Greatest school cricket teams: Messenger Community News picks Adelaide High and Norwood High/Norwood Morialta’s all-time XIs

Messenger Community News has chosen eight Adelaide schools’ greatest cricket teams as part of a five-day series to find the best. Up next, Adelaide High and Norwood High/Norwood Morialta.

• Greatest school cricket teams: Scotch and St Peter’s
• Greatest school cricket teams: Thebarton Tech and Woodville High
• Greatest school footy teams: Prince Alfred and St Peter’s
• Greatest school footy teams: Rostrevor and Sacred Heart

First we chose eight Adelaide schools’ greatest football teams.

Now it’s cricket’s turn.

Messenger Community News sports editor Matt Turner has tried to determine the Adelaide schools that have produced the best cricketers by selecting their all-time XIs, plus a 12th man.

There are again eight best-ever school sides – and more selection headaches.

Who do you leave out? Who bats where? What is the best balance of each side?

How do you compare recent cricketers to those from the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

There were countless discussions over several months about the line-ups – firstly finding the players and then filling spots in batting order.

But with the help of the schools, SACA, grade clubs, cricket lovers, historians and statisticians – special thanks to Ken “KG” Cunningham, Denis Brien, Geoff Sando and Ray Webster – the squads have been chosen.

And Turner has again made the final call.

The search for Adelaide’s best cricket school: Adelaide High and Norwood High

Messenger Community News has selected Scotch and St Peter’s greatest cricket XIs.

The eight schools settled upon were the ones he believed had the strongest teams, not just a handful of star players.

Players were picked based on their post-school cricket achievements, rather than first XI performances.

Natural talent was considered secondary to output and accomplishments, which ensured some emerging present-day players were overlooked despite the possibility of future stardom.

If a brilliant career was cut short by war, injury or other factors, that was taken into account.

Team balance was important – it was not an exercise in picking each school’s best 11 cricketers – but some sides boasted deeper batting line-ups or extra bowlers to ensure its quality was not reduced.

Choosing the teams ultimately came down to poring over hundreds of players’ statistics via Cricinfo and grade records, seeking dozens of opinions, and gut feel.

Next up in the series are Adelaide High and Norwood High/Norwood Morialta.

* Statistics as of January 31, 2019. Grade statistics, provided by Geoff Sando, Ray Webster and the clubs, have only been listed for non-international players. Clubs’ top-10 run scorers and wicket-takers are mentioned.

ADELAIDE HIGH

THREE Test cricketers, including a controversial New Zealander, headline Adelaide High School’s all-time XI.

Bodyline era paceman Tim Wall leads the attack, three-Test leg-spinner Bruce Dooland is also in the side and the most eye-catching selection is Kiwi Lou Vincent.

Vincent was born on New Zealand’s North Island but moved to Adelaide and attended the school before playing 23 Tests, 102 One-Day Internationals and nine Twenty20 Internationals.

The right-hand batsman scored a Test century on debut against Australia in 2001, recorded a top score of 224 and made six hundreds at international level.

But Vincent’s career was overshadowed by the England and Wales Cricket Board banning him for life in 2014 after he admitted to 18 counts of match-fixing.

Ultimately, the team was picked on playing achievements and his could not be overlooked, so he was named to bat at first drop.

Selected to open were World War II pilot Ken Ridings, who died at age 23 after his aircraft was attacked over the Bay of Biscay in 1943, and ex-Adelaide batsman Bob Lee.

Having been tipped to become a first-class star, Ridings got the nod as captain.

Glenelg’s third-most prolific run scorer, Murray Sargent, is at four – he can also open – ahead of number five Cameron Valente, who usually bats a few spots lower for SA.

Adelaide Strikers’ Cameron Valente is named to bat at number five for Adelaide High. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz

But Valente has scored two state one-day hundreds, along with 1877 runs at 39.1 for Adelaide, batting at four for the Buffalos in recent seasons.

Given the side is a little light on batting depth, long-time Prospect wicketkeeper Leonard Michael slots in at six, immediately before Dooland, who has a first-class average of 24.37.

Bowling is the side’s strength and there has been plenty of debate over who takes the new ball with Wall.

Prospect’s all-time leading wicket-taker, left-armer Graham Clarke, got the nod, just ahead of East Torrens star Roy Stratfold and Kensington’s third-most prolific wicket-taker, Ian Glover.

Stratfold was chosen as 12th man but Glover narrowly missed out on making the team.

As for Wall, he is one of three cricketers to snare 10 wickets in a Shield innings, taking 10/36 for SA against NSW in 1933.

Triple Bradman medallist Rob O’Shannassy boosts the pace attack, while Dooland and left-arm orthodox Reg Ellis offer variety.

Dooland took a stunning 1016 first-class wickets at 21.98 from 214 matches (748 for County side Nottinghamshire), despite not debuting until the age of 22 because he served as a sergeant with Z Special Unit in Borneo during World War II.

Dooland also attended Thebarton Technical High School.

