HANKS AT 30!
The summer of ’96 will always be nationally remembered as the year football came home but for Torqusy CC it was the year the Devon League came home after fourteen long years. The club took a gamble on a young Australian all-rounder from Casino in NSW and just like the Lammonby brothers at Exeter CC, Neil Hancock better known as “Hanks” never went home for cricket (accept briefly around the turn of the New Millenium). To celebrate his 30 years playing in the DCL, Evo has done a short Q&A with Hanks:
1. Over the years you have plied your trade with a few DCL clubs. Without, using a pen and paper, how many is this:
7 – TORQUAY-BUCKFASTLEIGH-SIDMOUTH-PAIGNTON-BOVEY TRACEY-SOUTH DEVON & IPPLEPEN.
2. Many people believe the DCL isn’t as strong as it was because of the restrictions introduced on contracted and overseas players. What is your view on this?
IT HAS PUT A BIG EMPHASIS ON GETTING A VERY GOOD OVERSEAS PLAYER WHICH THEN TAKES A LOT OF THE OPPORTUNITY AWAY FROM THE LOCAL PLAYERS TO SHINE AND DEVELOP AND ENJOY THE GAME AS MUCH.
3. Which is the favourite DCL ground you have played on?
SIDMOUTH.
4. What was your brief experience like playing for Somerset CCC and a bit of tester who was the international you got out while playing for them?
SHORT AND SWEET, WOULD’VE LIKED A BIT MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY BUT GRATEFUL FOR A TASTE OF THE NEXT LEVEL. GRAEME HICK.
The second bit was clear a bouncer – for Devon it was Graeme Hick but for Somerset it was Andy Bichel,
5. What was it like scoring an undefeated 50 at The Home of Cricket?
IT WAS AN EXCELLENT DAY AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS NICE TO SCORE A FEW RUNS, THE WIN WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
6. With a big birthday not too far away, do you have any plans to follow in the footsteps of Del Lammonby to play for Devon 50s and if so, do have any ambitions to play for England O50s like Del?
JUST TAKING IT WEEK BY WEEK AT THE MOMENT, THE BODY ISN’T AS FIT AS IT WAS AND IT TAKES A LOT LONGER TO RECOVER WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.
7. Having achieved so much over the years what, if any, playing ambitions do you still have?
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE PLAYING FOR AS LONG AS I CAN AND MAYBE PLAY A FEW LEAGUE GAMES WITH MY SON, ETHAN.
8. Once you call time on your playing career, could you see yourself becoming a Scorer or Umpire? If so which role?
NO, THE GOLF COURSE WOULD BE MY PREFERRED OPTION,
9. Over the last 30 years who has been your favourite team mate in the DCL?
TOUGH QUESTION, I HAVE MADE A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS OVER THE YEARS, BOTH AS TEAMMATES AND OPPONENTS, WOULDN’T WANT TO CHOOSE A FAVOURITE.
10. For the final question. Simply what is your favourite memory / story over your 30 years playing in the DCL?
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES OVER THE YEARS, WINNING THE LEAGUES WITH TORQUAY, PAIGNTON & SIDMOUTH AS WELL THE MINOR COUNTIES WITH DEVON BUT ONE MEMORY THAT DOES STAY WITH ME WAS THE VERY FIRST LEAGUE MATCH I PLAYED FOR TORQUAY, AWAY TO BARTON, WE WERE BOWLED OUT FOR JUST OVER 100 AND ENDING WALKING AWAY WITH A WINNING DRAW AS BARTON CRAWLED TO 90/9. I REMEMBER THINKING THIS IS A LOT DIFFERENT TO THE STYLE OF CRICKET I WAS USED TO AND WHAT I HAVE I LET MYSELF IN FOR!
FORTUNATELY, THE SCORES IMPROVED AS DID THE RESULTS AND WE WENT ON TO WIN THE LEAGUE.