HISTORY
2007 marks the centenary of the foundation of
Country Week Cricket in Western Australia. Generations
of country cricketers and their families have
contributed to the rich tradition and history
of Country Week Cricket.
The Early Years (1907-1915)
On 11 February 1907, four teams played for the
Sandover Trophy – Brookton, Geraldton,
Goomalling and South West, with matches starting
at 10.30am, finishing at 6.15pm and comprising
eight ball overs. The matches were usually played
mid-week under ordinary conditions i.e. no compulsory
declarations.
Movie theatre owner, sports store owner & state
player Thomas Coombe provided the cricket balls
for the first carnival. A Country XI was selected
to play a Metro XI, which consisted mainly of
state players. Between 1913-15, teams played
for the Alcock Cup. The First World War (1914-1918)
intervenes.
The Growing Years (1920-1941)
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The Boan Cup |
After World War One, Country Week cricket grew
and by 1936, there were fifty-four teams playing
for the Boan Cup. In 1923, Semi-Finals and Finals
were introduced with the Finals being played
out to a first innings decision – some
Finals took two days.
Annual country cricket conferences began and
in 1933 a Second Division was introduced. Seven
country players were selected to play for Western
Australia: Merv Bessen, Wally
Butler, Dick Cantwell, Harold Fidock, Clarrie
Fleay, Archie Hardie and Joe Lanigan. Despite
the Great Depression in the 1930s there was a
strong representation from mining areas of the
Goldfields. The Second World War (1939-1945)
intervenes.
1947-1978
Country Week cricket resumed in 1947 when forty-seven
teams competed and by 1978, that number had grown
to seventy-eight. From 1946, touring international
teams played regular matches against representative
Country XI teams in country centres. These matches
were regularly held until 1995, when the demands
on international cricket saw the discontinuation
of these types of matches.
In 1950, a sectional system was introduced with
promotion and relegation a consequence, as more
Second XI teams were permitted from 1960 onwards.
The hours of play changed as matches began at
10am and ended at 5.30pm. Trophies for batting
and bowling averages and aggregates were provided
by various sponsors and since 1977, a major sponsor
has underwritten the cost of the Country Week
carnival. More North-West teams joined.
Consolidation (1979-)
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| The WACA Scoreboard was officially
opened in 1954 and made possible by the
efforts of the NorWest & Murchison
Cricket Association. |
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The game evolved to six ball overs and innings
were reduced to 60 overs. Finals were played
in one day. The latter years witnessed a downturn
in rural areas, contributing to the amalgamation
of some districts. In 1979, the management of
the carnival was entrusted to the Country Cricket
Executive (now the Country Cricket Board) and
the annual conference ceased to be held.
In the 1980-81 season, a Country XI team entered
the WACA Sunday League competition. In 1982,
the carnival was washed out after three days
of continual rain. In 1984, the normal
Sunday fixtures between the Country XI and State
team were discontinued. By 1996, the carnival
had changed from being played mid-week to mid-week
and now commences on a weekend lasting five days
plus the Finals.
Achievements over the Years
Some unusual teams:
1936 Wahkinyup
1950 &1951 Rottnest
1961 Yampi
Highest individual score:
Edwin Smith (Goomalling) 227 in 1930
Best individual
bowling: Robert Fenwick (Ongerup) 10/36 in 1977
Highest
team total: Wickepin 559 against Narrogin in
the 1968 Final
Lowest team total:
Tambellup-Cranbrook No.2 scored 6 in 1959
Most
carnivals played: John Bird 40
Contributions to Country Cricket
- Did you know nearly 20,000 cricketers have
played cricket at Country Week?
- About twenty percent of Western Australian
First Class cricketers were either born or
played in country districts.
- Six Country Week players have played Test
cricket for Australia.
- Two Country Week players have played Test
cricket for other countries.
- Two Country Week players have represented
Australia in matches other than Tests.
- Forty two Country Week players have played
for Western Australia.
- Eight Country Week players played for Western
Australia while still living in the country.
- Country people contributed fifty percent
to the cost of the Test Match Stand, later
to be renamed the John Inverarity Stand.
- Cricketers and supporters of the NorWest
and Murchison Cricket Association raised
funds to build the WACA Scoreboard in 1954.
- Regional coaching schemes were established.
- Junior Country Week was started in 1949
by Keith Carmody.
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