INVINCIBLES DINNER
INVINCIBLES DINNER 2010
The Lord’s Taverners ACT Branch held its annual Lord’s Taverners Dinner in the Bradman Stand, overlooking a beautifully groomed Manuka Oval on the eve of the PM’s XI match against the West Indies.
The evening was a great success with about 150 Taverners, guests and sponsors attending. Included in our guest list were two of the Invincibles, Sam Loxton and Neil Harvey.
Sadly Arthur Morris was unable to attend and sent his apologies. Committee member Gary Goodman held the whole night together with his skills as master of ceremonies, which included auctioning a 2009 PM’s XI bat, fielding questions to our guest speaker and the Invincibles, and identifying (and rewarding) our longest-standing Taverner at the dinner.
Many may have known of Michael Kasprowicz’ bowling skills, but we were bowled over by his talk. As our guest speaker, he started by relating his early years of rugby and then how he started his cricket career, playing for Queensland in 1990 at the tender age of 17.
He spoke of his trainers and mentors: Rackemann, Border and Thommo; how in 10 years of playing for Australia he had to reinvent his game twelve times for selection to the team; his love of India and the sub-continent; his views on changes to the game and the place of 20-20 cricket today.
He amused us with tales of fellow cricketers. He was very proud to have played for Australia and to have “lived the dream”. He is a fine example to young cricketers and sportsmen and women.
We may have outstayed our welcome at the Bradman Stand as the caterers had to reset the room for the functions held the next day in conjunction with the PM’s match, but it was a sign of the evening’s success that guests wanted the night to keep going!
INVINCIBLES DINNER 2009
On the eve of the PM’s XI match against New Zealand at Manuka Oval in Canberra on 29 January 2009, we held our annual Lord’s Taverners Dinner. About 140 Taverners and guests enjoyed a great dinner in the Bradman Stand of Manuka Oval, a talk by guest speaker Geoff Lawson about his experiences coaching in Pakistan, which he related with candour and fondness for the players and Pakistani people in general, and an open and frank question and answer session with the Invincibles – Harvey, Morris and Loxton. Special guest Sir Richard Hadlee spoke openly on 20-20 cricket v. playing for your country among other controversial issues.