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Please enjoy Dave's memoirs:

29th September: Frank Scardifield greeted me as I arrived at a dark, cold and damp Perth airport, it was a million miles away from what I expected and can imagine most ‘Pom’s’ expect on their first visit to Australia, regardless the time of year! Within 30 minutes of arriving, I was having my first beer with my new team mates, before heading out for that infamous night at the Kalamunda Pub.

6th October: After a couple of weeks settling in and training, I was eager to play my first game, Whitford’s were our opponents club champions from last season, they set about posting a very competitive 270 on a very flat Scott Reserve, I was reasonably satisfied with my first keeping performance in Aus, I hoped I could match it with bat the following week and get the team off to the best possible start. On the whole we chased very well, I shared an opening partnership with Ryan Madin of 100 for the first wicket scoring 34, the game was eventually a tie!

27th October: My most memorable weekend in Australia, we had just beaten Swan Valley defending a small total of 140 and the team headed off to the Horse Racing (Northam Cup) certainly one of the funniest days I have had here. The day of mad wedding proposals to complete strangers, trespassing into the Northam Cup winner’s presentation ceremony, late night rescue’s in the Casino toilet as well as “I ripped me stroids’.

22nd December: Team highlight of the season was the last game before Christmas against South Perth we had done well to restrict them to 178-9 in a slightly shortened game, then set about destroying there bowling attack, with a massive 324-5 including a merciless 163* from Jamie Scardifield, one of the best displays of clean hitting I think I have ever seen. I would like to say I contributed a lot, but it was however it was a below par keeping display, topped off by a 7th ball duck, my first of 2007.

Christmas & New Year: My first “Aussie Christmas” is one a certainly won’t forget, 45 degrees is a long way from what I am used to at anytime of the year let alone Christmas and Boxing day! However sitting in a paddling a pool drinking beer all day was certainly something I could get used to.

Over the New Year period I also had a couple of memorable nights in Northbridge as well as quite a boozy day at Perth Cup. In early January a few of the boys and I ventured down to Magaret River, for a week of excessive alcohol consumption, wine tours and early (hungover) beach runs/ swims. I also managed to get 7 balled in the first round of a pool competition down the Taverners Inn to a complete Hill Billy (it was a fluke).

February 17th: After the welcome break of Christmas and New Year, its was back to work and back to cricket, on the pitch 2008 couldn’t have started much worse, only managing the one win against Double Veiw and Carine at Scott Reserve. I did however manage to get my top league score of 70 in our loss to Wembley Districts. Our close defeat to Balcatta ensured that for the 4th time in 5 seasons I would be playing in a side going into the last game of a season needing a win to avoid relegation.

February 25th: Was my 21st Birthday and despite not having all my friends and family from home around for it, I did however have my friend (Youngy) over from England for 3 weeks I would like to thank everyone who came to ‘The Deen’ nightclub on the Saturday and helping me have a quality night. For the remainder of my birthday I spent the weekend living it up with Hayley in the ‘Rendezvous Hotel’ Scarborough beach. After having Gouldy and Youngy over for lunch, we headed down to the beach. It was the first birthday I have ever had where it didn’t rain or snow!!

1st March: Last game of the season, we needed to win to stay up, and after the first week were disappointed to post a pretty average 230, on an ever flat Scott Reserve. However we managed to restrict Fremantle to 2-10 coming into day 2. we set about bowling the opposition out very quickly and professionally before putting them back in and having them 5 down at the end of the day, when news filtered through that other results had gone our way and we were safe from the drop, ensuring my personal record of never being relegated stayed intact too!

15th April: I head home to England on the 15th April to play my club season back at Beddington CC. Before hand I am looking forward to the fishing trip and wind up, and I dare say a few more visits in to town will be in order.

I would like to thank everyone associated with High Wycombe Cricket Club for helping me have the time of my life and making me feel so welcome. In particular I would like to thank Frank Scardifield ( The Godfather) for all his endless efforts, High Wycombe wouldn’t be half the club without him. I would also like to thank Vicky Scardifield (Mum) for looking after me and being there whenever I needed anything. Further to that I would also like to give special thanks to Aaron & Chris O’Connor, Jim & James Sebbs, Bill Kraft, Brett Jose, Ben Hort and the rest of the Scardifield’s. I also wish Peter Snell all the best for future.

Article sent courtesy of Nigel Liddycoat
High Wycombne Cricket Club
Perth, W.A.