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There are few clubs in Australia that can argue to sport a prouder history than that of the Sydney University Cricket Club, in fact, it lies behind only the Melbourne Cricket Club as the oldest of its kind in Australia.
2014 marks the club’s 150th anniversary.
This extraordinary feat is sure to inspire the cricket club to great heights over the upcoming summer, and will also provide many chances for all members, past and present, to reflect on the club’s extremely rich history.
One of these opportunities will be when the club holds a 150th Anniversary Dinner at the SCG in October, fittingly where the club played its first competitive match.
Interestingly though, when this match was played the ground was in fact called the ‘Military Cricket Ground’ or the ‘Garrison Ground’.
It’s impossible to fit 150 years of history into one article, so instead I will focus on a period of great dominance for the club and particularly shed light on the prodigious talent that made this possible.
In the five seasons between 1909 and 1914, ‘University’ won three First Grade titles and was in contention for the title in the other two summers until the very last day of the season.
It was a period of great dominance that was halted only by the beginning of the World War I in 1914.
During this period University would field thirteen players that would go on to play at first-class level or better, and in fact as many as ten of these first-class representatives lined up together, an achievement which is unfathomable in the modern era.
But it begs the question of what could have been had war never broken out? How long would this period of University dominance lasted?
Had these players not departed for war, how many of them would have represented Australia? How many of these players would have forged out careers that would have their names remembered today?
“Golden Blues” is an incredibly detailed book that reflects on the 150 year history of the club, it is written by club historians James Rodgers and Max Bonnell.
After reading the book, a couple of players from this era who’s careers haven’t been showered in the acclaim they most certainly deserve become apparent – namely the careers of Roy Minnett and Eric Barbour.
Roy Minnett (University 1906/07 – 1914/15)
Before the World War I, Roy Minnett was said to be the most exciting all-rounder in Australia, he was a fast-medium bowler and an aggressive batsman.
Roy made his first grade debut for University as an 18 year old in 1906-07, after a successful tenure at Sydney’s prestigious Shore school, in which he became the first player to take 100 wickets and score 1000 runs in the GPS first XI competition.
Minnett made his maiden first grade century in his first season with University, and only a couple of weeks later he was selected to represent New South Wales, still just 18 years of age.
He would go on to represent his state 54 times, amassing 2142 runs at an average of 28.94 and took 86 wickets at an average of 25.02.
His most successful season for NSW, the 1911/12 summer, in which he scored 882 runs at an average of 63, led to Roy being handed an Australian debut.
Not overawed by the occasion, Minnett blasted his way to 90 against an English attack consisting of: Frank Foster, Sydney Barnes, Johnny Douglas, Frank Woolley and Wilfred Rhodes, whom some still regard as England’s strongest ever attack.
His intent was clear to all from the outset as he dispatched his first ball in Test cricket with a cut shot for four. That day he shared a 109 run partnership with Victor Trumper, and those there say it was certainly Minnett who stole the show.
Minnett would play nine Tests, amassing 391 runs at an average of 26.06 while he also took 11 wickets at an average of 26.36.
Eric Barbour (University 1909/10 – 1914/15)
A glittering school cricket career with Sydney Grammar had led Eric Barbour to be labelled the most promising young cricketer in Sydney.
You don’t blame these judges, Eric Barbour appeared in the Sydney Grammar School first XI for five seasons, scoring 9867 runs and taking 493 wickets, including 19 centuries.
So it was no surprise that while still at Grammar he was called up to the NSW side.
In his second and third matches for NSW he compiled back-to-back centuries, all the while still in school! In fact he would finish at Grammar already boasting a first class average of 74.
In the summer of 1910-11, his first full year with University he scored 655 runs at an average of 65, and along with this, made 82 on Sheffield Shield debut followed by 113* in his second shield match.
The man had no luck with national duties though. The following summer the English arrived, but a lean Shield would hold Barbour back from playing any role in this series.
In fact this wasn’t the only time Barbour just missed out on higher honours.
In 1911/12, when recognised as Australia’s premier young batsman a man averaging 18 beat him to a spot in the test side in controversial circumstances. The next summer the bad luck continued, Barbour found great form, yet there would be no sides touring.
Barbour would represent NSW 23 times, averaging 46.38, scoring 1557 runs including five centuries and eight fifties along the way. While for University he would average 59.35 over 59 innings.
This promising career was cut short by war, and then on his return to Australia he would give up professional cricket for the calling of a career in medicine.
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