Perth Cricket Club is a

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

team based in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, Western Australia. The club competes in the

Western Australian Grade Cricket WA Premier Cricket in Western Australia refers to the semi-professional cricket league played at a level below the first-class Western Warriors and other state teams. The competition is administered by the Western Australian Cricket Association ...

(Premier cricket) competition.

History

The club was officially formed on May 23, 1862. at a meeting held at the Freemason's Hotel, on the corner of St Georges Tce and William St. Mr James B. Roe (son of

John Septimus Roe John Septimus Roe (8 May 1797 – 28 May 1878) was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. He was a renowned explorer, a member of Western Australia's legislative and executive councils for nearly 40 years, but also a participant in t ...

) was the first Chairman and Captain of the Club. The club is a founding member in the formation of

Western Australian Cricket Association The Western Australian Cricket Association (known as the WACA) is the governing body for cricket in Western Australia. The WACA was formed on 5 November 1885. In 1893 the association opened the WACA Ground. Elite cricket The WACA is responsible ...

in 1885. There is some evidence of games being played prior to 1862. Newspaper articles speak of members of the Perth Cricket club meeting in 1839, each Saturday at The Flats, near where the Supreme Court Gardens are to this day. On Easter Eve 1839 the Perth Cricket Club defeated Guildford in a ‘stirring struggle’ by 40 runs. Games were held in 1846 between the Tradesmen of Perth v Perth Club. In 1871 the

Weld Club The Weld Club is a private male-only social club in Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 1871 as a gentlemen's club, it is named after Frederick Weld, the chronologically first patron of the club and the Governor of Western Australia at the tim ...

was established in Perth by ‘members of the establishment of Perth’. Many of the members of the Weld Club were also members of the Metropolitan’s Cricket Club and matches would be held between the ‘Weld Club’ versus the ‘World’. Sir Walter James was a prominent figure of the time being Premier of WA, President of the Weld Club in the early 1930s and he also served as President of the East Perth (Perth) cricket club for two seasons from 1908 to 1910. In March 1878, a meeting was held to approve the merger of the Perth and Metropolitans Clubs. Strong consideration was given to using the name Perth Cricket Club, but the name Metropolitans was decided to be the name of the club going forward. Mr J.C.H. James moved a motion (that was subsequently withdrawn) that whatever name is used, the club should be generally referred to as the “Perth Club”. Mr J.H. Thomas was elected chairman and Mr James the club captain. The WA Cricket Association was formed in November 1885. The Metropolitans club was mainly instrumental in its formation. George Parker, captain of Metropolitans, was chairman of the first W.A.C.A. committee. P.L. (Percy) Hussey of Metropolitans would serve as Secretary of the committee. Metropolitans win the inaugural first grade premiership, under the leadership of club President

George Randell George Randell (5 October 1830 – 2 June 1915) was an Australian businessman and politician. He served intermittently in the Parliament of Western Australia between 1875 and 1910, including as a minister in the government of Sir John Forrest. ...

. Notable office bearers in the early days include Sir Stephen Parker Chief Justice WA and his brother George (of Parker and Parker law firm), who both serve as President of the Club.

Sir John Forrest Sir John Forrest (22 August 1847 – 2 SeptemberSome sources give the date as 3 September 1918 1918) was an Australian explorer and politician. He was the first premier of Western Australia (1890–1901) and a long-serving cabinet minister i ...

and

Septimus Burt The Hon Septimus Burt KC (25 October 1847 – 15 May 1919) was a Western Australian lawyer, politician and grazier, the son of Sir Archibald Burt. He was born on 25 October 1847 at St Kitts in the West Indies, and educated at a private school ...

both occupied a time as the club vice president. Another prominent politician,

Sir Walter Kingsmill Sir Walter Kingsmill (10 April 1864 – 15 January 1935) was an Australian politician who served as a Senator for Western Australia from 1923 to 1935. He was President of the Senate from 1929 to 1932. Early life Kingsmill was born on 10 ...

, was president for four seasons. With the introduction of electorate cricket in 1899, the Metropolitans/Perth club became the East Perth Cricket Club in the new seven team competition. At the turn of the 20th century, the leading batsman in WA cricket was undoubtedly

Ernie Parker Ernest Frederick Parker (5 November 1883 – 2 May 1918) was an Australian tennis player and cricketer. Career Ernie Parker was educated at Perth High School and St Peter's College, Adelaide, before joining his father's law firm in Perth. T ...

