The First Graders

Randwick Petersham Cricket fielded its first 1st Grade team on 29 September 2001, just three months after Randwick and Petersham-Marrickville, two clubs with a century of tradition behind them, merged to form Sydney’s newest NSW Premier Cricket Club. With the merger forcing a bye in the then 19 team 2001-02 competition, Randwick Petersham was permitted to take the bye in round one as part of its “settling”.

The first team comprised eight players from the former Randwick club and three from Petersham-Marrickville. While both of the former clubs’ captains, Andrew Millican and Graham Doig were in the side, Paul Toole from Randwick was selected to be the captain of the new team.

The match was against University of New South Wales at Petersham Oval and resulted in a win to University 180 runs to 270. However, Randwick Petersham won the next 11 games on the first innings, earning a place in the top six teams to contest the finals series. And while the team was eliminated in the qualifying final, it completed a most successful first season.

By the end of the 2023-24 season, the club’s 23rd, a total of 158 cricketers had played 1st Grade for Randwick Petersham. Of those, Simon Katich, Nathan Hauritz, Usman Khawaja and David Warner played Test Cricket for Australia with Katich, Hauritz and Warner representing the country in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. Daniel Sams became the club’s fourth Twenty20 International when he debuted in 2020-21.

Nine players have represented NSW at first-class level with seven of those also playing Limited Overs cricket for the state. Simon Katich and Jason Sangha both captained NSW.

In its 23 seasons, Randwick Petersham has won every competition conducted by the Sydney Cricket Association, except for A W Green Shield. Its tally of 19 premierships include the Club Championship twice, the 1st Grade Belvidere Cup, the 1st Grade Limited Overs Cup twice and the Twenty20 competition a record five times. In the five seasons from 2019-20, the club won a premiership each year.

Adam Semple (309) and Anthony Sams (307) have played more than 300 1st Grade games while Semple (6,505) and Sams (7,866), along with Nathan Price (5,123), have exceeded the 5,000 runs milestone. Adam Semple is the leading wicket-taker with 419 while Daniel Sams (246) and Jake Wilson (201) have passed 200. Anthony Sams has completed 511 dismissals as wicketkeeper, the second highest in the history of Sydney 1st Grade cricket.

A brief biography of each 1st Grade player to the end of 2023-24 has been completed by Randwick Petersham Club Historian, Lyall Gardner and can be viewed by clicking on the players name below. The biographies of current players will be updated at the conclusion of each season. For any comment or additional information please contact Lyall Gardner on lyallg@optusnet.com.au

The First Graders – Players’ Profile

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