West Penno Baggy around the world

The West Penno Baggy Blue continues to be proudly worn around the World. Our players have a long history of not only carrying their Baggy / Club playing shirts with them on world travels but to wear it proudly.

Last year Nirav Desai (D1 Blue) scaled Mt Everest Base camp and sent a photo of him wearing the West Penno Baggy while on top of the world. Nirav’s latest world exploit, proudly wearing his West Penno Premiers cap is on a visit to Kanyakumari, the southern-most point of India – known as ‘The Land’s End’.

We have a long history of the West Penno colours being proudly carried around the world – how about this for starters:

• Around the world:
  • Andrew Fiedler (recent C3) at the Parthenon, Greece on 21 April 2017
  • Ian ‘Diggers’ Digby (D1 Red) at Lords 16 September 2022
  • Steve ‘Buzz’ Burrows (C4) and Ben (A2) at Lords 2 July 2023
  • James Makin (A2) at Bermuda on 15 July 2023
  • Ross Anderson (D1 Red) at Kakadu 9 October 2023
  • Nirav Desai (D1 Blue) at Everest Base Camp on 20 November 2023
  • Connor Hindmarch (A2) at Bruhl Castle, Germany on 16 December 2023
• At the birth of children:
  • Chris Williamson (B1 Red) when baby Bonnie was born on 15 March 2024
  • Justin Paterson (Ex A1) at the birth of Tilly Rose (20/6/2018)
  • Simon Smyth (Ex A1) with newborn Corey James Smyth (2012)

For those travelling over the Christmas / New Year / Festive period send a photo through to add to our proud tradition.

Our musical interlude for this latest achievement is none other than Willie Nelson – On the Road Again

Photo: Nirav wearing his West Penno D1 Premiers Cap at Kanyakumari – 12 December 2024.

Female high achievers – the now Generation

We are privileged to have two of the world’s greatest-ever female players being West Penno Alumni – Denise Annetts & Lisa Sthalekar.

There is now a new generation of players and a new list of high achievers who are West Penno Juniors making it in the ‘big time’:

• Lauren Kua, current 1^st Grade Captain for Manly; Australian U19 (2023/24), Sixers WBBL & NSW Breakers 2024/25
• Lily Campbell playing 1^st Grade at Sydney;
• Dharsha Kannan playing 1^st Grade at Universities;
• Dani Chivers playing 1^st Grade at ND’s
• Trisha Yadav (current Stage 2) – Australian U14 All-Star Indoor cricket Team

In addition to this, multiple girls have played 2^nd & 3^rd Premier Grade cricket with even more playing at Brewer U18 level. In total we have had just on 100 Girls playing Pathway cricket over the last 10 years!

Most important is that we have now had an amazing 1,287 Girls play for us since we started Girls cricket in 1996/97.

What better recognition for these achievements than Helen Reddy’s great song – I am Woman

Photo: Lauren Kua in action for NSW.

Life Members quartet

In our 94 years as a Club we are privileged to have just 27 Life Members. On the weekend we had 4 of our Life Members playing together for the mighty D1 Reds – Ross A (#11); Peter Lees (#23), Steve ‘Buzz’ Burrows (#26) and Steve Quanborough (#27)

This is the first time we have had 4 x Life Members play together in the same game so is a special moment for everyone involved.

Photo: Steve Quanborough, Ross Anderson, Peter Lees & Steve Burrows – Campbell Park – 14122024

Sledged by a 13-year old

Dave Larkham (D1 Red) is just 6 wickets off being our highest ever D1 Grade wicket taker. Anyway, he was bowling to a young opening bat on the weekend and strangled him down the leg-side, with Diggers picking up a good catch as wicket-keeper.

Anyway, one of our players made the passing comment about a good ball being bowled by Dave. The batter heard this comment and replied “That was a sh.. ball’ as he walked off. Dave responded with a bit of friendly banter to look in the scorebook.

All a bit of fun but it is good to see a bit of attitude with the young player but he now has the next week to check the scorecard.

Photo: Dave Larkham’s (D1 Red) 100th wicket Vs WPHC Blue at Dural Park 29th October 2022.

Space Cadet

It has been a while but it is good get to a worthy Space Cadet award winner just before the season break. A big congratulations to Mahesh Shinde (D2) who turned up to Campbell Park to play in his D2 game. When he turned up, just before the toss, he didn’t recognise anyone in the Team but the Club playing shirts looked familiar.

After a quick check of the draw he was actually meant to be at the other end of the Shire – Arcadia Oval. Apparently the problem was the old ‘looking at the wrong date’ trick – D2 plays at Camp[bell Park next week so Mahesh was a week ahead of himself. At least he should be able to find the right ground next weekend.

Our theme music for this significant Award is Elton John’s – Rocket Man

Friends in high places

While the mighty C4 White were battling it out on a hot day Adi Nair was doing in tough in air conditioned comfort at the Gabba watching the rain fall in the 3^rd Test. To help while away the day her just happened to catch-up with Jay Shah, the ICC President.

Our most recent ‘friends in high places meeting was back in May 2023 when Sreeni Pillamarri entertained Narendra Modhi, the Indian Prime Minister.

Photo: Adi Nair (left) with ICC President (Jay Shah) at the Australia Vs India Test at the Gabba – 14 DFecember 2024.