Main Ridge Cricket Club stalwart Lloyd Hosking raises bat for 500-game milestone
What a legend! Lloyd Hosking has played 500 games of cricket — all for his beloved Main Ridge.
South East
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Lloyd Hosking started playing senior cricket at Main Ridge in 1965, and 54 years later he’s still going.
On Saturday, he chalked up his 500th game when he captained the Cougars thirds against Delacombe Park.
Known as a tenacious but fair competitor, who loves giving his teammates a rev-up, Hosking, 66, has influenced many at Main Ridge — probably more than he would realise.
Cougars champion Gareth Wyatt remembers learning a valuable lesson from Hosking early in his cricket days.
“We were chasing about 240 one day at Pearcedale and I got 120 odd, and we were about 20 short of passing them,” Wyatt said.
“I walked off, raised the bat, and he followed me into the rooms. I thought this will be fantastic, the great Lloyd Hosking is going to commend me for it.
“He grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and said, ‘what the heck are you doing here? What are you raising your bat for? The job’s only half done — you should still be out there. Next time you are in that position, make sure you finish the job.’
“He was all about the team. He’d celebrate the team result any day of the week over an individual success.”
Hosking is held in the highest esteem at Main Ridge. Wyatt says he’s the heart and soul of the club and he lights up a room with his presence.
Former Victorian batsman Nick Jewell played a season at Main Ridge and regards Hosking as one of the best people he’s met in cricket.
“He’s a legend, Lloyd,” Jewell said.
“He’s just a gem, he loves cricket with a passion.
“He’s just one of the nicest blokes you’ve ever met off the field, just an absolute gentleman of a bloke. He’s a star.”
Hosking was 12 and a pupil at nearby Red Hill Consolidated Primary School when he first walked into Main Ridge Cricket Club, along with a bunch of school mates.
“There was quite a group of us,” he said. “Probably three quarters of the team were under 14, playing senior cricket (seconds).
“The big influence on my age group was Ken Longmuir, he was the person who made Main Ridge go from a one team club to a two-team club.
“His influence was amazing.
“And another old fella was Col White. He was an amazing cricketer, he was my second captain.”
An outstanding fielder who was more than capable with the bat and a handy leg spin bowler, Hosking was a valuable member of Main Ridge’s firsts for many years.
He’s had many memorable days on the field, like his 300th game, when he shared match-winning 149-run partnership with schoolboy Gareth Wyatt.
“That’s one of the highlights of my career,” Hosking said.
“To play with a young bloke like that who became what he did - I think he was 14.
“And then to be captained by Gareth in the firsts – he’s still the best captain I’ve played under.”
Hosking’s best bowling figures were 7-22 against Boneo. “I was bowling leg spin and it was a hot day and the malthoid was sticky. That was up at Main Ridge in the firsts,” he said.
Hosking has raised his bat for two centuries, when he was 18 and 57.
Premierships have been hard to come by.
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“It took a long time…we probably played in seven losing semis before we got to a grand final,” he said.
“The first grand final I played in was under Gary Sanford when Crib Point won and they had a young fast bowler who went to Melbourne the next year, Simon Cook.”