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Meet the cricket tragic who has kept score at his local club for 58 YEARS – without a cent in payment
- A 73-year-old has been keeping score at his local cricket club since he was 14
- Volunteer Mike Walsh said it’s a labour of love to work at the cricket on Saturday
- The beloved cricket tragic has been awarded an Order of Australia medal
A cricket ‘tragic’ who has been keeping score at his local club for an extraordinary 58 years has been awarded an Order of Australia medal for his service to the sport.
Volunteer Mike Walsh, 73, first headed down to Essendon Cricket Club in Melbourne‘s northern suburbs when he was just 14 years old, after his mum came across an advert in the newspaper looking for an unpaid scorer.
Since he first picked up the score sheet and pencil on a sunny Saturday morning in 1963 he hasn’t missed a single season.
Beloved cricket tragic Mike Walsh, 73, (pictured) whose been keeping score at his local club for the past 58 years has been awarded an Order of Australia medal for his service in the gentleman’s game
‘I played at school and I used to listen on the radio — I always had a pen in my hand and I’d do the scoring on a pad,’ Mr Walsh told the Herald Sun.
He said after all these years it’s ‘quite an honour’ to be recognised for his labour of love which made him feel like part of the team.
‘I’d probably be lost on Saturdays in summer without having to go to the cricket, to be honest,’ he told The Age.
Cricket scoring is no easy task – it requires several entries after each delivery, with fastidious attention to detail and no room for error.
Mr Walsh’s long acquired expertise became highly valued and he graduated to scoring for the Victoria state team and then for Australia’s international matches.
‘Mike has acted as scorer to the senior Victorian team for over 40 years as well as almost 100 Test Matches for the Australian cricket team, including last year’s Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG,’ Essendon Cricket Club proudly said in a statement.
Since he first picked up the score sheet and pencil on a sunny Saturday morning in 1963 he hasn’t missed a single season
But despite reaching the top level of scoring, and going on 17 overseas tours, he’s never once wavered on his commitment and devotion to local grade cricket.
‘Mike has had an unbroken period of service to Essendon since 1963,’ Essendon Cricket Club said.
‘He’s filled a host of various roles including club Committeeman and Treasurer.
‘Mike, please enjoy your award with your wonderful family and all your proud clubmates.
‘A great innings – with plenty of runs yet to be scored.’
After keeping score for the Australian Test team on 17 international tours, he’s never once wavered on his commitment and devotion to local cricket
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