. Several of his records remain to this day, including his 246 at the WACA against East Fremantle in 1903. He still holds the club 2nd and 3rd wicket partnership records. East Perth won numerous Premierships in its early years. It won the first grade premiership on nine occasions from 1899 to 1925, which was the final year of a hat-trick of flags. Its final premiership under the East Perth name was in the 1948–49 season under Captain

Keith Carmody Douglas Keith Carmody (16 February 1919 – 21 October 1977) was an Australian first-class cricketer who played during the 1940s and 1950s. He was Western Australia's captain when they won their first ever Sheffield Shield and is credited as ...

. In 1955, the club changed name from East Perth back to the original Perth name, whilst still playing home matches at the

WACA Ground The WACA (formally the WACA Ground) is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. The stadium's name derives from the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association. The WACA has been referred to as Wester ...

. In 1958, with Sheffield Shield cricket now restricting playing access to the WACA, the club moved to

Lathlain Park Lathlain Park (also known as Mineral Resources Park under ground sponsorship arrangements) is an Australian rules football ground, located in Lathlain, an inner-eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Since its opening in 1959, it has been ...

. In 1968 the club relocated to its current ground, Fletcher Park in

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from xcb, Caer Luel) is a city that lies within the Northern England, Northern English county of Cumbria, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, Scottish border at the confluence of the rivers River Eden, Cumbria, Eden, River C ...

. Perth played its first A grade game at Fletcher Park on 12 October versus North Perth. In 2018, the club marks 50 years of

played at Fletcher Park. Australian Test match representatives, whilst playing at Perth, are

Dennis Lillee Dennis Keith Lillee, (born 18 July 1949) is Australian retired cricketer rated as the "outstanding fast bowler of his generation".

Rod Marsh Rodney William Marsh (4 November 1947 – 4 March 2022) was an Australian professional cricketer who played as a wicketkeeper for the Australian national team. Marsh had a Test career spanning from the 1970–71 to the 1983–84 Australian ...

and

Adam Gilchrist Adam Craig Gilchrist (; born 14 November 1971) is an Australian cricket commentator and former international cricketer and captain of the Australia national cricket team. He was an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keep ...

Team of the century

In November 2012, the club recognised its 150th year since formation. At a function held at the club a Team of the Century comprising the best players of the past one hundred years was announced. The team is Paul Terry,

Ron Sarre Ronald Sarre (20 January 1932 – 3 September 2009) was an Australian cricketer. He played fifteen first-class matches for Western Australia between 1951/52 and 1954/55. See also * List of Western Australia first-class cricketers A tota ...

, Bert Rigg (capt.),

Basil Rigg Basil Augustus Rigg (born 12 August 1926) is an Australian former cricketer who played for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield. Life and career Rigg attended Aquinas College, Perth, and was playing first-grade cricket while still at scho ...

Luke Ronchi Luke Ronchi ( ; born 23 April 1981) is a New Zealand-Australian cricket coach and a former cricketer. He represented both the Australia national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team in international cricket. Ronchi is the only play ...

, Leo Bott, Allan Evans,

Dennis Lillee Dennis Keith Lillee, (born 18 July 1949) is Australian retired cricketer rated as the "outstanding fast bowler of his generation".

Bob Paulsen Robert George Paulsen (born 18 October 1947) is a former Australian cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1966 to 1978. First-class career Paulsen was educated at Anglican Church Grammar School in East Brisbane. A leg-spinner, he made h ...

Harry Price Harry Price (17 January 1881 – 29 March 1948) was a British psychic researcher and author, who gained public prominence for his investigations into psychical phenomena and exposing fraudulent spiritualist mediums. He is best known for ...

and Harry Gorringe.

Gordon Becker Gordon Becker (born 14 March 1936) is an Australian cricketer. He played fifty-two first-class matches for Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land a ...

was named coach.

References

{{reflist

External links

Official club website
Western Australian Grade Cricket clubs Sports clubs and teams in Perth, Western Australia Cricket clubs established in 1862 1862 establishments in Australia