With the big Ashes Boxing Day Test between Australia and England starting today, Tony Greenberg selects a cricket team (in batting order) of players throughout Richmond’s history (including the VFA era), who were more than handy with bat or ball . . .
1. Nick Jewell
The son of Richmond’s 1980 premiership coach Tony Jewell played one senior game with the Tigers in Round 19, 1997 v Fremantle at the WACA. He later was an opening (right-hand) batsman for Victoria from 2001/02-2009/10. His highest score for Victoria was 188 against Queensland at the Gabba in November 2007. Jewell was a member of the Victorian team that won the 2008/09 Sheffield Shield.
2. Dave Smith
Smith played one senior game for Richmond in Round 8, 1914 v Melbourne at Punt Road. He was a right-hand batsman, who played two Tests for Australia against England at Lord’s and The Oval in 1912
3. Howard Richardson
Richardson played 19 games for Richmond from 1915-17. He was a left-hand batsman who had one first class game for Victoria, against Tasmania in Hobart in 1924.
4. Ray Stokes
Stokes was a talented midfielder who played 93 games for Richmond from 1946-51. He was a left-hand batsman who played nine first class matches for Tasmania from 1952/53-1965/66.
5. Joe Plant
Plant played one game for Richmond in 1925 against Melbourne at the MCG. He was a left-hand batsman and right-arm off-spinner. His main claim to cricketing fame was dismissing gun English batsmen Herbert Sutcliffe and Eddie Paynter, while playing for Victoria against the touring MCC team at the MCG in 1933. He was a member of Victoria’s winning Sheffield Shield team in 1936/37.
6. Keith Millar (not to be confused with champion Australian cricket all-rounder Keith Miller)
Millar played 37 games for Richmond from 1924-27 and 1930. A skilful half-forward, he finished equal fifth in the 1926 Brownlow Medal. He was a right-hand batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler, who represented Victoria in 14 first class matches from 1924/25-1932/33.
7. William ‘Barlow’ Carkeek
Carkeek was a member of Richmond’s VFA premiership sides in 1902 and 1905. As a cricketer, he was a left-hand batsman and a wicketkeeper. He toured England with the Australian squad as the second wicketkeeper, and returned in 1912 as the first-choice keeper. Carkeek played his six Tests on that tour – three against England and three against South Africa in what was a triangular tournament.
8. Ray Steele
Steele played 41 games for Richmond from 1940-43 and was back pocket in the Tigers’ 1943 premiership team. He was a cricketing all-rounder with Victorian district clubs University and Hawthorn-East Melbourne. Later on, Steele became a successful cricket administrator. He spent 18 years with the Australian Cricket Board and received an O.B.E. for his services to cricket.
9. Blair Campbell
Campbell played eight games with Richmond in 1966 and 1968 and kicked 12 goals in his small-forward role. Cricket-wise, he was a right-hand batsman and left-arm wrist spinner. He played for Victoria from 1969-76 and was a member of the Vics’ winning Sheffield Shield team in 1969/70. Campbell later played Sheffield Shield cricket with Tasmania from 1977-80.
10. Todd Breman
Breman played 25 games for Richmond from 1992-93. Previous to that, he had been a state cricketer for his native Western Australia. He was a medium-pace bowler, who played 10 first class matches for WA.
11. George Smeaton
Smeaton played 149 games for Richmond from 1935-42 and 1944-46. He was described by Tiger ‘Immortal’ Jack Dyer as the toughest player he’d ever seen. Smeaton had captained a Victorian schoolboys’ team before starting his league football journey and he later played district cricket with Richmond, as an aggressive fast bowler.
