By JARROD POTTER
THE PRIDE of the Panthers were on display Thursday night as 12 elite Dandenong Cricket Club players were inducted into the club’s 25-Year Team.
Waverley Cricket Club moved to Shepley Oval in 1989/90 and merged with the Sub-District Dandenong side to form Waverley-Dandenong Cricket Club.
Ever since the club has been a powerhouse in Victorian Premier Cricket, winning two District flags in 2006/07 and 2010/11 as well as helping cultivate the careers of three Test cricketers – Darren Pattinson, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle – along with a One-day International all-round expert – Ian Harvey.
A power-packed team was the only fitting way to cap off 25 years in Victorian Premier Cricket as the club announced the team of the quarter-century, captained by Premier Cricket leading run-scorer Warren Ayres.
At Ayres side are a plethora of starring batsmen as current openers Tom Donnell and Brett Forsyth, club record holder Rob Bartlett, club runs record holder Tim Hooper and Ian Harvey round out the top of the order.
The bowlers are just as quick and fearsome as the Pattinsons – Darren and James – lead the attack, while Peter Siddle, Harvey and Matthew Lawrence round out an impressive five-man arsenal.
It wasn’t just the players who were recognised for their achievements in the club’s quarter of a century at Shepley Oval, with administrators, coaches and staff also acknowledged for their tireless work behind the scenes.
Long-time 1st and 2nd’s captains and club coaches Brendan McArdle and Ayres were honoured as co-coaches, Ted Lindsay was named Team Manager, champion selector Des Nolan earned the Chairman of Selectors role, Craig Davenport was named the best scorer and Graeme Way was honoured for his decades of service updating the manual scoreboard.
“To be honoured as captain-coach is a great honour for me,” team captain/coach Ayres said.
“It’s great to be associated with guys who have played Test cricket from the club.
“It’s always amazing to be involved in that sort of thing and in some small part I hopefully helped some of those guys get to where they were.”
Darren Pattinson was also honoured for his achievements with the club while Siddle was presented with his induction into Cricket Victoria’s 200 Club for players who have notched 200 matches at Test, First Class or Premier 1st XI level.
“I think it’s been a great night, everyone’s enjoyed themselves, the speakers we’ve had here have put on some exceptional entertainment and the team that we’ve announced could compete very well with some of the international sides we’ve seen in the past,” Dandenong president Michael Findlay said.
“25 years here and I think we’ve lived in a very lucky time for Dandenong.”
It will be one of the last official functions of Dandenong Cricket Club as a standalone entity, as the Panthers will merge with Hawthorn-Monash University next season to become Dandenong-Hawthorn Cricket Club.
DANDENONG 25-YEAR XI TEAM
Tom Donnell
Brett Forsyth
Warren Ayres (Captain)
Rob Bartlett
Ian Harvey
Tim Hooper
Matthew Lawrence
Darren Pattinson
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
John O’Hare (Wicket Keeper)
Paul Boraston – 12th man
