Ringwood’s David King stakes claim as club’s greatest ever
His latest achievement adds to an already illustrious cricket CV — but where does the new Ryder medallist rank and Ringwood gun rank among the all-time club greats?
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He has long been regarded as one of the all-time greats to grace Jubilee Park.
But after taking out Victoria Premier Cricket’s highest individual accolade, David King is being touted as Ringwood’s greatest ever.
Capping off a decade of seven top-five finishes in the Jack Ryder Medal, King’s latest gong adds to an already illustrious cricketing CV and just about completes the set for the former junior Victorian and Australian representative.
With three first XI premierships to his name, a club record 9874 runs, six premier team of the season honours, four club champion awards, life membership at the Rams and a member of the 2001-2010 team of the decade, the honour of a Ryder Medal certainly wasn’t lost on the former captain.
“The amount of quality players that have won this award, to join the likes of Graeme Rummans, Warren Ayres and superstars like that it’s a really huge honour, and something to be proud of,” King said during the presentation on Friday night.
The all-rounder has taken 239 club wickets — 212 of those in the first XI — and is on track to break the club’s games record next season, sitting second on 235 top-flight appearances with the record held by coach Sean Flynn on 244.
Ringwood president Mark Freeman said King’s record “purely on numbers” stakes the Ryder medallist’s claim as Jubilee Park’s best ever, having also finished runner-up for the honour twice.
“From a consistency point of view, he’s played 14 seasons of first XI cricket and he’s scored 600 runs plus in 10 of those 14 seasons,” he said.
“From that point of view, you’re eventually going to get rewarded for consistency, aren’t you?”
Such is King’s esteemed batting record, 571 runs this season compared with previous 600-plus knocks suggest it was a quieter season than usual for the Rams legend.
But even this season’s return speaks volumes of the former Division 1 footballer’s lofty standards left for others to aspire to — even if it is below the usual heights reached according to Freeman.
“If you look at the numbers (with the bat), it’s a below standard season for David … for 90 per cent of the competition, (571 runs) is a really good season,” he said.
But by King’s own admission, while he said he “was probably a bit underwhelming with the bat” improved numbers with the ball made for a more rounded performances on his way to collecting the top honour.
“I think it’s probably the bowling which might’ve helped me a little bit this year, I think I was definitely a lot more consistent with the ball, I was able to contribute to the team in more matches,” he said on Friday.
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The Ryder Medal also joins a fourth club champion award won by the former skipper earlier this month, who belongs to the renowned King clan.
Brother Michael — ‘Zippy’ — was a damaging cricketer in his own right, and was an explosive footballer for South Croydon and Chirnside Park, playing more than 250 games and kicking more than 600 goals; cousin Dan who led South Croydon to its first top-flight premiership and won the EFL’s Chandler Medal in 2013; cousin Steve Dinnell, a two-time VFL premiership player with North Ballarat — to name a mere handful in one of the east’s finest sporting families.
“The whole King family have been a huge part of Ringwood CC over the years,” Freeman said.
David King — by the numbers:
1st XI cap number – 165
Jack Ryder Medal (2019/20)
274 club matches – (235 1st XI – 2nd all-time)
9840 club runs – (8889 1st XI – leader in both)
239 club wickets – (212 1st XI – 6th all-time)
Four club champion awards (Don Mathieson Medal – 11/12, 15/16, 17/18, 19/20)
Four 1st XI club batting trophies (LW Ewart Trophy – 11/12, 14/15, 15/16, 17/18)
1st XI club bowling trophy (LH McLeod Trophy – 19/20)
Ringwood Cricket Club Most Promising Player (2006/7)
Ringwood Cricket Club Life Member
Team of the Decade member (2001-2010)
Six Premier Team of the Season selections (11/12, 13/14, 14/14, 15/16, 17/18, 19/20)
Future Star Award (2008/09)
Cricket Victoria 200 Club member
Three-time 1st XI premiership player (07/08, 08/09, 14/15)
18 1st XI finals appearances (equal most at the club)
4th XI premiership player (05/06)
1st XI captain (16/17, 17/18)
Highest RCC 1st XI season runs aggregate – 916 runs (2015/16)
Highest RCC club season runs aggregate – 916 runs (2015/16)
Victorian Representative:
Under-15 (SSV) – 2004/5
Under-17 – 2006/7
Under-19 – 2007/8; 2008/9
Sheffield Shield – 2014/15 (two matches)
Australian Representative:
Under-19 – 2007/8 (World Cup)