Untitled

TOUR MEMBERS

OFFICIALS

Colonel Lewis Coyle - Commanding Officer

Major Leigh Buckingham - Manager / Umpire

Major Grantley Woods - Treasurer / Scorer

Warrant Officer Class One Barry James - Coach

Warrant Officer Class Two Colin Vine - Umpire

PLAYERS

Squadron Leader Steven O'Hara - Captain

Petty Officer Nicholas Knight - Vice-Captain

Squadron Leader Paul Collins

Captain Craig Clunas

Captain Mark Jackson

Sub Lieutenant Matthew Minehan-Ryan

Warrant Officer Gary Fuss

Petty Officer Shane White

Sergeant Geoff Ingram

Leading Seaman Glenn Cleary

Leading Seaman Luke Grimmond

Corporal Ian Chattin

Corporal Greg Weller

Leading Aircraftman Ricky Mace

Private Matthew Lee

Private Leigh Odermatt

Craftsman Ian Roberts

Aircraftman Adam Bosworth

ASCA LIFE MEMBERS

Denis L. Byrne (1994)

Dennis W. Maley (1997)

Grant C. Pinder (1999)

Wallace H. Hall (2000)

TOURING PARTY BIOGRAPHIES

Colonel Lewis Coyle

Australian Army

Commanding Officer

Lewis Coyle joined the Australian Army in July 1980, graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, and was appointed to the Royal Australian Corps of Signals in June 1981. He has been involved in Australian Services cricket for many years. As a player he represented Army at regional, state and national inter-Service levels, and captained Army and Combined Services teams during the 1980s and 1990s, including the tour of New Zealand in 1990. Lewis has also played club cricket for Brighton Union, Prahran, Valleys, Elsternwick, Port Melbourne, Chelsea, Toombul, and Weston Creek. He has been involved in the administration of the Australian Services Cricket Association since 1995, serving as Chairman from 1996-98 and 2003, and as President in 2004. Lewis is currently serving as the Army Adviser at the Australian High Commission in London.

Warrant Officer Class One Barry James

Australian Army

Coach

Barry is the Team Coach and an elder statesman of Services cricket having first played soon after his enlistment in 1976. He has played Services cricket at all levels and decided to retire from active representative cricket in 1997 in order to concentrate on management and coaching. Barry is a Cricket Australia Level Two Coach, who has been a member of 1999 Darwin Arafura Games team, the Combined Services team that toured Singapore and Malaysia in 2000, and the 2002 Army side to New Zealand. He still plays local cricket with Goldcrest Cricket Club in Brisbane and last season won the batting average for their Second XI. Barry is currently posted to Brisbane, where he is the Senior Instructor of Soldier Promotion Training.

Squadron Leader Steven O'Hara

Royal Australian Air Force

Captain

Steve, like many others, has a strong junior cricket history and first played Services Cricket in 1992. He progressed through the State inter-Service competitions to playing in the national RAAF side from 2002 onwards. Steve has also toured with the ASCA team to the 1997 Arafura Games in Darwin. He is a very accurate left-arm medium pace bowler, who always gives 100%, and usually delivers very tight bowling figures. It is another honour for Steve to be selected as Team Captain on such a prestigious tour. He is posted to a Darwin-based RAAF Air Defence Unit as the Operations Flight Commander.

Petty Officer Nicholas Knight

Royal Australian Navy

Vice-Captain

Nick is an upper order right-handed batsman, who has been part of Navy cricket since 1992 and has been chosen to represent ASCA on many occasions. He was a member of the 1997 Combined Services side to South Africa, and has captained the ADF side on several occasions on their annual pilgrimage to the Sydney Cricket Ground and against the Queensland U19s in Brisbane. He has played at the St George District Cricket Club in Sydney and the Queanbeyan Cricket Club in the Canberra competition. Nick plays in the A Grade Sutherland Shire competition for the Miranda Magpies, and is currently posted to HMAS KUTTABUL in Sydney where he is the Fleet Base Coordinator.

