Gary John HOWARD (1943-2015)

It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of Gary Howard, a talented cricketer and one of the great characters of the Brighton Cricket Club during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Gary began at Brighton as a 16 year-old in the summer of 1959–60 and, over the next 26 years, played 289 games (including 97 first eleven games) for the club. In this time he amassed over 5000 runs and 200 wickets, collected four premiership medals and was awarded the WJ Price Trophy for best player in the Sub-District Second Eleven competition in 1979–80.
Gary started his cricketing life as a correct and stylish top order batsman and part-time wicket keeper, but later in his career developed into a very effective slow medium out-swing bowler. On the field, he was a competitive and aggressive cricketer who often engaged opponents in a bit of verbal by-play. Off the field, however, he was a very popular clubman, extroverted, with an engaging manner and keen sense of humour.
Gary passed away on Monday 9 February after a lengthy illness. He will be greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure of playing with him during his long career at Brighton.

Gary John HOWARD          (1959–95)         Born: 22 September 1943      Died 9 February 2015

Gary Howard began at Brighton as a 16 year-old in the summer of 1959–60 and played 289 games for the club over the next 26 years. In this time he amassed over 5000 runs and 200 wickets, collected four premiership medals and was awarded the WJ Price Trophy in 1979–80.

As a schoolboy at Hampton High School, Gary played cricket on the mats with the Hampton Church of Christ, before deciding to try himself out on turf with Brighton. He first came to notice as a young batsman in 1963–64 when he scored the first of his four centuries with the club (100 not out) for the thirds against South Caulfield.

After some good performances in the seconds the following year, including another century (105 not out), Gary earned promotion to the first eleven. He was able to hold his place for the rest of the season, playing in the Group final side that went down to Preston. In 1965–66, he played a full season in the first eleven and was thrust into the opening position with the likes of Lew Carter and Colin McDonald. He was serviceable, scoring 20s and 30s, but for much of his career thereafter was never quite consistent enough to hold down a regular position in the batting order. His best season came in 1972–73 when he scored 298 runs and brought up his highest score (73 not out) at senior level. In 1977–78, he made an impressive cameo appearance late in the season with consecutive half centuries (57 and 69).

Time spent in the seconds in the 1970s did have its compensations, however. Gary was given regular opportunities with the ball and he developed into a fine slow medium bowler. He was also a key member of the three second eleven premiership teams (1976–77, 1977–78 and 1979–80) and won the W J Price (best Sub-District second eleven player) Award in 1979–80.

He played his last first eleven game in 1981–82 at the age of 38, before dropping down to the third eleven where he picked up his fourth premiership medallion in 1983–84.

Gary was one of those cricketers who perhaps never quite fulfilled his early promise. He attributed this in part to “not enough dedication” but also suggests that serious knee injuries did not help his cause. Nonetheless, he developed into a very accomplished all-rounder in the 1970s, whose skills as a bowler were under-rated and who may have benefitted from more opportunities with the ball at senior level.

He was a technically correct batsman who favoured the front foot, especially the off and cover drives. He preferred to bat at five or six “when the shine was off the new ball” and was very effective in this role later in his career. Four centuries and five seconds batting averages attest to his capability with the bat, and it is noticeable that his most consistent form came as he matured. All five of his scores of 50 plus in the first eleven were made after the age of 29.

Gary was ‘discovered’ as a bowler relatively late in his career. He started as an orthodox off-break bowler, but later became a very effective slow-medium out-swing bowler. He was extremely accurate and would tantalize batsmen with balls moving away just outside the off stump. He was capable of some mesmeric and match-winning performances – 6 for 6 to win a seconds semi-final in 1977–78, 5 for 12 to win another semi in 1979–80, and a career-best 8 for 18 for the thirds against Heatherton (1984–85).

On the field, Gary was an aggressive cricketer who often engaged opponents in a bit of verbal by-play. He was one of the ‘hard men’ of the second eleven that overwhelmed and intimidated the opposition so successfully in the 1970s. Off the field, however, he was a popular clubman, extroverted, with an engaging manner and keen sense of humour.

In his professional life, Gary worked as a chartered accountant with the same firm (Bentley Wheeler Cartledge & Co) for over 30 years before retiring at 50 and settling into a life of leisure down on the Peninsula at Dromana.

 

 

Career Statistics (1959–85)

 

	Games	Runs	HS	Avge	50	100	Wkts	Runs	Avge	Best	5WI
1sts	97	1391	73*	14.80	5	0	13	449	34.54	3/45	0
Club	289	5562	111	19.58	20	4	209	3061	14.65	8/18	8