Ton of runs: Andrew Philip hits 26th first grade century for Moe Cricket Club

With no fuss or fanfare but reserves of patience, Andrew Philip has become one of Victorian country cricket’s most prolific batsmen. And the Moe champion isn’t done yet.

Moe Cricket Club champion Andrew Philip has scored 26 centuries in the first grade.

Andrew Philip says Moe Cricket Club’s record-keeping is “pretty good’’.

It has needed to be to keep up with his prodigious run-scoring for the Gippsland club.

With no fuss or fanfare but plenty of patience, Philip, 36, has built a remarkable record with the Lions.

When he hit a two to deep backward square last Saturday to take his score into three figures against Morwell, he reached his 26th first grade century for Moe.

Cricket Latrobe Valley president Brad Howlett took calls from the press last Sunday after a fight between players in an A-grade game.

But before he commented on the incident, he highlighted Philip’s latest ton.

Moe CC champion Andrew Philip - with the blade that does all the damage.

Howlett does not know Philip well, but he knows all about his batting and says he’s become an outstanding player in the history of Cricket Latrobe Valley and its antecedents.

“He just makes runs,’’ Howlett says.

“His achievements are next-level and he doesn’t get the accolades he deserves compared to other high-profile players.’’

Philip has played cricket only for Moe.

His parents, Alan and Francine, are both life members of the club and he joined them in 2021.

He had started with the Lions when he was “seven or eight’’.

“I wasn’t any good for a while. I don’t think I got a run in my first few seasons of cricket,’’ Philip says.

He says he figured out how to be “really difficult to get out’’ and to this day still tries to make bowlers toil for his wicket.

It has been a “constant’’ of his cricket.

“I’ve found that if I get through the first five overs or so, I’ll be OK,’’ he says.

“I have a more defensive mindset than most people have when they walk out. I keep it pretty simple.’’

Philip laughs as he relates how he’s frequently been called “the most boring batsman in Gippsland’’.

He’s given the sledging a straight bat too.

“Run-scoring was never easy for me,’’ he says.

“I didn’t start clicking until I was in my 20s.

“There was a point – and I don’t when it was – when I was a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger and grew in confidence, and from when I was 18 onwards I was able to get scores of 50-plus, quite slowly. As I understood my batting a little better, I could start expanding and playing some more shots. In time I started doing it after 30 overs instead of 50 overs. And then in one-day cricket you have to start earlier than that.’’

Philip scored his first A grade century when he was in Year 12, against St Vincents.

“I’ll remember that one forever, I think,’’ he says.

“Couldn’t tell you who I made the second against but I’ll always remember that first one. Hit my first six in an A grade game that day too. I do recall playing a nice little loft over square leg from a full-toss. I was quite happy with myself.’’

Tons have come consistently in the years since. He set himself up for this season with a century in Round 2, 114 against Toongabbie, putting on 198 for the second wicket with Rob Phoenix (102).

Earlier this month he crossed 11,000 runs for Moe’s First XI.

Andrew Philip with parents Alan and Francine after he joined them as a life member.

Alan Philip played in Moe premierships in the 1980s.

His son played in eight flags in a row, a remarkable run at any level of cricket.

“While it was happening we figured it was pretty unusual,’’ he says. “They just kept coming for us. Rob Phoenix was in his prime them. Matt Clarke, Dave Kelly, Tom Long, ‘Tassie’ Johnson played in a couple, Dale Walsh kept in all eight I think … we had a very good team obviously.’’

Philip played in a ninth premiership in 2021-22, when Moe defeated Trafalgar. His part in it was a hand of 114 off 133 balls.

The flags go with go with 13 club batting awards, eight club championships and regular team-of-the-year selections. The number of trophies he’s won at Moe would fill a museum.

Philip had the chance to play Premier Cricket. In 2007-08 he came back from a stint overseas to peel off more than 800 runs, including three tons on the trot: 147 against Latrobe, 133 against Blues and 103 against Morwell.

Dandenong picked up word of his deeds and selected him in the First XI.

“I think they were churning through some players and seeing what else was out there and giving some country kids a go.

“But we were rolling into our semi-final so I didn’t take it. I thought I’d reassess the following season, see whether I’d go to Dandenong or another District club, but it didn’t eventuate. I didn’t try with it, to be honest. I got a job locally, got a girlfriend, life happened, it didn’t fit in with what I was doing. It was a long way while trying to keep a full-time job.’’

So he stayed at Moe and he made runs for season after season, the club’s key batsman and at times its senior coach and captain.

Andrew Philip with A grade debutant Jesse Pheeney in 2018-19.

His favourite shots?

“What, apart from the leave and the forward defence?’’ he says with a laugh. He eventually says he’s “pretty handy’’ on the straight drive and off the pads.

Loyalty has accompanied his consistency.

For a long time he took calls every winter from other clubs, but it never got to the point where he talked money or had meetings with them.

He’s always been happy at Moe.

“For a solid 10 years there I’d be getting half-a-dozen calls but it was never on my mind at any stage to change clubs,’’ Philip says. “I just can’t imagine playing anywhere else.’’

His family ties to Moe are getting stronger. His mother has just off a long stint as secretary, and he and his wife Emelye’s sons Loch and Callum are in the juniors (their sibling Louie is aged two and Philip believes he’ll be a little Lion too).

It seems the record-keepers at Moe might be logging the achievements of the Philips for a long while yet.

Originally published as Ton of runs: Andrew Philip hits 26th first grade century for Moe Cricket Club