Dream Team
Context
- Having formed for the 1978-79 season, the Club celebrated its 30th season in 2008-09.
- The Executive decided to revisit our first 30 seasons and celebrate, through documenting our history as much as anything, the on-field achievements of our members.
- An appropriate way of acknowledging these achievements was by naming a series of teams, culminating in the selection and recognition of a Dream Team, comprising those who had delivered on the field over the 30 years of our existence.
- Initially, teams for each season were selected, followed by teams for each of the three decades, from which the Dream team was then selected.
Selection Panel
- Peter Shadbolt, Founding Member and Life Member since 1988-89
- Rob Greenaway, Founding Member and Life Member since 1987-88
- Barry Calnon, Life Member since 2004-05
- Andy Olsen, Current President
Statistics
- All statistics were gathered from Results Vault where possible, score books and/or Annual Reports. We currently do not have figures for the 1991/92 or 1997/98 seasons and thus unfortunately could not include them in our selection considerations (despite everyone I’ve spoken to having incredible form during those seasons).
Criteria
- Cricket is a sport where statistics matter more than most. If we were picking a Dream Team for footy or soccer, we would be relying heavily on anecdotal evidence and the subjective opinions of the selection committee. However in cricket, statistics are king and we have used them as the basis of selection.
- There was no distinction made with grades, however if two or more players with similar ‘numbers’ were vying for the one selection spot, preference was generally given to those who had played in a higher grade.
- Longevity at the club was regarded highly. Understandably, the ‘one season wonders’ were generally not considered for Teams of the Decade.
- We endeavoured to pick teams that were balanced – i.e. 6 batters, 4 bowlers and a keeper (with appropriate level of all-rounders) but did not adhere strictly to this if performance did not warrant selection.
- Each of the panel members did not enter into discussions where themselves or family were concerned (or more accurately, were not listened to) – in all cases, vehement opposition was made to Panel members’ selection in the Dream Team.
- Where there was disagreement (and there were many differences of opinion), a vote was taken, providing some form of democracy to the process.
Brad Shadbolt (Captain)
85 matches, 2,992 runs @ 37.4, 14 x 50s, 5 x 100s, HS 181*, 75 wickets @ 18.8, 1 x 5WI, BB 5/43
ECC Team of the Year selections: 6
The leading run scorer at the club in First Grade (who has subsequently become the first Burra player to surpass 3,000 First XI runs, in October 2008), Brad returned to the club in 2002/03 after a successful stint in District 1s. He captained the First XI for 4 seasons, taking the team to the semis in 2004/05. In his 6 seasons, Brad has won 5 First XI Batting Aggregates, 4 Warner/Kelly medals for the First XI Cricketer of the Year, the Bradman Medal once, named in the Team of the Year for 6 consecutive seasons and the Shadbolt Medal in 04/05. Brad is also a very handy off-spin bowler with a sub 20 average. Since returning to the Club from District cricket, Brad has played all of his matches with the Club’s First XI and all within the A Grade competition of HDCA, having also represented the HDCA Team in each season since 2002/03.
Matthew Green
95 matches, 3,210 runs @ 36.1, 12 x 50s, 6 x 100s, HS 161*, 98 wickets @ 20.7, 2 x 5WI, BB 5/80
ECC Team of the Year selections: 6
Picked in the team as a batsman despite transforming into a bowling all-rounder in his twilight years. Second on the all-time runs list – the bulk of his runs coming in the First XI where he ranks 3rd behind the Shadbolts – Matty holds the top 2 spots when it comes to the record for the most runs scored in a season (Mens) with 645 and 625. He has the most hundreds at the club (6), twice won the Batting Aggregate in the First XI, twice won the Warner/Kelly medal and is closing in on 100 wickets for the club in his “new life” as a bowling all-rounder. Matt was selected in the Second and Third Teams of the Decade and played in two First XI premierships: Third Grade in 1995-96 and Second Grade in 1998-99.
Angus Lester
39 matches, 1,492 runs @ 39.3, 9 x 50s, 5 x 100s, HS 159, 25 wickets @ 36.8, BB 4/58
ECC Team of the Year selections: 3
Despite only 39 matches, Angus captained the First XI for three seasons, won the First XI batting aggregate twice and the Second XI batting aggregate once (having batted only three times). Averaging a touch under 40, incredibly he passed 50 in 14 of his games (turning 5 of them into hundreds). 25 wickets is handy but he may struggle to get the ball thrown to him in this team. Angus played in the First XI B Grade Premiership of 1998-99.
Peter Shadbolt
261 matches, 6,034 runs @ 25.5, 22 x 50s, 4 x 100s, HS 117, 124 wickets @ 20.8, 3 x 5WI, BB 6/35
ECC Team of the Year selections: 11
A true legend of the club, Pete holds most records at the club including total games (261, nearly 120 clear of second place), most games for First XI (149), most runs (6,034), 3 times batting aggregate in First XI, 2 times batting aggregate in Second XI, once batting aggregate in Third XI. He is one of only 2 players to have passed 1,500 runs and 100 wickets. Peter was the only player to be named in each of the three Teams of the Decade. Pete was the first and automatic selection for each of the three selectors, other than Pete himself and played in the First XI B Grade Premiership of 1998-99.
Wayne Warner
64 matches, 1,762 runs @ 29.9, 5 x 50s, 1 x 100, HS 109*, 10 wickets @ 49.1
ECC Team of the Year selections: 4
Wayne played in Edinburgh’s first game in 78/79 and proceeded to win the First XI batting aggregate for the first four years. Only Brad Shadbolt won more First XI batting aggregates. He was a two-time winner of Cricketer of the Year and named in the team of the Year 4 times.
