ADF sends their best to the Ashes

Commanding Officer of the 1945 Services Cricket Team, Stan Sismey (front centre), joins the ASCA 2005 England tour squad in Brisbane before their Ashes tour.

Photo by WO2 Graham McBean

THE cream of ADF cricket departed Brisbane this month for an 11-match tour of England and their own Ashes showdown with the UK Combined Service XI.

It is the first tour of England since 1993 and the 60th anniversary of the drawn Services Victory Tests between an open England side and an Australian Services side under the captaincy of Warrant Officer Lindsay Hasset.

An 18-man squad will play seven lead-up games before taking on the RAF, Army, RAN and the culminating match against the UK Combined Services.

The ADF team was farewelled by the 1945 Services Team Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Stan Sismey, and Invincibles legend, Bill Brown.

Squadron Leader Sismey, a pilot during World War II, visited the 2005 tour squad during training and said it was important to compete but just as important to compete in the spirit of cricket.

“I’ve always stuck by the three Ds – dedication, discipline and determination,” he said.

“If you apply those principles to your particular sport then you will get to where you want to go.”
2005 tour captain Squadron Leader Steve O’Hara said the ADF squad was very aware of the historical footsteps in which they were following.

“I think we are very fortunate and we are doubling our luck on this tour,” he said.

“We have got the 60th anniversary of the ’45 side and the Victory tests and we have got the Ashes year over there as well and there is a good chance we could run into the Australian test side.”

The 30-day tour means a busy schedule but the lead-up games will be an important phase to consolidate skills in preparation for the seasoned UK cricketers in the middle of their summer competition.

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