It’s been well reported Jackson Bird is the first former St Ignatius College at Riverview pupil in the famous school’s 132-year history to don the baggy green.
What hasn’t been well reported is Bird has become only the fourth former pupil of a Sydney GPS school to do so in 80 years.
Legendary batsman Stan McCabe, a former St Joseph’s College pupil, played his 39 Tests between 1930 and 1938.
McCabe’s 232 on the 1938 tour of England was described by Don Bradman as the greatest innings he ever saw. It took just four hours, with the last 72 blasted in just 28 minutes.
Then there was a drought until Jimmy Burke, Sydney Grammar, came on the scene in 1951 to play 24 Tests to 1959.
After a duck in his first innings, Burke scored a Test ton in the second innings on debut to join the elite.
Another drought until 1994 when keeper-batsman Phil Emery, from Shore, replaced the injured Ian Healey for one Test in Pakistan.
And now Jackson Bird.
Having been through the GPS system myself, the facilities are first class and many have gone on to play first grade district cricket in Sydney, and for NSW, but not become Test men. Those stats make no sense.
In 1924 Johnny Taylor (Newington) set an Australian 10th wicket record of 127 with famous leggie Arthur Mailey at the SCG against England that still stands.
Taylor made 108, Mailey an unbeaten 46. Australian won by 193 runs.
Taylor played 20 Tests between 1920 and 1926.
Two more Newington old boys played Test cricket – Tom Garrett with 19 caps between 1877 and 1888 and Edwin Evans with six Tests between 1881 and 1886.
Sydney High has provided two Test men – the famous Sydney Gregory between 1890 and 1912, with 52 Tests, and Hanson Carter with 28 Tests between 1907 and 1921.
Shore’s only other cap was Jack Gregory with 24 Tests between 1920 and 1928.
Just 10 Australian Test caps from GPS schools in the history of the grand old game. But 132 Wallaby caps in the same period. Go figure.
Vinod
Guest
I know its an old thread but would the situation has changed in last 8 years? It would be interesting to now if there is any change in trend.
Joeys 78
Guest
Hi David Thanks for this - yes am reading it five years too late. Suggest you forgot Ron Moroney, I think about 1958 played several tests. At least that was what we were told when a student at Joeys in the 70s.
Dave
Guest
Prince Alfred College in Adelaide offers cricket scholarships. Hooksey was offered one but didn't take it. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/137663.html In Greg Chappell's day PAC and ST Peters played B & C Grade in Adelaides district comp. http://m.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/local-sport/chappell-returns-to-the-schoolyard-to-see-next-crop-of-stars/story-fnf6m40f-1226555716096
Junior
Roar Guru
Well said. Absolutely spot on.
Junior
Roar Guru
"Before professionalism in rugby union, boys in the western suburbs especially had no money incentive to play the game." I was a boy in the western suburbs before professionalism in rugby union. It certainly wasn't an issue of money. The fact is boys out there back then had approximately zero interest in rugby union. No affinity with the game whatsoever. Not even on the radar. The world began and ended with Rugby League. Still does for the vast majority of kids in the western suburbs. I can assure you it wasn't money that attracted us to Rugby League. It was mostly tries, excitement and end-to-end action. Still is.
Bakkies
Guest
The problem with Cricket is that it takes up to a day or 2 days out of a weekend to play a school match in a private comp like the APS in Melbourne. During term I doubt there will be many opportunities to play club Cricket. At a public school there might not be a cricket program so kids have to play for a club which helps you with progressing to a state team. That's a lot different to Rugby where you can find time to play league or for a district club on a weekend after playing for your school. There are also national schoolboys championships for Rugby which are attended by talent scouts from a wide variety of professional teams.
Bayman
Guest
Atawhai, I think you'll find Ashley Woodcock, Greg Blewett and Tim May also attended PAC in Adelaide. Those you mentioned include four Australian Test captains (while Trevor Chappell also played Test cricket). South Australia once beat Queensland by eight wickets and all four SA batsman involved (Woodcock, Chappell I and G, Causby) were old PAC boys. The other significant college in Adelaide, St. Peters, also produced "Nip" Pellew, "Slinger" Nitschke, Gavin Stevens and Ian McLachlan (12th once in 1962/63) for the Test team. Both schools produced many more state cricketers.
