Great Scot - The Scotch Family Magazine - Issue 151 September 2017 GreatScot_Internal_Sept_2017_FA | Page 70

OSCA
OSCA Updates
Scotch cricketers of the ‘50s meet the all-conquering 1st XI
On the invitation of Tim Shearer (‘85), Scotch’s
Director of Development, Bob Cowper (’58),
David Cowper (’56) and Ben Hosking (’57) came
to the school in May to meet the 1st XI Cricket
team which won the APS premiership, remaining
undefeated throughout the season.
Tim noted the connection between this year’s
team with its unbeaten record and the 1958 1st
XI, captained by Bob Cowper, which was also
undefeated in winning the APS premiership.
However in the 1950s there were only six APS
teams compared to 11 today, which makes this
year’s 1st XI’s record even more meritorious.
Bob Cowper played in the 1st XI in 1955, 1956,
1957 (Captain) and 1958 (Captain). David Cowper
was in the 1st XI in 1955 and 1956, and Ben
Hosking in 1957. This was a golden era of Scotch
cricket under coach John Miles, with the 1st XI
winning premierships in 1955, 1956 and 1958, and
finishing as runners-up in 1957.
After leaving school, Bob Cowper went on to
play Test cricket for Australia, which included tours
to England in 1964 and 1968. In 1965/66 he made
307 against England at the MCG, which is the
68
highest Test score at that ground. He played 27
Tests, making 2,061 runs at an average of 46.84,
and took 36 wickets with his off-spinners at 31.63.
Bob also captained Victoria to a Sheffield Shield
premiership, before retiring to pursue a business
career.
Bob’s brother, David, a wicketkeeper, played
294 games for Richmond Cricket Club, which is
a club record. Selected for Victoria in 1965/66,
Dave’s two-match first class career ended with
a batting average of 94 and two catches. He
now lives in Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham in
the UK, and coaches cricket at the Edgbaston
Cricket Centre. Ben Hosking has had a 50-year
involvement with the Melbourne University Cricket
Club, both as a player and as an administrator. He
is currently a patron of that club.
Bob, David and Ben enjoyed meeting Scotch’s
Captain of Cricket, Will Sutherland, Vice Captain,
Noah Croes, Coach, John Murphy, and the other
members of the winning 1st XI team over afternoon
tea in the Randall Building. They congratulated
the team on its outstanding performance and
discussed the different formats of two-day
matches in which the 1st XI played back in the
1950s.
Bob Cowper briefly spoke about sledging
and verbal abuse in modern cricket, which he
considers a blight on the game. He commented
that the game needs to be played hard but fair.
David and Ben encouraged the team to continue
playing cricket after school, as it offers great
opportunities and experiences. They urged the
members of the team returning next year to make it
back-to-back premierships, to match the deeds of
the 1955-56 1st XIs.
Tim Shearer and Scott Montgomery, Executive
Director of OSCA, then took the three visitors on
a tour of the school. Bob, David and Ben were
particularly impressed with the Test cricketers’
cabinet in the Lithgow Centre, which displays
memorabilia connected with the Old Scotch
Collegians who have played Test cricket. Bob
Cowper, Scotch’s most recent Test cricketer, was
pleased to see his Test blazer featuring in the
display.
BEN HOSKING (‘57)
LEFT, TOP: BOB COWPER (’58) NEXT TO THE COLLECTIN OF
MEMORABILIA FROM SCOTCH’S TEST CRICKETERS.
RIGHT, TOP: THE 2017 1ST XI WITH DAVID (’56) AND BOB
COWPER (’58) AND BEN HOSKING (’57).
LOWER, RIGHT: JOHN MURPHY (1ST XI COACH), BOB COWPER
(’58), BEN HOSKING (’57) AND DAVID COWPER (’56).
Great Scot Number 151 – September 2017