More woe for Aussies

Leamington CC’s Dave Hawkes, Keith Edwards and Duncan Gardner (both Warwick CC Staff) were among the 13 players and 11 wives who left a snowbound UK on December 27 to head Down Under for a series of games and a chance to explore Australia’s largest city.

Playing against teams of similar ages and abilites, Warwickshire lost the warm-up game before winning four of the next five and seeing one match abandoned.

Included in these was a mini Ashes which Warwickshire fought back to win 2-1 having lost the opener in Shipston in July.

The highlight, though, proved to be an appearance in the Primary Club of Australia’s Marathon of Cricket, a two- day event at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Hawkes was the star of the show, hitting a six off the final ball to seal victory in the 12-over-a-side game.

“It was a feeling that I thought could not be surpassed,” said Hawkes. “Only for the great Richie Benaud to ask ‘who hit that six?’ and then tell me I ‘would never forget the feeling and always remember the day’. As usual he was right.”