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Dan Frogan No.5
Frogan has been difficult to get hold of this week, to give his thoughts on the very important upcoming round 5 clash against Hawkesbury. He has been in various parts of Asia to study the affects of a possible bird flu pandemic on the ability of young Australian bowlers to produce enough minty saliva to make the ball go "Irish", in order that Australia might be some hope of regaining the Ashes.
Apparently, Frogan approached Nathan Bracken for his experiences, Bracken having played badge cricket in Laos in the off season of 2001. However, no sooner had he provided his opinion, then he withdrew it as a "joke". Simon Jones was also approached, as the bird flu, has very similar affect to the "black lung", suffered by so many of the boyos of Cymru but he offered a feeble response that it was just part of the game. Waqar Younis had ideas about how to use the bird flu to a bowler's advantage, but Frogan was not interested in what Waqar appeared to be pedalling.
 But to Hawkesbury and Frogan recalls a time in the season of 1975-76, prior to the Hawks being part of the grade competition, that he as a member of a combined Richmond XIV, as was the customary number of players in frontier town cricket up until the 80's. The team, all 15 (as naturally Richmond had a 15th man) consisted of 14 Halls and a ram called Gerald, who was a handy number 6 and bowled left hoof orthodox. The game was convivially played, as is usually the case in that part of the world, at the historic Richmond Park. When Hawkesbury became a grade cricket club it was assumed that the team would be based at Richmond Park but due to the short boundaries and possible also an unfortunate incident involving Gerald, possibly encouraged by a distant relative of the Hall's, at an official Mayoral reception in 1978, appears to have precipitated a ban on the new club using the ground.
(James Packman)
Grade cricket need not have worried about the facilities as the Hawkesbury Club have done a magnificent job of developing 3 grounds that are adjacent to each other (the only club in Sydney to have this) in nearby Benson's Lane, including the main ground, recently named in the honour of Owen Earle, Hawkesbury's first president, and one time Captain of the Freeman's Reach Brigade of the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is a fantastic cricket wicket where shots can be played all around the ground. Frogan recalls many fine innings played at the ground by Gordon players over the years, including Stefan Hutton's well made 17* in second grade in 1991, made under absolutely no pressure but punctuated by two shots that came within metres of the fence. However, Frogan has seen none better than James Packman's hundred last season. Frogan drummed into Packman the mantra that good balls should be respected but anything loose on such a true surface have to go and go they did. By the end of the innings even the good balls were being harshly treated. Frogan said that he was looking forward to getting news over the phone in Laos of yet another master performance at the ground this season.
 Whilst talking on the phone from Laos, as opposed to catching up at the usual corner of the Greengate Hotel, for his thoughts on cricket and life, Frogan was reminded of another phone call that he had made in 1992. Frogan had removed himself to the mountains to train at altitude (something that became fashionable for all athletes some years later) in preparation for what would be a gruelling tilt at the NSW continuous highland dancing record. As keen as ever as to the fortunes of the club, Frogan called Killara Oval and asked for the one man who could give the right analytical summation of the game, Richard Stobo. The voice at the other end of the phone, who apparently sounded a great deal like Mark O'Neill said "Richard's just going out to bat. He won't be long, would you like to hold?" It still makes Frogan smile to this day because, at STD rates, waiting for Stobo cost him 37 cents.
(Richard Stobo returning to take his call)
It was fantastic to see that Ed Howitt Junior has now finally passed selector Tony Wilson's number of victims in grade cricket for Gordon. Howitt also overtook long-time club and team mate, Kurt Morrison. Frogan reckons that the only difference between these three loyal servants of the club is that Morrison used to spin it. It seems pretty harsh to make that sort of assessment but Frogan has not become one of the most respected antique dealers in Australia by doing anything other than calling it as he sees it. On a side note, Howitt's delivery that took wicket 349 has been dubbed "Dermot". It didn't spin but such an important delivery must surely also deserve to be named.
 Frogan passed on his congratulations to Brad Rasool, who is making his first grade debut for the club, after a hundred in round two and to John "I am not the Devil" O'Neill-Fuller, who is in fantastic form and deserves an opportunity to stamp his authority in first grade. It is certainly great to see that batsmen are taking opportunities and scoring runs. There is no clearer message given by the selectors that batsmen will be promoted, in this case even into a side that is a little unlucky to be 3 wins from 4 starts, if you make scores. It has been a pretty good season for batting pitches across Sydney thus far.
(Hoppa "passing" Kurt Morrison)
The bowlers will get favourable conditions soon enough; batsmen cash in now! It is a massive chance to get another great round of results but every player must ensure that he does everything that he can. Possibly import a chicken from Thailand or Cambodia to get the ball to go Irish. Every little bit of effort must help.
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