GPS sporting doyen Ron Cochrane selectors Brisbane Grammar School’s all-star First XI
Two players with fascinating links to Sir Donald Bradman and three current players have been named in Ron Cochrane’s all-time Brisbane Grammar School cricket XI.
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GPS sporting doyen Ron Cochrane has run his eyes down a list of the finest cricketers to play for his beloved Brisbane Grammar School and come up with an all-star First XI.
A long serving BGS director of sport, Conchrane comprised the 12 from the best of the best during Grammar’s history stretching from 1868 to 2019.
The side includes two players with unique links to Sir Donald Bradman - one who ran Bradman out when he was on 299, and another who replaced Bradman after he was dropped following his first Test in 1928.
Three current players also made the top 12.
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1. Matt Renshaw: In 2013 he produced an innings against Gregory Terrace to decide the premiership, He scored about 48 that day, but it was the way he got them that stamped him as a special playing coming through the GPS system. It is no surprise he went on to play for Queensland and Australia.
2. Roger Traves: A former school captain, (1978), he went on to play for University and opened for Queensland. He scored a GPS century and not too many people score those. Excellent player.
3. Bill Buckle: Queensland never saw the absolute best of Bill. As a schoolboy cricketer he opened the bowling and was a tremendous batsmen. A schoolboy shot put champion, Bill scored 200 odd for Queensland against Victoria and got a lot of runs against the English touring side. But he got glandular fever and that really affected him.
4. David Ogilvie: Grammar’s finest all-round sportsman. Indeed Alan Jones (former Wallaby coach, teach and radio broadcaster) often referred to David as Tobin Bronze, the great Melbourne Cup winner. David did something that only Bill Ponsford, Sir Donald Bradman and Greg Chappell did by scoring six hundreds in a row in Sheffield Shield cricket. He of course went on to play Test cricket and was a sensational gully fielder.
5. Alan Marshal: A batsman and off-spinner, Marshal was once one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year. It was in England, not Queensland, that Marshal’s career unfolded for Surrey with the great Jack Hobbs and Lord Hawke.
6. Geoff Cook: A sturdy, reliable batsman who went on to play for Queensland. A deserved selection in this company.
7. Ben Dunk: An Australian T20 representative, Dunk would be the gloveman. He is a modern cricketer who played Shield cricket for Queensland and Tasmania, but in T20 Big Bash and on the T10 circuit he really shines. Ben could have been a champion tennis player. As a schoolboy he was as good a tennis player as he was a cricketer.
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8. Otto Nothling: He had a distinguished medical career, was president of Queensland cricket and famously replaced Sir Don Bradman after Bradman was dropped following his first Test in 1928. Otto of course then played Test rugby for Australia. An unknown fact was when he was at the University of NSW, they were looking for a javelin thrower so he threw the javelin and broke the Australian junior record.
9. Alec Hurwood: An Australian and Queensland off-spinner who toured with Bradman on an Ashes tour. Making the same side as The Don is a feather in anyone’s cap.
10. Ross Duncan: Roscoe made his Test debut in 1970-71 against England in Melbourne and he was a wonderful right arm quick bowler. I remember going to his 50th birthday and Peter Burge (former Queensland batting great) and Merv Hughes (former Test bowler) were there. Peter Burge said they would have to get 10 Merv Hughes’ for one Ross Duncan, so highly thought of was Duncan the peers of his era.
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11. Pud Thurlow: Pud famously came into bat with The Don (Bradman) who was on 299 not out at the Adelaide Oval against South Africa in 1931-32. When Pud came in, Bradman was out, run out, almost straight away leaving The Don short one short of his triple century. That was Pud’s only Test match.
12. Ben Cutting: Ben Cutting and Ben Dunk were in the same Grammar First XI cricket team. Cutting reflects the modern game but people should not forget he was good enough to be named 12th man for Australia in a Test match at the Gabba. The choice that day was playing either Mitchell Starc or Ben. He also played one day cricket for Australia and on the T20 circuit is an outstanding cricketer. No one hits a longer ball than Ben Cutting. He was also a wonderful slips catch who reminded me of Terry Alderman in that he was a pace bowler who fielded in the slips. Ben is a wonderful all-round cricketer.
Cochrane wanted to make special mention of Charles Powers who led a fascinating life. Cochrane said of Powers: “He captained Queensland against a touring English side, was a solicitor and became mayor of Maryborough in 1883. He was a keen gardener who never smoked or drank, and he was elected to the parliament of Queensland as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Burrum.’’
GPS CRICKET COVERAGE: The GPS cricket season starts on Saturday, February 1. Andrew Dawson will be covering matches and reporting for both the Quest Community Newspapers and The Courier-Mail online sites.
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