FORMER Australian Test great Alan Davidson was in Bathurst yesterday for the final of a year-long school’s knock-out cricket competition named in his honour.
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It was the first time in four years that the left-handed all-rounder had made the journey over the mountains to watch the last two teams fight it out for the Alan Davidson Shield.
More than 300 schools started in the competition last year, but yesterday it was Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School [Tamworth] and the Hills Sports High School [Seven Hills] battling it out to be named 2009 champions.
“This is
culmination of a dream I had a long, long time ago when I first became president of NSW [Cricket] and I was then running the national coaching scheme as well,” Mr Davidson said.
“We already had national titles for the under 16s and under 19s, but [the question was] how do we find these kids for the under 16s and 19s?
“This high school knock-out allowed ex-state and representative players to became our talent scouts.”
The Alan Davidson Shield is a boys competition run in conjunction with the Marie Cornish Trophy for girls.
Mr Davidson said he thought of the competition after playing for Gosford High School as a young lad.
“In those days, funnily enough, I played against a snowy headed bloke from Cumberland, Parramatta High School. His name was Benaud,” he said.
Since North Sydney High School won the first shield in 1973, Mr Davidson said the competition had helped develop some of the country’s top players.
“I must say that every player that plays for NSW or plays for Australia from NSW has played in the Alan Davidson Shield,” he said.
“A lot of Sydney schools have won it, but Parkes has won it, Forbes has won it and Oak Flats, which is Brett Lee’s old school. East Hill won it back in 1984 when they had the Waugh boys [Steve and Mark].”
Alan Davidson played 44 Tests for Australia.
He scored 1328 runs at 24.59, and took 186 wickets at an average of 20.53.
