The History of Pharmacy Cricket

Bradman Oval Bowral was the scene of the first match, Blues vs Golds in 2000. To launch this game and the commencement of this new pharmacy activity, a dinner was held at the ground at which seventy pharmacists, wives and other guests attended. The guest speakers were Neil Harvey and Sam Loxton, both members of Bradman's 1948 team The Invincibles. Pharmacist and past Australian Test Captain, Chair of the Bradman Foundation and Museum Ian Craig was also a guest. The trophy was The Wilkinson Cup.

The following year the same match was played again at Bradman Oval with the pre match dinner held in a marquee at the ground. Alan Davidson was guest speaker. This was a great event with over 100 present. Neil Harvey and Sam Loxton were also guests and we celebrated Sam's 80th birthday in grand style. This Blues vs Golds match is now played each season

The year 2002 saw the rebirth of the competition for The Chemists Interstate Cricket Challenge Shield. First contested in 1908 with matches played each year until 1934. Victoria had held the shield for 68 years without a match being played. NSW issued the challenge and the match was played at Bradman oval in April 2002. NSW were the winners. The pre match dinner held at Bowral saw well over 100 present with ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell as guest speaker. Ian Craig was guest of honour for the rebirth of the games for the shield.

The following year this game was played in Victoria when the locals won the match. Bowral was the venue in 2004 when NSW were the winners. Victorian Max Walker was the guest speaker at the dinner. For 2005, Wesley College St Kilda Melbourne was the scene for the next match. Pre match dinner was held at the college with ex Test bowler Rodney Hogg, Victoria Shield and one day Captain Darren Berry and cricket author Ken Piesse as the speakers. Victoria won the game. This match is now part of the Cricket Carnival.

The city of Wagga in October 2002 was the place for the first City vs Country match. Great country hospitality was enjoyed by the cricketers and a group of lady pharmacy students. The Trophy was The Sidgreaves Shield. The return match in 2003 was played at St Pauls College Sydney. The dinner was held in the packed college-dining hall. Kerry O'Keefe and Umpire Darrell Hair were the guest speakers. City won a very close game the following day. The match City vs Country set for Wagga in 2004 was washed out and was played at Camden in 2005. The Country team won in convincing style.This match continues as part of the Pharmacy Cricket season alternating between Sydney and Wagga Wagga.

The administration for the way pharmacy played cricket changed in mid 2004 with the introduction of the new entity Pharmacy Cricket Incorporated. This new entity with the support of the Pharmacy Guild and the pharmacy industry as sponsors provided a new era for cricket for pharmacists and pharmacy students allowing the necessary degree of autonomy and flexibility to expand and develop.

Pharmacy Cricket was launched in November 2004 at St Paul's Oval with a Gala match at which ex Test player Brian Booth was guest of honour. The Hodgson Cup was the trophy. The team captained by Peter O'Reilly won the game again with a close result. Queensland, not to be left out of the scene, was the place of the first mach against NSW. The ground of the Gold Coast Cricket Club at Robina with the Trophy The Pharmacy Guild Travel Shield. NSW won a very close and exciting match. NSW Captain Peter Mikhail taking for the first time in Pharmacy cricket 7 wickets in the Queensland innings. This match is now part of the Pharmacy Cricket Carnival.

The match City vs Country having been washed out in October 2004 was played at Camden in April 2005 with a close and well deserved victory by Country. The 2005 season concluded with a 'Black Tie Thank You' dinner for the sponsors held at the Sir Stamford Hotel Circular Quay. The guest list in addition to the representative of the sponsors and the cricket committee was a 'who's who' of cricket greats Ian Craig, Alan Davidson, Neil Harvey, Sam Loxton & Jim Maxwell.

January 2006 saw the introduction of the first and very successful Pharmacy Cricket Carnival between NSW, Victoria and Queensland played at the ground in the historic Camden Park Estate Camden over three days around Australia Day. The final night dinner in the Camden Inn was a great success with past Australian Test players Brian Booth and Peter Philpott speaking and presenting the various trophies and match awards. Sydney played Newcastle for the first time in March 2006 at the excellent ground of Shore School at Northbridge, this very successful match will be a feature of future seasons.

The 2006 - 2007 season included the usual Blues v Golds, City v Country & Sydney v Newcastle games with the highlight of the season being the four States Cricket Carnival played at the Gold Coast between teams from Queensland, NSW, Victoria & for the first time Tasmania. The final night dinner with our old friend Sam Loxton was a great occasion with the presentation of the various match trophies and awards. Victoria as the Carnival winner was the recipient of the newly expanded and magnificent 'Chemists Interstate Challenge Cricket Shield' for the 2006 - 2007 season. The first Pharmacy v Industry match was played at St Paul's oval in February and despite the interruption of rain the day was a great success.

The 2007 - 2008 season saw a further expansion of games played. The Carnival became a National Pharmacy event with all six States involved. In addition to the Blues v Golds, City v Country, Sydney v Newcastle and Pharmacy v Industry. Pharmacy played the Doctors in what turned out to be a one sided match. The Carnival saw the first century scored in a Pharmacy Cricket match, the City v Country match produced the first tie and the Blues v Golds match produced a 'hat trick' all bowled.

The 2008 - 2009 season in addition to the awarding of the two scholarships expanded and included the usual Blues v Golds, City v Country played in Orange NSW, the first Pharmacy v Dentists, Pharmacy v Doctors, the second and most outstanding National Cricket Carnival in Adelaide won by New South Wales, Pharmacy v Industry, Sydney v Newcastle and an 'Invitation' match in Bowral.

The season 2009 - 2010 produced one of our best seasons. The National Cricket Carnival was played for the first time in Perth Western Australia and was an outstanding event. To have all six states playing over the four days was a unique achievement and for the first time Western Australia won the final, becoming the National Champions for 2009 - 2010. The usual games, Blues v Golds, Pharmacy v Dentistry, City v Country, Pharmacy v The Doctors, Pharmacy v Industry, Sydney v Newcastle and The President's XI v The Invitation XI at Bowral were all wonderful games with some outstanding individual performances and close match results. Pharmacy Cricket again awarded two student scholarships, one to a student from Sydney University, the other to a student from Charles Sturt University Wagga.

The twelfth season of Pharmacy Cricket viz, 2010 – 2011 was highlighted by the National Cricket Carnival that was played near Shepparton Victoria at the grounds of the Mooroopna Cricket Club. The players from each state enjoyed not only wonderful weather but hospitality, the like of which, we have never enjoyed. The cricket club members were the most kind and friendly people and they made the four days of cricket an absolute pleasure. South Australia won the final v Victoria in a close game and became for the first time the Pharmacy Cricket National Champions for 2010 – 2011. Rain reduced the number of the other games from the usual seven to four. The Blues v Golds, Pharmacy v Dentistry, Pharmacy v Industry and the Invitation match at Bowral were played. South Australia in preparation for the Carnival played a match v SA Lawyers. SA Pharmacists won on the third last ball of the day by bowling the last SA Lawyer batsman.