Aircraftman Adam Bosworth

Royal Australian Air Force

Adam is a new member to the team and pushed his way into the Combined Services team by a series of strong performances at the 2004 National Carnival, which was held in Brisbane. It was a memorable series for Adam, as it was also his first appearance in the RAAF side. He has a strong junior cricket background, being a part of the Tasmanian Cricket Association's 'Young Gun's' team, playing with their U17 and U19 squads. Adam is a strong middle order bat that is quite handy with his medium paced bowling. He is an Air Surveillance Operator posted to RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.

Corporal Ian Chattin

Australian Army

Ian has played for the Australian Army team over the last three years and is becoming one of their senior members of the team. He played his junior cricket in the Brisbane area, but like most servicemen his cricketing career has been stalled through general and overseas service. 'Chatty' has recently moved to Townsville, where he is playing with the Saints Cricket Club, bats in the middle order and also keeps wickets. Ian is not known for his bowling prowess, but has played many important middle order innings when his team has been in real strife. Ian is an Operator Supply working with the 10th Force Support Battalion based in Townsville, Queensland.

Leading Seaman Glenn Cleary

Royal Australian Navy

Glenn 'The Big G' Cleary grew up in the southern suburbs of Sydney and made his way steadily through the District Grades for Sutherland District Cricket Club in the junior grades. He played his senior cricket with the St George District Cricket Club and later Shires A Grade. Glenn has been in the Navy side for 5 years and was an integral part of their national winning side in 2004. In addition, he has been selected in the Combined Services team since 2001. Glenn is a lumbering, tall left-arm bowler who does a lot with the ball. Everyone enjoys watching 'The Big G' bat as he can certainly entertain the crowds. Glenn is an Aviation Airframes Technician, who is currently posted to Sydney and employed at Maritime Headquarters.

Captain Craig Clunas

Australian Army

Craig grew up in the Sydney area, where he played his early cricket before moving to Canberra and into the Army at the Australian Defence Force Academy. It was there that he played for the Academy and also the Australian Capital Territory inter-Service teams. Craig's cricketing career hit a hiatus when work took over for a while, but he returned to the cricket scene in 2002 when he played for the Northern Ramblers in the Brisbane Sub-District competition. Craig made the South-East Queensland Army side in 2003 and has played for the national Army side ever since. He is a very determined right-hand batsman, who can bat anywhere, and also a top grade wicket-keeper. Craig is posted to the School of Military Engineering in Sydney, where he is an Instructor in the Geometric Engineering Wing.

Squadron Leader Paul Collins

Royal Australian Air Force

Paul 'Pockets' Collins played his junior cricket with Eastern Suburbs in the Brisbane grade competition. He attended the Royal Military College of Australia, where he captained their First XI and began his Services' representative cricket with the Army Australian Capital Territory team. He has also represented Victorian, New South Wales and South-East Queensland Air Force teams. 'Pockets' has been a regular Combined Services member, playing in the 1997 and 1999 Arafura Games teams, and touring Asia in 2000, where he was Vice-Captain and acquitted himself extremely well amassing one score of 144 no. He is a punishing upper order batsman, who has a long history of winning games off his own bat, not to mention his bowling prowess. Paul is a Ground Defence Officer currently serving as the Operations Officer in Headquarters 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing in Townsville, Queensland.

Warrant Officer Gary Fuss

Royal Australian Navy

Gary has a very long and distinguished cricketing history, is now one of the elder members of the team and still considers himself one of the fittest. He has a long list of representative cricket from all around Australia, but his crowning achievements have been taking 5-50 in a one-day State 2nd XI game between New South Wales and Western Australia, and taking all 10 wickets on two occasions. In the 1999/2000 season he was voted the Cricketer of the Year in the Australian Capital Territory competition. Gary currently plays for the University of New South Wales Second XI in the Sydney Grade competition, which is arguably one of the hardest and best competitions in the world. He lets the ball go at a fair rate and loves to hit the ball hard. Gary is currently confined to a desk looking after Defence Catering in Sydney.

Leading Seaman Luke Grimmond

Royal Australian Navy

Luke was born in Victoria but played his junior cricket in Condobolin in Central West, New South Wales. He has played senior cricket in Canberra and Sydney, including for St George Bexley in the Sydney Shires District competition. Luke made his debut for the Navy in 1998 and has been the team's Vice-Captain since 2001. He made his Combined Services debut in 2002 and has always shown himself to be a skilful wicket-keeper and handy batsman in both upper and middle order roles. Luke is a communicator by trade and is currently serving on HMAS SYDNEY.