Julie Allan
62 matches, 2,096 runs @ 48.7, 12 x 50s, 4 x 100s, HS 119*, 64 wickets @ 16.9, BB 4/11
ECC Team of the Year selections: 3
Selected as a batting all-rounder, Julie has an incredible record in her relatively short time at the club. She is the only Burra to score 1,000 runs in a season (1,007 @ 100.7 in 2005/06) - a year where she won the batting aggregate, bowling aggregate and captained the team to a premiership. She has won the batting aggregate twice, the Betty Wilson medal twice and has been named in the Team of the Year three times.
Andy Olsen
74 matches, 1,363 runs @ 22.3, 4 x 50s, 1 x 100s, HS 142, 119 wickets @ 20.6, 5 x 5WI, 1 x 10WM, BB 7/41
ECC Team of the Year selections: 5
Selected as a bowling all-rounder and front line spinner, Andy captained the Second XI for 4 seasons, winning the batting aggregate and bowling aggregate three times. He won the Bradman medal in the same year as the Don Richmond trophy for HDCA best player in Second Grade. He has made the Team of the Year 5 seasons in a row since debuting in season 2003/04.
Barry Calnon
139 matches, 3,027 runs @ 22.4, 11 x 50s, 1 x 100s, HS 130*, 1 wicket @ 29.0, 181 catches/stumpings
ECC Team of the Year selections: 5
Barry made his name as a batsman, winning the First XI batting aggregate in his first season with the club and has since maintained a healthy batting average of 22. He is third on the all-time games list, third on the all-time batting aggregate list and with 181 dismissals, there is daylight between himself and the pack. He was captain of the Second XI for one season and played in the First XI Third Grade premiership of 1995-96 and was in the twelve for the First XI Second Grade premiership of 1998-99.
Rob Simpson
144 matches, 672 runs @ 9.0 HS 42, 323 wickets @ 19.4, 14 x 5WI, BB 6/22
ECC Team of the Year selections: 11
Equal with Peter Shadbolt’s 11 Team of the Year selections, Rob sits atop the all-time wicket taking table and second on the all-time games list. Progressing through the juniors, he won the First XI bowling aggregate 6 times and was First XI Champion player twice. He has the most wickets in a First XI season (44) which is also a total club record. Rob led the attack in the First XI Third Grade premiership of 1995-96 and the First XI Second Grade premiership of 1998-99, batting us to victory in 1998-99 with a 10th wicket partnership.
Dave Vremec
100 matches, 826 runs @ 15.9, 1 x 50s, HS 53, 281 wickets @ 16.4, 10 x 5WI, 1 x 10WM, BB 8/56
ECC Team of the Year selections: 7
Dave captained the First XI to a semi final in 90/91, the same season he won one of 4 bowling aggregates. He won the Second XI bowling aggregate once and made the Team of the Year on 7 occasions. His 281 wickets puts him second on the all-time list behind Rob Simpson. Dave was named captain of the Team of the Second Decade and along with Rob, led the bowling attack to secure the First XI Third Grade premiership of 1995-96 by defending our low first innings total.
Julian Delahunt
122 matches, 823 runs @ 12.9, HS 47, 255 wickets @ 19.2, 15 x 5WI, 1 x 10WM, BB 6/13
ECC Team of the Year selections: 7
After starting out as a junior, Julian has won the First XI bowling aggregate four times and the Second XI aggregate once. He was captain of the Second XI for one season and is currently in his second year as captain of the First XI. He has won the Warner/Kelly medal for best First XI player twice, the Shadbolt Medal once and has been named in the ECC Team of the Year 7 times.
Kevin Field
50 matches, 820 runs @ 23.4, 4 x 50s, HS 79*, 155 wickets @ 13.8, 4 x 5WI, BB 7/53
ECC Team of the Year selections: 5
Kevin was the first captain of the First XI and won the First XI bowling aggregate for the first 5 seasons, on each occasion notching up a selection in the Team of the Year. He was the First XI Cricketer of the Year once during that time and finished with the incredible bowling average of 13.8 (with 155 wickets). In 82/83 he batted in 9 innings and was out only once, finishing the season with a batting average of 177.0.
Unlucky
Ross McIlveen
Named in the Team of the Decade twice (First and Second), Ross was exceptionally unlucky not to be selected in the Dream Team. A similar average to Wayne Warner, Wayne was selected due to a superior performance in First XI cricket. A very tough call.
Rob Greenaway
Also very unlucky not to be name in the Dream Team after two gigs in Teams of the Decade (First and Second). In the end probably made way for Andy Olsen who had a better batting and significantly more wickets in fewer games. A tough call on a 7 time Team of the Year nominee over 17 seasons.
Tony Todaro
Probably the unluckiest of the bowlers, Tony had the impressive figures of 146 wickets @ 16.2 but was overlooked behind the sheer wicket numbers of Simpson, Vremec and Delahunt and the outstanding average of Field. Tony made the Team of the First Decade.
Ron Pennefather
Ron was extremely unlucky not to take the all-rounder’s spot from Olsen but a slightly inferior batting and bowling average saw him just miss out. Ron was a 4-time Team of the Year nominee and a Premiership captain of the Second XI.
Joe Todaro
Five times named in the Team of the Year, named in the Team of the First Decade, over 100 wickets and a batting average of just under 20, Joe was unlucky but the strength of the Dream Team bowling attack was difficult to go past.
Lirim Emini
Very unlucky not to make the team of the Second Decade, Lirim just missed out on the wicket keeper’s spot to Barry Calnon. Despite 6 Team of the Year selections and being one of only 3 players to play 100 games for the First XI, Barry’s superior catching aggregate (181 vs 124) and slightly higher batting average. John Wooles was also considered for the keeping post and was unlucky.