LUCKMAN by name, lucky man by nature.
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In the second ever interstate match between NSW and Victoria, Ron Luckman was pronounced dead on the on the pitch.
Luckily for the Pascoe Vale man, it was a somewhat pre-emptive diagnosis.
Suffering a heart attack running between the wickets back in 2006 couldn't keep the 72-year old away from the game he loves.
He was the honorary 12th man for the Victorians in the 10th anniversary match for the first interstate match ever in over-60s cricket in Kiewa on Wednesday.
“One of the players on the Victorian team was a doctor, he wasn’t convinced I was going to make it,” Mr Luckman said.
“Luckily one of the NSW players’ sons watching the game had been a nurse in the army, and there was another one walking past the ground when it happened.
“They resuscitated me and I woke up in hospital three days later wondering what had happened.
“I only retired in 2008, but I'm still umpiring.”
Longtime NSW opponent of Mr Luckman, Bruce McNaught, said it was the love of the game shown by the likes of his Victorian counterpart that kept them coming back each week.
“The whole concept of over-60s cricket has really exploded since it began a decade ago,” he said.
“We'll go anywhere for the cricket.
“After it got its feet off the ground 10 years ago, we had 36 teams competing at the national championships in November.”
The Victorians come out on top, defeating NSW 2/135 to 7/133.
