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Leafy Albert Park - Home of Cootamundra cricket

Welcome to the Cootamundra District Cricket Association
2008/09 Season

The Cootamundra District Cricket Association was formed on 27 November, 1899 'to promote the interests of cricket in the district'. The Association was set up with entire control and management of all competition matches played between affiliated clubs and of district matches against other Associations as well as the power to settle disputes.

Cricket was first played in Cootamundra in the 1870s. In 1877 two cricket clubs flourished in the town - the Cootamindra Cricket Club which was financially well off and the United Cricket Club.

In 1880 cricket was a popular pastime with matches played against sides from across the region. Matches were played against Yass, Dudauman, Young, Murrumburrah, Springvale, Little Billabong and Yammatree. Matches were also played against Wagga Wagga for the Cox Cup. In 1883 the Wallendbeen Cricket Club was formed whilst the Stockinbingal Cricket Club was established in 1893. Both clubs are still active affiliates of the Association.

Other prominent clubs in the early years of the Association included Cullinga Cricket Club that installed a concrete wicket at the Cullinga Mines in 1900 and Dudauman Cricket Club which was established in 1926 and was the inaugural winner of the Sparre Cup for A Grade competition in the 1938-39 season.

However, prior to the formation of the Association high level cricket was played in Cootamundra. In 1881 the touring English team visited Cootamundra playing a local eleven on a new concrete wicket at Albert Park. The Cootamundra side was captained by Austrlian cricket captain Billy Murdoch who had opened a law practice in the town. For the record the Englishmen made 185 with the Cootamundra side replying with 112. Murdoch top scored for the locals with 57.

Albert Park was also the venue for another match against an "all English cricket team" on 29 November, 1886, The visitors faced twenty-two of Cootamundra. Witnessed by 1000 spectators the Englishmen cruised to an easy 10 wicket victory.

Cootamundra is famous as the birthplace of "The Don". Sir Donald George Bradman was born at 89 Adams Street, Cootamundra on 27 August, 1908. Regarded as the greatest player in the history of the game, Bradman left Cootamundra with his family when he was three to live at Bowral. He subsequently played two matches in the Cootamundra district in April, 1928 making 1 and 14. Later that year he was selected for his first Test Match and as they say the rest is history.

Over the years the Association has been prominant in district and regional cricket. Cootamundra has competed with success in the famous O'Farrell Cup challenge. The O'Farrell Cup dates from 1925 and Cootamundra have held the trophy for extended periods, most noteably in 1978-80 (28 matches) and 1989-90 (15 matches). The Association has also enjoyed considerable success in the Stribley Shield for Northern Riverina district competition. From being the inaugural winners in 1951-52, Cootamundra has since claimed the Shield on 15 occassions, double that of any other Association.

The Association conducts a grade competition throughout the summer with the symbol of supremacy being the Merrin Cup. The Merrin Cup was donated by Rex Merrin in 1945. The Sparre Cup was inauguarted in 1938-39 as the A Grade trophy, however since 1975-76 has been awarded to the B Grade champions. With the introduction of a single grade competition recently the top four sides contest the Merrin Cup during the finals with the bottom four teams playing off for the Sparre Cup.

Despite a reduction in playing strenghth over the past two decades, cricket remains strong in the Cootamundra district being extremely proud of its long and prominent history in Riverina, NSW and Austrlian Cricket.

Latest News

Murrumbidgee win the NAB Cup [Riverina]

Mon 05-Jan-2009 19:57

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Murrumbidgee Cricket Council has added another trophy to their impressive cricket season, by winning the NAB Cup at Hay on Sunday.

	Tamworth and Stockton Nthn Districts Clash in the Final of the SCG Country Cup [Country Cricket]
	Mon 29-Dec-2008 23:02
	Following the SCG Country Cup Carnival held in Orange and Bathurst from 27-29 December 2008, Tamworth (seeded 1) and Stockton Nthn District (seeded 2) have qualified to play in the final of the SCG Country Cup at the SCG on Sunday 18th January. Tamworth had a convincing win over Cricket Albury Wodonga (CAW) in their semi final, managing 9-236 from their allotted 50 overs with Tim Kensell (70) and Blake Fitzgerald (65) the pick of the bats. Crafty Albury medium pacer Gerard Midson had the excellent figures of 4-39, while young quick Ben Dower took 3-54. In reply, the young CAW bats struggled against some hostile bowling from Josh Hazlewood, however it was the NSW Country Captain Jeff Cook was took the first 3 wickets with some clever bowling. Wickets fell regularly and apart from some late order hitting from Michael Booth (21), there were no other contributions of note and CAW were dismissed for 95. Cook finished with excellent figures of 4-18, while offie Tim Kensell snared 3-23. In the all Newcastle semi final, Toronto Workers Kookaburras batted first and tallied a competitive 9-225 in their 50 overs. There were a number of contributors with the bat, the best being Joe Price with 56 and Aaron Gray 47. The wickets were shared around for Stockton with Tim Harding, Darren Whittingham and skipper Mark Dries all taking 2 wickets each. In reply, Stockton lost 2 early wickets, however some scintillating batting by Steve Phillips and Mark Dries took the game away from the Kookaburras and allowed Stockton to cruise to victory with 10 overs remaining and for the loss of only 4 wickets. Phillips remained unbeaten for a superb 132 while Dries scored an aggressive 43.

	Volunteers sought For ICC Women�s World Cup, Australia 2009 [Cricket NSW]
	Fri 19-Dec-2008 11:56
	You don�t have to be one of the best cricket players in the world to take part in the ICC Women�s World Cup cricket tournament being held in Australia in 2009. You don�t even have to play cricket! You could become one of the 100s of volunteers needed to make this major event run smoothly and be close to all the action.

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