It was January 26, 1855. The toss of the coin had just gone up, and nine fielders, two batsmen and umpires made their way out onto Market Square (now known as Robertson Park) for what would be the first cricket match to be played in Mudgee.
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Little did those players know how big the great summer pastime would become in Mudgee.
Now on January 26, 2015 – 58,439 days later – Mudgee District Cricket Association celebrates their 160th anniversary.
There have been many wonderful moments in Mudgee cricket over the years from Sir Donald Bradman playing against Mudgee to David Lester tormenting the touring Indian team to today, where the next generation continues with the tradition.
Mudgee cricket has always stood the test of times, including two World Wars, to remain a focal point for many people each summer. During the halcyon days 18 teams participated in the competition.
“There’s too many highlights to choose from,” said Kevin Pye, the former great Mudgee fast bowler, handy batsman and respected umpire.
“I can remember the touring sides coming up from Sydney. We had matches against Cricket Club of India and English Old Collegians and both of those teams had ex-Test cricket players. We would entertain the NSW side and play them in pre-season matches.”
The queen of Mudgee cricket, Betty Endacott, has been involved in the sport for her entire life.
She can remember her father, the late Rupert Rayner, donning his whites each week and later on in her life, Betty’s late husband Darcy, doing the same thing.
“There were so many talented individual players like David Lester, the Menchin brothers and the Rearden brothers.”
“I’ve grown up on cricket,” Betty said.
“We used to travel by horse and cart to play cricket. We didn’t just stay in Mudgee, we travelled around everywhere.”
Betty said she has seen many incredible moments but one that is close to her heart is when her son Peter took five wickets in five consecutive balls in an under 16s match against Lithgow.
She said watching the likes of Tony O’Hare and Jim O’Hare, Ray Menchin, Jack Menchin, David Lester, and the Rearden’s – Gordon and Don – was a joy.
Later came along the likes of Beres and Elwyn Lang to the latest top talented cricketers led by current Sheffield Shield batsman Scott Henry.
“We had so many wonderful cricketers,” she said.
Kevin said Mudgee used to dominate the Western Districts competition (now known Mitchell Cricket Council) in the 1960s.
“We had only the one grade with six teams in it but we would be able to fill two very strong representative sides,” he said.
“It was the golden era of Mudgee cricket. We were invincible. We were too strong for Orange and Bathurst.
“There were so many talented individual players like David Lester, the Menchin brothers and the Rearden brothers.”
Ray Menchin is arguably Mudgee’s best ever bowler. He took 100 wickets in the 1952-53 local competition and he picked up no less than 66 wickets in the Western District competition in the same season.
Kevin said those moments and the many more achieved over the past 160 years were something the whole town should be proud of.
“It is an absolute special occasion. It is an achievement that we should cherish,” he said.