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| Leafy Albert Park - Home of Cootamundra cricket |
2008/09 Season
The Cootamundra District Cricket Association was formed on 27 November, 1899 'to promote the interests of cricket in the district'. The Association was set up with entire control and management of all competition matches played between affiliated clubs and of district matches against other Associations as well as the power to settle disputes.
Cricket was first played in Cootamundra in the 1870s. In 1877 two cricket clubs flourished in the town - the Cootamindra Cricket Club which was financially well off and the United Cricket Club.
In 1880 cricket was a popular pastime with matches played against sides from across the region. Matches were played against Yass, Dudauman, Young, Murrumburrah, Springvale, Little Billabong and Yammatree. Matches were also played against Wagga Wagga for the Cox Cup. In 1883 the Wallendbeen Cricket Club was formed whilst the Stockinbingal Cricket Club was established in 1893. Both clubs are still active affiliates of the Association.
Other prominent clubs in the early years of the Association included Cullinga Cricket Club that installed a concrete wicket at the Cullinga Mines in 1900 and Dudauman Cricket Club which was established in 1926 and was the inaugural winner of the Sparre Cup for A Grade competition in the 1938-39 season.
However, prior to the formation of the Association high level cricket was played in Cootamundra. In 1881 the touring English team visited Cootamundra playing a local eleven on a new concrete wicket at Albert Park. The Cootamundra side was captained by Austrlian cricket captain Billy Murdoch who had opened a law practice in the town. For the record the Englishmen made 185 with the Cootamundra side replying with 112. Murdoch top scored for the locals with 57.
Albert Park was also the venue for another match against an "all English cricket team" on 29 November, 1886, The visitors faced twenty-two of Cootamundra. Witnessed by 1000 spectators the Englishmen cruised to an easy 10 wicket victory.
Cootamundra is famous as the birthplace of "The Don". Sir Donald George Bradman was born at 89 Adams Street, Cootamundra on 27 August, 1908. Regarded as the greatest player in the history of the game, Bradman left Cootamundra with his family when he was three to live at Bowral. He subsequently played two matches in the Cootamundra district in April, 1928 making 1 and 14. Later that year he was selected for his first Test Match and as they say the rest is history.
Over the years the Association has been prominant in district and regional cricket. Cootamundra has competed with success in the famous O'Farrell Cup challenge. The O'Farrell Cup dates from 1925 and Cootamundra have held the trophy for extended periods, most noteably in 1978-80 (28 matches) and 1989-90 (15 matches). The Association has also enjoyed considerable success in the Stribley Shield for Northern Riverina district competition. From being the inaugural winners in 1951-52, Cootamundra has since claimed the Shield on 15 occassions, double that of any other Association.
The Association conducts a grade competition throughout the summer with the symbol of supremacy being the Merrin Cup. The Merrin Cup was donated by Rex Merrin in 1945. The Sparre Cup was inauguarted in 1938-39 as the A Grade trophy, however since 1975-76 has been awarded to the B Grade champions. With the introduction of a single grade competition recently the top four sides contest the Merrin Cup during the finals with the bottom four teams playing off for the Sparre Cup.
Despite a reduction in playing strenghth over the past two decades, cricket remains strong in the Cootamundra district being extremely proud of its long and prominent history in Riverina, NSW and Austrlian Cricket.
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