SPORT

by Greg Martin

Hawkesbury Hawks ’ campaign in the 2023-24 Sydney Grade Cricket ( SGC ) competition received a huge boost with the three club legends returning to the fold .

Taking to the field will be three of SGC ’ s greatest performers with bat and / or ball – Stephen “ Sok ” O ’ Keefe , Dale McKay and Shane Mott . But wait , there ’ s more . Also coming on board at the behest of Sok O ’ Keefe is one of the game ’ s leading mentors , former NSW Sheffield Shield all-rounder and subsequent captain of the Irish Test , One-Day and T20 outfits , Trent Johnson .

Trent will work in close liaison as a consultant with newly appointed club coach , another Hawks legend , classy batsman , Greg Hunt , the owner of the Penrith Indoor Sports and Recreation Centre .

To say Hawks ’ president Mick Shields the Younger , is thrilled with the arrival of the new recruits , is to say Bradman could bat .

Mick has also been a great servant to the club , a committeeman for 12 years and treasurer for four before taking over as president last season .

“ We are all excited with Sok , Shane , Dale , Trent and Greg joining us and it certainly augers well for all the Hawks teams campaigning this season ,” Mick said .

The Hawks will field five grades in

Sydney Grade Cricket competitions , another senior side in the secondtier Metropolitan Cup , and Green Shield ( under 16 ) and Poidevin-Grey Shield ( under 21 ) teams .

Sok O ’ Keefe ’ s return came out of the blue , with the champion spin bowler contacting the club and explaining that he wanted to “ put something back into Hawkesbury cricket where my journey began as a little kid ”.

Steve established himself as an outstanding spin bowler in his teens and was head-hunted by the Manly club where he spent the next 14 seasons establishing himself as one of the best tweakers in the country .

He went on to play in nine Tests , seven T20 internationals and 53 first class games – in Test matches he twice captured five wickets in an innings and once , snared 10 wickets in a match .

His accuracy and ability to bamboozle batsmen also made him a star for Sydney Sixers in Big Bash series .

In SGC he played 67 games , taking 130 wickets at an amazingly miserly 16.11 average .

Dale McKay , who returns to the Hawks

Hawkesbury Hawks president , Mick Shields ( l ) is all smiles with the return to ranks of two club legends – Shane Mott ( centre ) and Stephen O ’ Keefe . Both of whom are also obviously delighted to be back wearing Hawks ’ colours . Photo : Jeff Opdam . after a season with Gordon , is one of the best batsmen to have played in SGC .

At the time of writing , he appeared in 173 matches , scoring 5965 runs at 35.20 – along the way he whacked 10 centuries and 38 fifties .

Shane Mott is long regarded as one of the finest pacemen to appear in SGC bowling ranks .

He played 96 games for the Hawks , snaring 205 wickets at a very handy 21.71 average – the skillful speedster grabbed five-wickets in an innings on seven occasions .

“ I ’ m now 38 and we ’ ll see how things progress as I get back into the game ,” Shane said .

“ At this stage I ’ ll just roll my arm over in the lower grades and see how things pan out .”

Those who know Shane , they are predicting his competitiveness and love of the sport will see him pushing for a berth in the top grade .

Team

THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 161 // OCTOBER 2023 35