Endeavour Hills Cricket Club’s team of the 30 years: Back from left: Worrell Baptist, Jan Durham (representing Greg Durham), Wes Dunkley, captain Richard Saniga, Vaughan Baxter and Michael Ellis. Front: Shaun Thompson, Peter Edwards and John Mason.By Marc McGowan
ONE-HUNDRED-AND-TEN Endeavour Hills players and officials crammed into the Dandenong Club to celebrate the cricket club’s 30-year history on Saturday night.
The Hills also recognised its decade-long involvement in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association (VSDCA).
Selectors David Anning, Glen Butterworth, Reg Pickering and Wes Dunkley named a team of the 30 years and a team of the decade (see graphic) to commemorate the achievement.
Neil Pendrey and Richard Saniga were named captains in the decade and 30-year team respectively.
Club great Worrell Baptist, who cracked 29 half-centuries and five hundreds in a magnificent 201-game career, and last season’s VSDCA team-of-the-year recipient Matthew Hutchinson led the other selections.
Current first XI players to earn selection in at least one of the teams included Saniga, Vaughan Baxter, Peter Edwards and Shane Peake.
Baxter rated Peake, who made the 12-man team of the decade squad, unlucky to miss out on the 30-year team.
Peake is in the midst of a sensational summer in which his left-arm off-spinners have claimed 29 wickets at an average of 14.5.
Baxter also felt former opener Ryan Pearson was stiff not to be picked in the decade side.
“It was an honour to be named. It was a really good night and we had a lot of people from the past there,” Baxter said.
“It was the first time we’ve done something like this and it was a great success.”
The other highlight of the night was the cap presentations to the players who have represented the club at first XI level.
Each cap had a number which denoted the order in which they played for the club.
Henry Vettivelu became number 75 when he debuted against Mount Waverley last month.
Endeavour Hills is enjoying its best season in history and is just three points from a first XI finals spot with three rounds to play.
The Hills takes on top side Caulfield at Caulfield Park on Saturday from 1pm.
