Greats of the past inducted as Legends

[graham eccles]

"What incredible value for the money ...you could not buy a ticket to a night like this." So said an elated state president Paul Sheahan as he wrapped up another wonderful Legends of Victorian Cricket night at Royal South Yarra Tennis Club on August 31.

Paul and his committee were thrilled by the response from members and guests who packed the venue to witness retired cricket greats in Keith Stackpole and Darren Berry, former umpire Bill Sheahan and the late Jack Ryder, a former Test batsman and later a long-time selector inducted as Legends.

Several thousand dollars were raised from the excellent dinner plus a raffle and very successful auction.

An added feature of the night was the presentation of awards to three impressive young cricketers in Meg Lanning and Clive Rose, who were named the Taverners' Junior Cricketers of the Year, along with Molly Strano, the Betty Butcher Emerging Player award winner.

Meg, who plays with Box Hill, won the Betty Butcher award last year and has since gone on to represent Australia, scoring a century in her second innings - a wonderful performance and clearly an emerging star on the international scene.

Meg had the audience gasping when she recalled how she was practising with the Australian team about 20km from the heart of Christchurch when the city was devastated by an earthquake some months back.