Churchie’s greatest GPS cricket team includes a potential great that never was

This Anglican Church Grammar School GPS schoolboy cricket dream team would feature greats Peter Burge and Ron Archer, but a lesser known elite player would also make the side selected by seasoned journalist Andrew Dawson.

This Anglican Church Grammar School GPS schoolboy cricket dream team would feature greats Peter Burge and Ron Archer, but a lesser known elite player would also make the side selected by seasoned journalist Andrew Dawson.

Peter Anderson played 56 first class games for Queensland and South Australia between 1986 and 1994, but no statistics do his ability justice.

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To put Anderson’s skill into perspective, proud Churchie old boy and former left arm Test quick Tony Dell said of him: “I played club cricket with Peter at Easts. He was the best keeper I ever seen who fearlessly stood up to the stumps to many medium fast bowlers. It was a crying shame that he didn’t get to play for Australia.’’

Peter Anderson in 1988.

Dell’s claims were backed up by veteran Victorian keeper Darren Berry who is reported to have said: “I take nothing away from Ian Healy, whose keeping to Shane Warne during the 1993 and ‘97 Ashes series may never be equalled, but let me tell you, Peter Anderson was a freak.’’

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Anderson was light on his feet with glovework to saviour, but his career hit a speed bump one day playing a Sheffield Shield fixture in Perth, when he broke a finger standing up to England swing bowler Ian Botham.

He missed the next match through injury, and his replacement went on to become Australia’s Test gloveman of last century. It was the great Ian Healy.

Queensland fast bowler Tony Dell.

Anderson would be part of a side spearheaded by the mighty Burge and Ron Archer, an astounding all-rounder who averaged 24.58 with the ball and 31.93 with the bat.

Another old-timer, Ray Reynolds, a brut to bowl to, would open while Ryan Broad and Ben McDermott were in.

The great Queensland batsman Peter Burge pulling Lindsay Kline. (Pic copyright Herald Sun Feature Service, Melbourne)

The side includes Grant Law, the father of five-time Shield winning captain Stuart. Those who saw stylish Grant Law play know where Stuart Law’s batting elegance came from.

Ron Archer, right, with Richie Benaud. HWT ARCHIVAL NEGATIVE.

The attack would be spearheaded by Dell and Archer, with former Wallaby David Taylor the support fast bowler. The choice of spinners would be between ex-Test player Bob Paulsen and Dennis Lillie, while Ron Archer’s brother Ken would be in the team.

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Charlie Mengel, an ex- Churchie captain and Shield player, was considered next to David Rathie.

The team:

Ray Reynolds

Ryan Broad

Peter Burge

Grant Law

Ben McDermott

Ken Archer

Ron Archer

Peter Anderson

David Taylor

Tony Dell

Bob Paulsen

Dennis Lillie

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.