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By Trevor Vayro.
6th A.B.C.C. Sydney Carnival 1962-63
The Queensland Squad travelled to Sydney by train on the Brisbane Limited with only a squad of eleven players and three sighted officials. This was my first carnival as a married player as my wife Daphne and I had married some twelve months earlier in January. The Queensland Squad was accommodated at the New Morris Hotel situated near Central Railway Station. Victoria was also accommodated at this Hotel and players travelled each day to Wiley Park where the carnival was held. The four States of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania competed in a single round of matches with a two day final.
Queensland had an aged team with myself the second youngest player and Graham Edmonds competing in his first carnival. Several of our partially sighted players were coming to the end of their playing career and other players were unavailable due to work commitments and family commitments. This carnival was the beginning of an era for Victoria who would dominate blind cricket for the next six Carnvials.
Bob Evans who had competed in the previous Carnival as a very young player was now well experienced and was joined by new players Bill Brown, Bob Hodder, Bob Curtin and Ian Walsh all young partially sighted players. Victoria also had the services of Ivan Molloy and Charlie Bradley in the totally blind ranks.
Queensland performed well in its matches against Victoria and New South Wales and whilst being soundly defeated, did not lose outright and only lost on the first innings in each match. Queensland had the measure of Tasmania defeating this State easily in the first round and again in a play off for third position.
The two day final was between Victoria and New South Wales with Victoria scoring well in excess of 160 runs and New South Wales being dismissed in both innings for less than the one innings of Victoria. New South Wales had lost several players since the previous Carnival and only gave a token effort.
Best players for Queensland were partially sighted players Noel Abrahams and Brian Gibbs with myself and Ian Stewart best in the totally blind category. Best players from Victoria were Bob Evans, Ian Walsh and Bill Brown in the partially category with Ivan Molloy outstanding in the blind category.
New South Wales' best players were Alan and John Richards who were twins in the partially sighted category. The Sydney Carnival was very disappointing with regard to the social functions arranged for players and officials but the lunches provided each day at the Wiley Park Hotel were excellent. Players received a pleasant surprise on the first day of catering when the hotel staff provided several large bottles of cold beer. However, this was the first and only time players received this treat as officials from all States put an immediate stop to same. Until the next carnival flashback, enjoy your cricket.