Pat
Guest
David I think you will find the following Test players also went to GPS schools Jack Moroney Joeys RCAllan Grammar Stork Hendry Grammar Beet Hopkins Shore Ranji Hordern Shore Roy Minnett Shore Fred Spofforth Grammar Sammy Woods Grammar
simmo green
Guest
Here is a link to GPS sports. Select cricket and scroll down to 03/04, where Bird was a pretty consistent all rounder. http://www.aagps.nsw.edu.au/ The standard of GPS cricket is poor because boys are pressured to play school only, from year 7. And that pressure doesn't just come from the Sportsmaster, the GPS is chock to the brim with Dads that crave the modest bragging rights that come with your boy being in an A team. From the ages of 12 to 18 kids are therefore not exposed to a high standard of competition, save for those that can sneak a Green Shield season in. GPS Cricket programmes are generally poor and while a lot of noise is made by both the Master and the Support Groups, the reality is that beyond 1sts and 2nds, the quality of coaching is very poor, usually supplemented by some enthusiastic old boy or some unknown grade cricketer that wants some extra cash
wazza
Guest
I am trying to find Jackson Bird's GPS record. Does anyone know. Bowling and batting?
Johnno
Guest
Matt Nicholson was a CAS boy he went to Nnox Grammar and Ed Cowan was a CAS boy he went to Cranbrook.
Johnno
Guest
Plus Micheal Lipman too, and Jarred Saffy.
yewonk
Guest
yes it is, thus the term " only the fourth former pupil of a Sydney GPS school to do so in 80 years."
A1
Guest
No Joeys players have played for the Wallabies recently? What about Beale Sheehan and Burgess?
Lindommer
Guest
No Joeys Old Boys playing for the Wallabies in recent years? Don't Al Campbell, Brett Sheehan, Luke Burgess, Kurtley Beale and Paddy Ryan count?
andycox
Roar Rookie
Fred - I think you may find that Warney went to Brighton Grammar, an APS school. Also David, I remember Peter Philpott saying when he was teaching at King's that GPS cricketers didn't reach the top because they played on turf too early. Batsmen didn't develop their shots because of the uneven bounce, and bowlers didn't have to work hard enough for their wickets. That, and the fact that they weren't playing grade by 16. Another thing I recall is that Kings produced a test cricketer by the name of Massie in the late 19th Century. Not that it makes much of a difference to your argument.
fred gallop
Guest
The Melbourne equivalent would be interesting Paul Sheehan and Bob Cowper were "GPS" boys but I doubt Merv Hughes and Warney were..Not that theres anything wrong... The GPS boys go OK at AFL representation although there may be scholarships and father-son aspects to that...
Brewski
Guest
Sydney is really odd in comparison to the rest of Australian cities, it's football codes are really fragmented along social class lines, yet it is known as the power house of Australian cricket, which is suprising when you look at the 2006 national census state participation rates for males over 15 NSW 3.0% Vic 4.8% Qld 2.6% SA 4.7% WA 4.6% Tas 4.5%
Jason
Guest
Sydney GPS schools aren't the only private schools. As mentioned above, there are Associated Schools and Independent Schools as well - most of which can be considered "private". In fact, there are only 8 Sydney GPS schools out of hundreds of high schools. And Sydney High, a GPS school, is a public school. I think the main issue is why GPS schools produce so many rugby internationals but very few cricket ones. A few posts above give some theories.
Brewski
Guest
Not including the Husseys, Katich, Julian, North etc the PSA schools in Perth which are Aquinas College, Christ Church Grammar School, Guildford Grammar School, Hale School, Scotch College and Wesley College. Tom Moody Beau Casson Mick Malone Craig Seargeant Tim Zoehrer Stuart Macgill Geoff Marsh Chris Rogers Terry Alderman Barry Shepherd No doubt i have missed a few, and of course you can throw in the Holioakes and Dimitri Mascarenhass who all played for England, who went to PSA schools in Perth, and the many many others who played State cricket for WA. Perhaps it is just a Sydney thing !!.