MEMBERS ON SPORTING STAGE - Melbourne Cricket Club

CLUB NEWS
HODGE ENTERS
RECORD BOOKS
It was a red-letter day for MCC
batting dynamo Brad Hodge in late-
October when he wrote his name into
the history books in the Sheffi eld Shield
clash against Queensland at the Gabba.
With his 13th run in the second innings
on October 23, Hodge became the highest
all-time run scorer for Victoria at
fi rst-class level, surpassing fellow MCC
batsman and boyhood idol Dean Jones’
10,412 career total.
“Hodgey” is in exalted company, with
greats such as Ponsford, Lawry, Hassett
and Armstrong all in his wake. It is one
thing to perform, another altogether to do
it consistently over a 15-year period.
Jones, a good friend and former MCC
and Victorian teammate of Hodge, was
effusive in his praise of the talented right-
The annual MCC Members’ Day
bowls tournament will be held
on Sunday February 15, 2009
on the Swinburne Avenue greens in
Hawthorn.
The tournament is open to all MCC
16 MCC NEWS
DECEMBER 2008
hander, who was recruited to the club in
1990-91 to play in the under 16 Dowling
Shield competition.
“I am thrilled for Hodgey,” said Jones.
“I’ve seen him grow from a young tyro to
a seasoned veteran and it’s been a
privilege to watch.”
Hodge crept past Darren Berry to
become the most capped Victorian player
(139 matches), achieving the milestone
during the MCG’s fi rst match of the
summer against Tasmania from
November 15-18.
With records tumbling and runs galore,
all that is left now for Hodge is to force
his way back into the Australian Test
team, where he can work on his more
than useful career average of 55.88 from
six Tests.
MEMBERS’ BOWLS DAY
members irrespective of their ability or
their bowling club. It is designed to enable
MCC members to meet bowlers from other
clubs and to compete on equal terms in a
fours event. Three games will be played on
a progressive basis and prizes will be
Long way to Long Room: Following
the MCC’s successful cricket tour of
Japan in May, the club extended its
hospitality to representatives of Osaka
City Council at the Richmond-Essendon
match on July 19. Here, MCC vicepresident
and cricket chairman Bob
Lloyd introduces Kunia Hiramatsu
(Mayor of Osaka) and Toshifumi
Tagaya (Osaka City Council president)
to the famous Long Room.
Ayres honoured: The MCC First XI’s
Premier Cricket clash with Dandenong
on October 12 was played for
the Warren Ayres Cup for the fi rst
time in honour of his outstanding
contribution to both clubs. Ayres,
who retired as a player at the end of
last season but is still coach of
Dandenong, presented the trophy to
winning MCC captain-coach Adam
Dale. In his fi rst season in charge,
Dale’s team has performed strongly
in the fi rst part of the season.
awarded to winners and runners up.
Members wishing to participate can
obtain an application form from
secretary Ian Cave at P.O. Box 977
Hawthorn 3122 or by emailing
iancave46@hotmail.com.