Cricket

Cricket

Cricket has been played at the School from its inception. History books record the School’s founder referring to games being played between 1912 and 1917 at the Toowong oval and other places. Matches were played against the Brisbane Technical College, church clubs and other school teams from 1918 to 1919.

The first match was played against Clayfield College (now Brisbane Boys’ College), and the School won on the first innings. Churchie entered the GPS competition in 1922 and played the first match against Gregory Terrace on 25 February.

It wasn’t until 1929 that Churchie won its first premiership (shared with The Southport School). Churchie has won twenty premierships between 1922 and 2020. Churchie’s cricket programme has seen numerous successes over its long history, including a premiership win in 2012 after 13 years.

Churchie has also seen its winning percentage across all grades soar from 30 per cent in 2009 to as high as 65 per cent in more recent years. Four Churchie Old Boys have represented Australia—Peter Burge, the Archer brothers Ken and Ron, and Tony Dell.

Cricket First XI at Beaudesert 1922
Standing: Center tp R: WPF Morris, Lanskey, R R Hill (Capt) N.Y. Tyrwhitt.

History

A number of Old Boys have also represented Queensland in addition to those who have represented Australia. 

They include Allen Harding, Charlie Mengell, Bob Paulsen, David Rathie, Bruce Taylor, Dennis Lillie, Peter Anderson, Chris Smart, Ray Reynolds, Ian Kelly, Ryan Broad and, most recently, Ronan McDonald. In 2019, Liam Prineas also represented Queensland in Deaf Cricket. 

The Churchie Cricket Support Group offers valuable support to the cricket programme, particularly on match days. Their main fundraising activity, the annual Churchie Cricket Luncheon, is the premier cricket function in Brisbane prior to the November test match at the Gabba. Churchie has also been an active participant in raising awareness for the McGrath Foundation by hosting our own Pink Stumps Day. This has gained traction in recent years and now extends to all GPS schools.

The programme supports 30 teams representing Churchie in GPS competitions, and our Cricket Improvement Programme (CIP/CPL), which consists of a further 10 teams, offers every player, regardless of his ability, the opportunity to improve and enjoy cricket at Churchie. This is achieved through an extensive coaching programme boosted by former test and state players, current first-grade cricketers, teachers and Old Boys.

In recent years Churchie has adopted a bi-annual international tours policy, with the last nine years seeing boys tour overseas. During the Christmas break each year, Churchie runs the Peter Burge Clinic, and all boys are welcome to participate in these events, which help build confidence and experience prior to the commencement of the GPS season. Churchie also hosts touring parties from New Zealand and other states in what is known as Impact Week in the week after school closes in December. This is a good opportunity for our seasoned cricketers to trial their skills against strong opposition.

Trials and pre-season training commence on day two of Term 4. All boys have an equal opportunity to trial for a team. Once squads are selected, all boys have access to specialist sessions to hone their skills.

Training occurs every morning and afternoon until the end of the season, which is just before the end of Term 1. Churchie continues to provide outstanding playing and practice facilities and can field teams on the Main Oval, Old Boys 1, Parents Field, Long Field, New Field, The Flat and Smith 1, 2, and 3—a total of nine fields all within the school grounds—along with three turf wickets, six synthetic pitches, eight turf nets and 13 synthetic nets.

Churchie cricketers, parents and coaches also have their own Culture and Mission Statement which can be viewed here.

First XI 1919-1920
Back Row: J Brandon, A W D White.
Standing Middle: B Robertson, W Leacock, R Y Tyrwhitt, N S Cameron.
Sitting: M M Henderson, E E Biggs, Mr A J Marsden, R R Hill ( C), J M Gibson

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