By David Kirkpatrick
| TOURING
PARTY |
Air
Force members are:
-SQNLDR Steven O’Hara – captain
-SQNLDR Paul Collins
-CPL Greg Weller
-LAC Adam Bosworth
-LAC Ricky Mace |
A TEAM of ADF cricketers will follow in the footsteps of some
famous forebears when they undertake a four-week tour of England
from July 14.
The 2005 tour of England is especially significant as it coincides
with the 60th anniversary of the 1945 Australian Services side.
Under the captaincy of Test player Warrant Officer Class Two Lindsay
Hassett, the 1945 side played matches in England, India, Ceylon
(now Sri Lanka) and Australia.
The find of this team was undoubtedly Air Force Sergeant Keith
Miller, who went on to become one of the greatest Test all-rounders.
The coach of the present-day team, Warrant Officer Class 1 Barry
James, said the spirit of the 1945 side would help inspire the
2005 touring party.
“Definitely it will be the focus of the tour, we will have
the spirit of the ’45 team with us,” WO1 James said.
“The captain of the 1945 team, Stan Sisme, will be at our
farewell function and he is still an ardent follower of Services’
cricket.”
The 2005 tour will involve matches against the various United
Kingdom Services’ sides and the Combined Services team. It
will also coincide with the Australian team’s Ashes tour
of England.
Although the ADF team will be missing some of its best players,
because of work commitments, the side is expected to perform well.
“The depth within Defence cricket is quite strong,”
WO1 James said. “We know we will face solid opposition, because
a lot of their cricketers play county cricket over there. We know
that we will be up against it, but we have some really good cricketers
who are all proven at grade level and performed well at the national
championships.”
Players to watch include Air Force’s Corporal Greg Weller,
a talented all-rounder who opens the batting for the ADF side
and also bowls leg spin.
The team will assemble in Brisbane on July 9 for training and
briefings.
