For many of us, as we march slowly towards our cricketing mortality, we compromise. We
avoid preseason, maybe we feign injury to avoid fielding drills. There are those who turn
their heads to being paid to play, and those who choose to play beneath their level. There
are times when you play for yourself and times when it’s all too hard to give back to a cricket
club. It’s very rare to find a cricketer who doesn’t fall into one of these categories. This year,
we had the chance to celebrate one of the few who doesn’t.
For those of us who have had the pleasure of sharing the field, a dressing room, a
committee, or a post-match drink with Joel, it’s abundantly clear how much he gives. He’s
given precisely 8,714 deliveries.
As there aren’t many 2008 Marcellin Cricket Club alumni left, it’s important to share how Joel
arrived. Mont Albert Cricket Club was where this young firebrand quick originally plied his
craft. After some Dinneen recruiting and the natural pull of family cricketing heritage, Joel
made the switch. Premierships, 5-wicket hauls, bowling awards, and a Team of the Decade
nomination all ensued in a 200-game body of work.
It’s safe to say, you haven’t had an authentic Marcellin experience unless you’ve dropped a
catch off Joel’s bowling. Us survivors still talk about the impact of his withering glares and
inaudible aggressive muttering as he marches back to the top of his mark. However, despite
all this, it is a testament to his cricketing character how quickly he lets it go (after a beer and
a shower) (actually, maybe after a few years). Nevertheless, what always cuts through is that
he sets a standard and is unafraid to lift you up with it.
A favourite pastime of Joel’s is sharing feedback with umpires. Joel, being generous in
nature, always lets his umpiring friends know when they’ve made a mistake. He provides
constructive and balanced feedback on almost all of their decisions, even when his
teammates don’t agree with him. What a guy. One of this writer’s favourite memories of a
wholesome exchange with an umpire surrounds our man’s belief that umpires need to “call it
both ways.” Joel’s generosity of spirit is on display when he alerts his yellow friends that if he
was denied an LBW decision, it would only be fair if everyone was also denied one. Never
change.
Taking a more serious note now: It’s Joel’s consistency and unwavering commitment to give
everything and anything that sets him apart. It’s resulted in a cricketing resume that very few
can match. Congratulations on this milestone.
Go Eagles