Adelaide High’s left-arm orthodox Reg Ellis, pictured aged 93 in 2010, played in the 1945 Victory Tests against England and served as a flight lieutenant during World War II. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Ellis also served in that war – as a flight lieutenant who flew 11 missions over occupied Europe – before playing not only for SA, but an Australian Services team in the Victory Tests against England in 1945.

Others who were seriously considered for selection were West Torrens and Salisbury batsman Hartley Wood, 1920s and ‘30s Prospect all-rounder Lavvy Smith, the Eagles’ second-highest wicket-taker Norm King, and the Pirates’ second-leading run scorer, David Strudwick.

Tweaker Tom O’Connell, who now plays for Victoria, and Redbacks Jake Winter and Michael Cormack will be ones to watch in coming years.

Adelaide High’s greatest cricket XI.

1. Ken Ridings (West Torrens) (c)

19 FC: 919 runs at 32.82; 7 wickets at 26

Grade: 1795 runs at 40.79; 6 wickets at 44.16

2. Bob Lee (Adelaide)

3 FC: 142 runs at 35.5

Grade: 6508 runs at 29.71; 33 wickets at 35.12

3. Lou Vincent (Prospect)

23 Tests: 1332 runs at 34.15

102 ODI: 2413 runs at 27.11; 1 wicket at 25

9 T20I: 174 runs at 19.33

98 FC: 5184 runs at 34.56; 10 wickets at 53.5

220 OD: 6079 runs at 30.7; 7 wickets at 37

111 T20: 2395 runs at 24.19; 4 wickets at 21.5

4. Murray Sargent (Glenelg)

22 FC: 804 runs at 23.64; 3 wickets at 68

Grade: 5601 runs at 28.72; 14 wickets at 35.28 (third-most runs at Glenelg)

Controversial Kiwi cricketer and Adelaide High old scholar Lou Vincent, pictured in 2001 after making a century against Australia in his Test debut, admitted to match-fixing in 2014 and received a life ban but was still named in this team because of his international record. Picture: AP

5. Cameron Valente (Adelaide)

8 FC: 182 runs at 13; 14 wickets at 44.64

19 OD: 471 runs at 31.4; 29 wickets at 30.31

4 T20s: 42 runs at 42; 2 wickets at 45

Grade: 1877 runs at 39.1; 124 wickets at 22.31

6. Leonard Michael (Prospect) +

21 FC: 571 runs at 17.84; 27 catches, 5 stumpings

Grade: 3853 runs at 31.07; 4 wickets at 26.25 (eighth-most runs at Prospect)

7. Bruce Dooland (West Torrens)

3 Tests: 76 runs at 19; 9 wickets at 46.55

214 FC: 7141 runs at 24.37; 1016 wickets 21.98

8. Rob O’Shannassy (Prospect, Adelaide University, Tea Tree Gully)

4 FC: 125 runs at 20.83; 5 wickets at 56.8

1 OD: 4 runs, no average; 2 wickets at 31

Grade: 4278 runs at 18.44; 521 wickets at 18.34 (third-most wickets at Adelaide University – 251; sixth-most wickets at Prospect – 225)

Three-time Bradman medallist

9. Graham Clarke (Senior Colts, Prospect, Salisbury)

6 FC: 89 runs at 12.71; 10 wickets at 40.2

Grade: 4665 runs at 18.36; 724 wickets at 16.57 (club wickets record at Prospect – 521)

Prospect’s all-time leading wicket-taker Graham Clarke, pictured in 1967.

10. Tim Wall (Port Adelaide, Colts, North Adelaide/Prospect)

18 Tests: 121 runs at 6.36; 56 wickets at 35.89

108 FC: 1071 runs at 10.5; 330 wickets at 29.93

11. Reg Ellis (Sturt, Colts)

21 FC: 47 runs at 2.93; 78 wickets at 26.53

Grade: 302 runs at 8.88; 125 wickets at 21.

12th man: Roy Stratfold (Senior Colts, East Torrens)

Grade: 2424 runs at 12.75; 624 wickets at 18.08 (second-most wickets at East Torrens – 618)

Bradman medallist

NORWOOD HIGH/NORWOOD MORIALTA

FORMER East Torrens and Kensington stars, including a Test paceman with links to both clubs, fill the Norwood High School/Norwood Morialta all-time team.

Every player in the squad lined up for either the Browns or Reds during their grade careers.

All of them went to Norwood High School, which merged with Morialta High in 1993 to form Norwood Morialta.

Jeff Hammond, who featured in five Tests, and long-time state batsman Neil Dansie are the side’s biggest names.

Hammond debuted on the 1973 tour of the West Indies and played every Test of that series but broke his foot after returning home and could not force his way back into an attack spearheaded by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson.

Younger cricket followers would probably know Hammond better as the coach who steered the state to a drought-breaking Sheffield Shield crown in 1995/96.

Dansie was part of two Shield-winning squads during his 124-game first-class career and also starred at grade level, ranking in Kensington’s top 10 for most all-time runs and wickets.

