Well-known Border sporting identity Bob Craig has been entered into his third Hall of Fame in 12 months.
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Craig was one of eight inducted into cricket’s most exclusive club on Wednesday night.
He was joined by St Patrick’s stalwart Carla Weldon, who became only the second woman to win the honour, following Margaret Lade in 2014.
Joe Adams, Ray Smedley, Brett McDonald, Andrew Lade (Margaret’s son), Brian Johnston and Steve Paton also formed the fourth group to claim the prestigious title.
Craig played for a number of clubs, but primarily at Wodonga, where he claimed 365 wickets as an intimidating fast bowler.
“I always thought that was the role, to try and bowl fast and take wickets and sometimes, it didn’t work, so you had to try other stuff as well,” he said.
It caps a superb year for Craig, who’s now a member of Wodonga Football Club and Ovens and Murray Football League Hall of Fames.
“Well, it’s obviously a bit overwhelming, whilst I appreciate it, (I’m) a little bit overcome with all the attention,” he said.
He was joined by fellow fast bowler in the accurate McDonald, who spent 19 years with SS&A, before finishing with the New City captaincy for two years.
McDonald was a regular for Victoria Country and played some of the game’s greats through the 1980s, including the fearsome West Indian quartet of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner.
“Well I never batted, I never got the chance, which was good,” he laughed.
West Indian legend Viv Richards also played that game at Benalla, in front of a crowd around 10,000.
“I didn’t bowl to Viv as I had finished my spell,” he said.
“But when he came out, he smacked a few fours and sixes and we had a spinner on.
“He bowled one to Viv, who smacked it straight back to him. It hit his hand that hard it nearly ripped his hand off and it’s popped up in the air and mid-on came around and caught it.
“Otherwise we wouldn’t have got him out.”
But McDonald did bowl to the man dubbed the next Viv Richards at the time, future West Indian captain Richie Richardson.
And not only did he dismiss him, he also got Larry Gomes and Gus Logie to finish with 3-46.
“It was a 10-over spell, I think my first four overs went for about 28, so they got into me,” he said.
“I got Richie Richardson out caught behind with a leg-cutter.
“Larry Gomes, big blue eyes, he was a legend to me, watching him on TV and to get his wicket, leg before, that was fantastic and Gus Logie was caught behind.
“The West Indies were great people and very social.”