ADF stumps UK

By Flying Officer Georgina Lowe

A Royal Army batsman is beaten by a fast delivery from an ADF bowler when the teams clashed in Aldershot, England.

Photo by AB Joanne Edwards.

THE Australian combined Services cricket team has defeated its UK counterpart in its tour of England.

The Australian Services Cricket Association (ASCA) sent an 18-man squad (six men from each service) to play against the UK’s Services teams and several local cricket clubs.

The tour coincided with the 60th anniversary of the 1945 Australian Services side tour to England after the end of World War II. Captained by Test player Warrant Officer Class Two Lindsay Hassett and including Air Force Sergeant Keith Miller – who went on to become one of the greatest Test all-rounders – the 1945 side played five Tests against an England XI, winning two, losing two and drawing one.

The ASCA’s 2005 side played 11 games, winning six, losing three and drawing two.

The most important of these, however, were the matches against the Royal Navy, Air Force, Army, and the UK combined Services side. Spokesman for the team, Captain Mark Jackson, said the ASCA side won convincingly.

“We not only won but we really actually dominated and won those games very easily,” he said.

Captain Jackson said the match against the UK Army side was significant, as the team had won six matches in a row this year.

“The strength of that victory I think really set us up and got us in a really positive frame of mind. We knocked over the Navy two days later and then when we came to our final game against the combined Services,” he said.

“Our bowlers simply bowled excellent line and length and again tied them up, got consistent wickets all the way through and really just didn’t let their batsmen get a look-in. It was another really crushing victory.”
The ASCA team produced a score of 7/269 and bowled the UK combined Services side out for 175.

Vice-captain Petty Officer Nick Knights won player of the tour for his batting prowess. Army Sergeant Geoff Ingram, was awarded runner-up player of the tour for his performance in bowling.

“He bowled exceptionally well. He was actually man of the match with 4/15 off 10 overs. He has always been a very good line bowler, but the English playing conditions absolutely suited him to a tee. He was able to bowl to his strength,” Captain Jackson said.

In addition to the 11 games, the ASCA team attended several functions and held a service at the Australian War Memorial in Hyde Park, London.

Before leaving Australia, the team was farewelled at a dinner at the Queensland Cricket Club by former Australian cricket captain Bill Brown and guest speaker, 89-year-old Stan Sismey, CO of the 1945 Service cricket side.

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