Navy’s reply.

The innings was saved by rising star ABET Tim WildIn, who hit the winning run to finish on 99 not out.

His stylish, powerful batting was the backbone of the Navy innings with Navy achieving the total of 193 with 2 wickets and 10 balls to spare.

The next game was against the visiting RNZAF who made up the fourth team in the round-robin.

Navy changed its line-up and batting order to give all squad members the opportunity to press for selection in the final against RAAF.

LSATA Glenn Cleary top scored with 71 in Navy’s win, supported by Tim Wildin who made 56. RNZAF chased Navy’s 231 earnestly, but fell 10 runs short.

The final against RAAF started tensely, with some RAN wickets falling quickly.


The middle order batsmen put their heads down and toiled for two hours for only 80 runs.

Tailenders Glenn Cleary and Scott Rickard both top scored with 34 each for Navy to reach a defendable total of 185 in the 48th over.

ABBM Rickard’s innings was swashbuckling at almost a run a minute and notable since he played with a hamstring injury.

Navy skittled RAAF for 127 in the 44th over to win.

Best bowlers were WOSTD Gary Fuss with 3 for 16 off 6.5 overs, intimidating express bowling earning LBWs and LSMT Shane White with 2 for 23 from 10 overs of controlled medium pace.

The best performing Navy players earned selection to play for Combined Service teams playing the QCA under 19s, including, for the first time, a combined ANZAC team. See stories page 31.

Anyone interested in playing Navy cricket should contact WOSTD Gary Fuss on (02) 9377 2015.

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