Sergeant Geoff Ingram

Australian Army

Geoff was originally born a New Zealander, moved to Australia in his late teens and joined the Army. He is now one of the more experienced Army and Australian Defence Force players, taking part in many inter-Service teams in Victoria and South-East Queensland. Geoff played several seasons in the Albury area of the Victorian/New South Wales border region and with the Gold Crest Cricket Club in Brisbane, where he opens the bowling for their Premier League team. He toured Asia as a member of the 2000 Combined Services team, took many wickets and made well over 100 runs without losing his wicket once. Geoff is a 'magician' with the ball and, like all quick bowlers, loves to bat, which he does well. Geoff is a Geometric Surveyor with 1 Topographical Survey Squadron in Brisbane.

Captain Mark Jackson

Australian Army

Mark is the current Army Captain. He had a strong junior representative career in Victorian country, before heading to the Australian Defence Force Academy to study engineering, and was appointed the ADFA First XI Captain. Mark spent 10 months in the United Kingdom playing cricket with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and British Army U25 Development Teams, as well as some games in the Berkshire Cricket League. He first played for Army in 2001, going on to make his Combined Services debut the same year on the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground. He toured New Zealand with the Army side in 2002 and is currently playing in the Toowoomba competition with the Northern Brothers CC. Mark is another genuine all-rounder, who is just as damaging with the bat as he is with the ball. He is posted as the Iroquois Logistics Manager in Oakey, Queensland.

Private Matthew Lee

Australian Army

Matt is a new member to the team, having made his debut at the 2004 National Carnival. He has a strong background in Tasmanian cricket, playing First Grade as a teenager for Clarence in the Tasmania Cricket Association competition. He also represented his state in its 'Young Gun's' teams at the U17 and U19 levels at national carnivals. He is a strong left-hand opening batsman, who has the potential to dominate any bowling attack. Matt is an Infantryman with 5/7 Battalion of the Royal Australia Regiment based in Darwin. Matt was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in The Queen's Birthday 2005Honours List for distinguished performance of duty whilst deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations in 2004 as a Rifleman for the Australian Security Detachment - Iraq.

Leading Aircraftman Ricky Mace

Royal Australian Air Force

Ricky originates from the northern regions of the 'Apple Isle', Tasmania, which is also the home of the current Test Captain, Ricky Ponting. He played nearly 10 seasons of A Grade cricket there before joining the Air Force. Since that time, Ricky has played with St Michaels CC in Sydney and more recently several seasons with Colleges Crossing CC in a local A Grade competition of Brisbane. Ricky first made the Queensland RAAF side in 2001, and the following year advanced to both the national and Combined Services team. He is a very solid competitor with both the bat and ball, and was recently voted the Bowler of the Carnival at the Queensland inter-Service carnival held in Townsville. Ricky is an Aircraft Technician posted to No 6 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.

Sub Lieutenant Matthew Minehan-Ryan

Royal Australian Navy

Matthew grew up in the Newcastle district of New South Wales and began playing with the Tillegra Cricket Club in the Dungog and District Competition, where his First Grade team won back-to-back premierships in 1995-96 and 1996-97. Matt then played with the Merewether Club in the Newcastle District Competition from 1998, winning two more premierships before joining the Navy in 2003. He first played for the Navy side in 2004, when they won the National Championship, and is a right-arm, medium pace bowler who bowls a 'nagging' line and length. Matt is a Supply Officer posted to HMAS COONAWARRA in Darwin, Northern Territory.

Private Leigh Odermatt

Australian Army

Leigh is one of the younger members of the team and first came to the Army selectors' notice in 2002. Leigh originates from the Box Hill district of Melbourne, where his first seniors' games were played in the McIntosh Shield Competition. Leigh is relatively new to the Army and has been on several deployments, which have interrupted his cricket seasons. He is a natural sportsman who bowls at a fair pace, never knows when to give up and is always at the batsman. When Leigh has the ball in his hand something usually happens. Over recent years he has accumulated quite a few fines, while on tour, due to his love of hair products. The team is hoping that the British women are ready for him. Leigh is an Operator Supply posted to the 7th Combat Support Battalion based in Enoggera, Brisbane.

