Vale Michael Banner
During the week we were deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Michael Banner, one of our current Seniors players and most importantly a good friend to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.
Michael has been playing A2 this season and is a long-term player. He debuted in D2 in 1997/98 and is one of our all-time great players. His contributions, both on and off the field, have left a lasting impact and our Club is better place because of his presence:
- Between 2001-05 was our Seniors Treasurer
- On the field, he is our 4th highest run scorer with 7,073 runs
- In May this year, at the Seniors Presentation Night, Michael was inducted as an inaugural member of our elite ‘Hall of Fame’ – a recognition reserved for the best of the best
- Michael debuted in D2 and was selected in A1 in 2007/08 with player number 284
- Has scored the equal highest number of centuries (7) with a high score of 131
- Michael has also played in an amazing 11 Grand Finals for 8 wins. His latest Grand Final win was last season when he was part of the winning B1 Red side
- In 1998/99 he scored an amazing 715 runs in C1 & C2 Grades which is the 17th highest number of runs scored in a season in our history.
Michael will be sadly missed as a player, team mate and great Clubman.
One of the greatest legacies anyone can leave is for their Club to be better for their presence. In Michael’s case this is not just as a player but also as a Team mate, friend and great Club person.
Our thoughts are with Michael’s family, long-term Team mates and many friends.
Rest in peace Michael.
Watch this space
What a game! Playing for D1 last Round, Shrey Ghosh had one of the outstanding bowling performances in our 96-year history.
Shrey is just 14 years of age and plays in our U15’s Purple Mixed side. Shrey also plays D1 in the afternoon Comp in his first full-season of Seniors cricket.
Apart from being a talented upper order bat, he is also a legspin bowler.
Last Round he almost single-handed led the D1 side to a big win that fell just one wicket short of an outright win.
In the first innings, he bowled an amazing 8.5 overs to take 4 wickets for 3 runs. Chasing an outright win, in the 2nd innings he bowled 16 overs and took an even better 6/24 – match figures of 10/28 off 24.5 overs!
To put this in an historical context.
Since 1930/31 only 57 players have taken 10 wickets or more in a match. Our best ever bowling figures for a match are 16/96 (9/34 & 7/62) by another leg-spinner, the great Ken Donaldson, in A1 Grade back in 1978/79.
Shrey though is now the youngest player in our history to take 10 wickets or more in a Seniors match.
Watch this space!
Three Generations
We have always been a family Club with many instances of father / sons playing either together or in different Teams.
This season we are privileged to have 2 families who are 3rd generation West Penno players – the Peterkin and McBrien families.
The Peterkin’s first started playing in 1981/82 and the McBrien’s in 2006/07. This is the first time in our history that we have had 3 family generations play for us.
Our latest family members are Blast participants: Charlie & Olivia Peterkin plus Cohen & Isabella McBrien.
The following table summarises their West Penno Family tree.
| Generation | Peterkin’s | McBrien’s |
| 1st | Ray | Rob |
| 2nd | Bruce, Brett, Bill | Cameron, James & Lachlan |
| 3rd | Harrison, Charlie & Olivia (Bill) | Cohen (James) & Isabella (Cam) |
| Total family members | 7 | 6 |
The following photograph was taken at Blast last weekend.
