Cricket Albury Wodonga hosts its Hall of Fame with six newcomers

Steve Wood, Wayne McLennan, Ross Brand, Bruce Cooper, Stuart Lancaster and Graeme Hicks were recognised for their outstanding service.

The Border Mail takes a look at their distinguished careers.

STEVE WOOD

The former Tallangatta and Wodonga all-rounder sits comfortably among the greatest players seen on the Border.

He scored 7213 runs and took 403 wickets for Tallangatta and 1717 runs and 132 wickets for Wodonga.

The tearaway quick boasted best figures of 8-22 against St Patrick's in 1995-96 and was the Albury and Border Cricketer of the Year on four occasions.

In 2009-10, Wood was selected to represent Victoria in the Australian Country Championships in Albury-Wodonga.

Wood also played O'Farrell Cup, Resch Cup, Melbourne Country Week, North East Cup, NRMA Country Cup and Challenge Cup.

Few boast a better record.

BRUCE COOPER

Cooper started his cricket career with Coburg before moving to Rand in 1949 where he broke into the top grade playing alongside his father, George.

The patient right-hander went on to win the Pigeons' batting award on nine occasions.

During the 1971-72 season, Cooper finished third in the competition's Cricketer of the Year award and scored the only century of his career, as well as grabbing a five-wicket haul.

His off-breaks saw him take out a club bowling award in his final season of cricket at the age of 49.

The highlight of Cooper's career was captaining Rand to the 1973-74 premiership.

He served as president of Brocklesby and District Cricket Association for a record 22 years and spent four terms at the helm of Rand.

The association's under-14 shield is named in Cooper and his wife, Esme's, honour.

ROSS BRAND

After playing little cricket as a youngster with Culcairn having only one senior team, Brand spent four years on the tennis court.

He then joined the newly-formed Culcairn West in 1960-61 and never looked back.

Culcairn West merged with Culcairn in 1965-66 with immediate premiership success.

Brand took over as captain from Roy Smith in 1970, leading the club for a decade.

Before retiring at 52, he played in four first grade and one B grade premiership and took out the Holbrook and District batting aggregate on 11 occasions.

He took out the bowling in 1971-72.

Brand made 18 A grade centuries with a highest score of 162 not out, captained the association on many occasions and took two hat-tricks.

WAYNE McLENNAN

The left-arm opening bowler spent 20 years in the Albury and Border association and another seven in Wodonga and District.

He played for Postal United, North Albury, SS & A, New City, Bethanga, Belvoir and Barnawartha-Chiltern.

McLennan won the ABCA Cricketer of the Year in 1983-84 and 1984-85, took seven wickets on seven occasions and played in five successive grand finals with SS & A being successful in four of them.

He won two more flags with Belvoir and was a WDCA Cricketer of the Year.

McLennan was a key member of the ABCA's Country Week success against Bendigo at the MCG in 1990 where he took 2-38 in the final.

The quick also enjoyed playing against touring West Indies and New Zealand sides.

He represented NSW Country and finished his representative career with a hat-trick against Benalla and District.

STUART LANCASTER

Lancaster couldn't have dreamt of making a better start to his career by playing in Postal United's first premiership as a 12-year-old in the juniors.

In 1977, his family moved from Albury to Wodonga and he turned up to Wodonga's training in hope of being selected in C grade.

He was picked in first grade at 16, took 35 wickets for the season and never looked back.

Lancaster spent six seasons with the Bulldogs before having stints with St Patrick's and Hume club Thurgoona.

He then joined Wodonga Demons where he won the A grade bowling on three occasions as well as taking out the club's Cricketer of the Year in 1985-86.

Lancaster enjoyed further success at Wodonga and Wodonga Raiders before moving to Townsville for a year.

In 1999, Lancaster joined Kiewa where he tasted further individual and team glory.

He has coached at senior and junior level, umpired and represented the Albury and Border and Wodonga and DIstrict associations.

GRAEME HICKS

Hicks started his career with Wodonga in 1965 and soon became one of the premier wicketkeeper-batsmen in the competition.

The NSW Country representative played in premierships in 1970 and 1973 with the first being alongside his father, Clem.

It is believed the pair are the only father-and-son to achieve the feat.

In 1974, Hicks moved to Lavington and helped turn the club into a force in Albury and Border cricket with flags coming in three successive seasons.

Hicks became club president in 1975 and later received life membership for his role as a player, official and captain.

Many believe Hicks' biggest accomplishment was bringing the World Cup match between England and Zimbabwe to Lavington as part of the Albury-Wodonga Festival of Sport.

A bumper crowd turned out for the match with the clash receiving international media attention.

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Hicks also organised matches between NSW and Victoria and NSW and England.

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