Craftsman Ian Roberts

Australian Army

Ian is another new face to Services cricket, but certainly not a new face to the sport. He has a long history of both junior and senior representative cricket, mainly around the very strong Newcastle region of New South Wales. Ian has been based in the Townsville area for the last couple of years and plays with the Saints CC. He is one of the genuine all-rounders of this team, is an accomplished 'century' batsman and a fine off-spin bowler. Ian has many awards to his credit, but the latest was being presented the Craig Kolaritsch Memorial Award at last year's National Carnival for being the best Army player. Ian is posted to the 4th Field Regiment in Townsville, where he is employed as a Vehicle Mechanic.

Corporal Greg Weller

Royal Australian Air Force

Greg 'Blue' Weller was the main reason Air Force won the National Championship in 2002. In his first trip to the Nationals he was voted the Best Batsman and Most Valuable Player of the carnival. 'Blue' played most of his cricket in the Ballina District of New South Wales and also had a stint in the Merewether District of New South Wales. He travelled to the UK in 2004, where he played a season with the Staines & Laleham Cricket Club. 'Blue' is a very solid opening batsman and a very deceptive slow bowler. He is a good wicket to get early. Greg is an Aircraft Fitter posted to No 3 Squadron at Williamtown, New South Wales.

Petty Officer Shane White

Royal Australian Navy

Shane 'Knocker' White grew up in the Gippsland District of Victoria and joined the Navy when he was only 17. 'Knocker' has been a regular face at Services cricket since 1992 and was a major part of Navy's recent resurgence to become National Champions in 2004. He is a genuine all-rounder, and was selected for the 1997 South African and the 2000 Asia tours, but missed both because of work commitments. 'Knocker' has a reputation of being a very fierce competitor, whether he is holding the bat or ball, and gives nothing to an opponent. He has played cricket in Sydney for the past 11 years with the Cammeray Cricket Club and been a part of winning premierships over the last two years. Shane is an engineering sailor, who currently works at the Port services in Sydney, and is still celebrating his recent promotion to Petty Officer.

Major Leigh Buckingham

Australian Army

Manager / Umpire

Leigh commenced full-time service in the Army in 1995 after many years as a reservist. He started his umpiring career in Brisbane and continued it on posting to Sydney. Since then he has officiated in over 100 games, including 10 First Grade matches. Leigh has also been appointed to various under-age fixtures in the Sydney Grade competition and officiated in six games during the 2004 Commonwealth Bank Women's National Cricket League (Under 19) Championships. He is an accredited Cricket Australia Umpires Trainer, has served on the NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association Training Committee, and is currently a member of that Association's Examination Committee. Leigh is currently the Deputy Commandant at the Defence Police Training Centre.

Warrant Officer Class Two Colin Vine

Australian Army

Umpire

Colin joined the Army in 1977. After playing the game for so long, he qualified as an ACB-accredited Level 1 umpire in 1995. Within a year he was voted the Umpire of the Year in Townsville and continued his umpiring in Darwin including the 1997 Darwin Grand Final, Arafura Games and the National Youth U17 and U19 Championships. He has also umpired in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. Col first umpired at the Nationals in 2001, including the Combined Services game at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and is now the ASCA Umpiring Coordinator. Colin toured New Zealand with the Army team in 2002 and is currently posted to Sydney as the 5 Combat Engineer Regiment Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant.

Major Grantley Woods, RFD

Australian Army

Treasurer / Scorer

Grantley is the Treasurer of the Australian Services Cricket Association and scorer for the team. He played most of his cricket in the Melbourne area progressing through the junior ranks to play with Ormond CC and the Melbourne High School Old Boys CC as a batsman/wicket-keeper in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association. Grantley's best days of cricket are behind him and his efforts are now concentrated on the most important task of all, 'paying the bills'. Grantley is posted to Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, as the Staff Officer to the Director-General Land Close Combat Systems.