DARWIN DILETTANTES
Dilettante n. & a. 1. n. Lover of the fine arts; amateur; one who toys with subject or studies it without seriousness. 2. a. Trifling, not thorough; amateur. [It., f. part. of dilettare f. L delectare DELIGHT]
Darwin Dilettantes are the touring arm of the famous Darwin Cricket Club, one of the most successful Clubs in Darwin. Darwin has been touring for many years all over the world and this will be the 27th year that Darwin has played in the Chiang Mai Sixes. While the team may be getting old, average age being just on the right side of 60, we will again enjoy the company of the people associated with the tournament. Good luck to all and make sure you have an enjoyable time.
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Allan Spring (Springy)
Since joining the Dilettantes in 2009, Springy has been a wonderful inclusion to the side providing considerable funds to the fines tin, but little to the runs or wicket total. His fines alone had to be reconciled by an independent accountancy firm to avoid the team paying windfall tax on them. We believe the term ‘stimulus package’ was first coined in the wake of Allan’s fines from last year.
On field Allan’s batting style looks more akin to that of an ice hockey goal keeper; takes plenty on the body with no obvious use of the bat. Bowling wise, batsmen around the world get excited just at the mention of his name on a team sheet, similar to the bars around Chiang Mai come Sixes time.
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Greg Bicknell (Bicks)
The team's most capped player and unofficial ambassador for Thailand tourism. Probably inaccurate to say he is returning again as we are not convinced he has actually ever left the Kingdom; having checked with his Darwin employers they confirmed they now just pay him in Baht, rather than in Aussie dollars.
On the field Bicks is a left hand bat with one shot; he last ran a 2 or a 3 in 2001……
In the field he resembles a house plant…… with similar mobility. Don’t be alarmed you will hear an audible cracking sound in his back when he bowls, that’s normal.
Bicks has recently become a father to a beautiful little girl and we are waiting to see if this new founded responsibility is likely to transgress onto the cricket field and into the drinking festivities after the games, we hope not. Congratulations Bicks, we are all so happy she got her mother’s looks.
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John Marshall (JM)
Every touring side has its one gentleman; at first you might think that JM is ours. But be careful, while JM is a quiet, friendly, unassuming cricketer, beneath is a man that loves to get away from the crowds, have a drink, maybe a game of pool in a sleazy bar where he can get up to all sorts of mischief. His motto is ‘walk softly……….but carry a truckload of Baht”.
JM has not toured for a few years; surely there are now a few bars that he has not visited yet......... but he does have the skills to find where the beer is cold and other team mates are not around.
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Mark Edwards
Mark is one of our Sydney tour virgins, no doubt he will immerse himself in as much culture as possible, interrupted only by the occasional cricket match.
Don’t believe any of the ball tampering allegations that surround him, he just likes to keep a bottle top in his pocket in case he wants to save a half full beer for later. That’s perfectly normal!
We expect to see him tested to the limit by the extremes of Sixes cricket, of course his first test will be for him to turn up in the right city, on debut he is a chance to inadvertently disembark at Chiang Rai instead!
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Mark Staude (Walter)
Past captain and legend Pidgeon Ponds Cricket club and is determined to make sure that this is the year he does not venture onto the cricket ground at any time during a game. Last year he cracked over 100, pity that was a single round of golf, nine holes we are told; his caddy had a lot of fun though and we are told she got quite the tip not to tell the story.
Mark has been a stalwart of the Dilettantes for many years now and a trip to Chiang Mai would not be the same without him. Looking forward to hearing his antics at the fines sessions.
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Matt DeAraugo
Apparently has his passport stamped by the Australian Government “feel free to keep him”. This Matt’s first opportunity at playing international cricket and is a very confident number 6, which is a concern for the Dilettantes as we have at least 4 specialist number 6 batsmen, might get an opportunity up the list. Right arm fast bowler who is looking to beat Wally Bird’s record over.
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Roger Weckert
Darwin's leading robber land baron, with vast tracts of land in Northern and Eastern Thailand. Travels to Chiang Mai Sixes each year to survey his holdings and swing the heavy hammer into the boundary pegs.
Chief organiser of the Darwin rabble, a task beyond lesser men. Has also been known to swing the willow in anger, although his finest moment at Chiang Mai was being mistaken for the spritely figure of Bickers as he went out to bat.
Enjoys a convivial ale.
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Shane Greed
Yet another virgin tourist from Sydney; Greedy should fit in well with the Chiang Mai culture, he is single, loves good food and drink and has never lasted more than five overs in his cricketing career. Sometimes called the Ferret, Greedy usually comes in after the Rabbits, but he does make it up with it his fielding at first slip, oh that’s right we do not have any bowlers fast enough to warrant a 1st slip. Who was on the selection panel?
Sure to be a good tourist, and after a week in Pattaya before Chiang Mai, he’ll enjoy the option of catching up with some sleep in the field.
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Chris Heron (Wally)
Wally very cleverly retired from Chiang Mai sixers after an over that changed the Sixes rules; even the mercy rule could not save him. Now the official team manager, that is never around. No-one knows the restaurants, GoGo bars and massage parlours like Wally, it’s where his talents flourish. Wally will be a mainstay of our fines tin if he makes to Chiang Mai, his whereabouts are often a mystery. Wally will still be fined for the oldest on tour, but sadly Wally’s age is now closer to the average age of the side.
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Glen Cameron (Pouch)
The votes are still coming in for him in our ‘worst ever cricketer in Chiang Mai’ competition following a stunning debut so many years ago. After losing credit cards, paying massive fines, tripping over ladyboys and not reaching double figures; Pouch has decided to retire from international cricket and become a Darwin Dilettante Groupie. He is now the unofficial team manager, telling everyone when the team needs beers, asking the guide to get water, organising ice for the esky and trying to remember all the fines. After a week in Pattaya before the cricket, we hope he can stay awake during the Darwin matches.
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Simon Fry (Cuddles)
Another of the Coleraine ring ins, although Simon prefers to make sure people know he is really from South Australia. Can’t blame him for that. After 2 tours, Simon got the nickname “Cuddles” for obvious reasons; thought he was quite the ladies man, but like his batting, there was very little follow through or runs on the board.
While Chiang Mai 2009 was Cuddles first international sojourn, he has come back mainly as a tourist every year since and has totally ‘embraced’ the local delights, earning the big fella his rather dubious nickname. Cuddles has regularly been seen hugging a large primate at a certain bars with unconfirmed sightings of the two disappearing off into the Chiang Mai night air together, no doubt for a late net session. Good to have you back for yet another tour.