Norwood High old scholar and former state star Neil Dansie (left), presenting the SACA medal named in his honour to Redback Callum Ferguson in 2015. Picture: David Cronin

East Torrens all-rounder Harry Whitfield, selected at number six, lined up in 25 state games and once took a 10-for in a grade innings.

His 10/18 – against Prospect in 1934/35 – are the best figures in the SA competition’s history.

Another all-rounder, Bruce Bowley, would often open the bowling and batting at grade level, and was chosen at the top of the order in this team.

Bowley’s opening partner is Eric Johnson, who has made the fifth-most runs in Kensington’s history with 5039.

At four is 1981/82 Bradman medallist Peter Herbert, while East Torrens’ 1930s batsman Bruce Schultz comes in one spot behind him.

Wicketkeeping duties were given to Ross Moyle, who was a part-time gloveman (he won three Talbot Smith Medals) and very handy batsman (10th all-time for runs at Kensington).

Moyle, a Browns and SA teammate of Sir Donald Bradman, died of wounds while serving as acting sergeant with the 2/8 Field Ambulance Unit in Egypt during World War II.

The bowling line-up is an all-out pace attack.

Left-armer Ken Horsnell or right-armers Frank Morton and Allan Frost could all be thrown the new ball to open with Hammond.

Ken Horsnell, pictured while at Kensington in 1953, would be a new-ball option for Norwood High with Jeff Hammond.

Horsnell had a 10-wicket match haul among his 16 state games from 1953-61, Morton began at East Torrens but played mostly for Victoria and South Melbourne, where he became a star, while Frost was regarded as one of the quickest state bowlers during the ‘60s.

Given Bowley is a fifth pace option, Dansie’s leg-spin provides much-needed variety.

Sturt’s third-most prolific wicket-taker, paceman Jeff Kowalick, is 12th man.

Ken Bagshaw, an East Torrens batsman whose career was interrupted by World War II, narrowly missed out on making the team.

Norwood High/Norwood Morialta’s greatest XI.

1. Bruce Bowley (Colts, Kensington, Prospect, East Torrens, Sturt)

30 FC: 1092 runs at 21.41; 54 wickets at 35.44

Grade: 5694 runs at 33.29; 294 wickets at 14.4

2. Eric Johnson (East Torrens, Colts, Kensington)

6 FC: 141 runs at 14.1

Grade: 5663 runs at 32.17; 47 wickets at 33.17 (fifth-most runs at Kensington – 5039)

3. Neil Dansie (Kensington, East Torrens) (c)

124 FC: 7543 runs at 34.44; 90 wickets at 33.31

Grade: 6577 runs at 27.98; 322 wickets at 18.03 (sixth-most runs at Kensington – 5016; 10th-most wickets at Kensington – 235)

4. Peter Herbert (Teacher’s College, East Torrens)

4 FC: 152 runs at 19

Grade: 7061 runs at 26.54; 78 wickets at 26.7 (ninth-most runs at East Torrens – 3924)

Bradman medallist

East Torrens and Norwood High batsman Peter Herbert in 1969.

5. Bruce Schultz (East Torrens)

2 FC: 132 runs at 33; 2 wickets at 29.5

Grade: 2600 runs at 35.13; 98 wickets at 23.7

6. Harry Whitfield (East Torrens, Colts)

25 FC: 1065 runs at 25.35; 58 wickets at 37.75

Grade: 2998 runs at 24.77; 246 wickets at 19.73 (10th-most wickets at East Torrens – 209)

7. Ross Moyle (Kensington, Colts) +

15 FC: 496 runs at 26.1; 15 catches, 1 stumping

Grade: 4499 runs at 38.12; 1 wicket at 144 (10th-most runs at Kensington – 4452)

8. Jeff Hammond (Prospect, East Torrens, Kensington, Adelaide)

5 Tests: 28 runs at 9.33; 15 wickets at 32.53

1 ODI: 15 runs, no average; 1 wicket at 41

69 FC: 922 runs at 16.46; 184 wickets at 28.88

15 OD: 99 runs at 14.14; 15 wickets at 34.06

9. Ken Horsnell (East Torrens, Kensington)

16 FC: 166 runs at 7.21; 44 wickets at 31.72

Grade: 936 runs at 10.4; 352 wickets at 16.9

Norwood SANFL coach turned Crows chairman Bob Hammond (left) with Norwood High old scholar and Australian cricketer Jeff Hammond in 1976.

10. Frank Morton (East Torrens)

28 FC: 204 runs at 7.84; 94 wickets at 32.75
Grade: 35 runs at 7; 25 wickets at 17.72

11. Allan Frost (Kensington)

24 FC: 114 runs at 4.95; 72 wickets at 29.04

Grade: 347 runs at 7.88; 201 wickets at 19.89

12th man: Jeff Kowalick (East Torrens, Teacher’s College, Sturt)

1 FC: 0 runs; 1 wicket at 88

Grade: 1074 runs at 10.52; 421 wickets at 19.53 (third-most wickets at Sturt – 292)

REVEALED TOMORROW: Pembroke School and Prince Alfred College

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