2007 Team

Dilettante n. & a. 1. n. Lover of the fine arts; amateur; one who toys with subject or studies it without seriousness. 2. a. Trifling, not thorough; amateur. [It., f. part. of dilettare f. L delectare DELIGHT]

GREG BICKNELL (Bicks)

Our past skipper, who, due to an outrageous double booking by his secretary cannot the make the tournament until later on in the week due to business commitments. How work managed to squeeze in a business trip between his 27 trips to the Kingdom in the last 12-months has mathematicians baffled! The Dilettantes are certain to miss Bick's innovative selections and strategic knowledge of Sixes Cricket during the early part of the week, but the sheer talent of this side is likely to prevail in his absence.

Greg has recently become a godfather for the first time, so expect some new maturity in his outlook; he might get home before the sun gets up and Jekyll & Hyde will be a thing of the past. Could be a very useful addition when everyone is tiring at the end of the week.

ROGER WECKERT (Hammer)

The hard living veteran returns with new bride in tow keen to relive past on field glory (i.e. he can't actually remember much of what's gone on previous tours). The debate over whether he is a better slogger with or without the ‘mo' continues to rage in Darwin, this tour might settle the argument. Has been on a vigorous health kick since getting married having discovered fruit is a perfectly acceptable food group, so look out he may even scamper through for the odd single during the tournament! If that happens get your camera out as its not often you see a man lapped by his own shadow he is that slow!

JARROD WAPPER (Wapps)

A Thailand and Chiang Mai virgin. Hails from central Australia where the weather is either hot or very hot. Enjoys a drink, good food and refuses to run fast between wickets, should suit the local conditions perfectly.  Be careful though, while you are likely to find him in some dark dingy bar late at night, he'll still try to sell you some good quality, cheap real estate in Central Australia by the banks of the famous Todd River, where property values are soaring……………….… apparently.

There is no truth to the rumour that his surname is pronounced "wanker" in some countries….…

SIMON DRING (Dringy)

Another Chiang Mai virgin, Dringy is likely to bring tour humour to a different level. He has been accompanied by his entourage, so this might keep him out of the bars some nights, but it's hard to keep a good man down. Simon is a renowned big hitter, just ask him about the six he hit at Fred's Pass, you'll get an in-depth description of height, length, distance, the change in the rotational axis of the earth and you might even get a free rental car next time you visit Darwin. Holds several Darwin cricketing records including "most send off sprays" to batsmen's as well as "best use of a stump to articulate a point during an on field argument".

PADDY ILLIDGE

After threatening to join the Dilettantes for many years, then playing in 2006, Paddy is now coming back for his return effort, purely as Dilettante spectator. Paddy has had a few troubles with his knees, but on past visits he found that the Thai massage seem to help the knees and the happy ending aids the soul.

Has felt out of place since returning to Darwin from Cambodia, but not as much as his clothing that has never seen an iron again! Will be at home in Chiang Mai and will no doubt bring all his washing and ironing with him………..

BRUCE THOMAS (Beefer)

Beefa is another one of our Central Australian tour virgins and yet another example that passports are given out too easily. Will no doubt immerse himself in as much culture as possible interrupted only by the occasional cricket match where all reports suggest running between wickets is not an option…..

Don't believe any of the ball tampering allegations that surround him, he just likes to keep a bottle top in his pocket in case he wants to save a half full beer for later. That's perfectly normal!

Beefa also drinks red and white wine, burbon and diet coke (that's coke lite for locals) and is a bank manager by day, on the field he is a medium pace bowler and a rabbit caught in a spotlight with the bat.

CHRIS HUBBARD (Ravi)

Ravi has always been the quiet achiever, expect to see him popping up at all hours of the night & day in the most unexpected places.  One of the great mysteries of life is why Ravi moves so slow when fielding a cricket ball, but put him in a GoGo Bar and his feet don't touch the ground.

Ravi often has the responsibility of "Fines Master", mainly because he's the only trustworthy member of the team or maybe he's the only one that remembers the fines book.

Has promised a big surprise on his tenth tour – maybe he'll make some quick runs!

CHRIS HERON (Wally)

After last years game where Wally almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, he has decided to finish his Sixers career and nominate himself for the role of team manager, where his knowledge of Chiang Mai, restaurants, GoGo bars and massage parlours will allow his talents to flourish. Wally has recently become a father, and his son is expected to put in an appearance at some stage. We should be able to fine Wally for both oldest and youngest on tour; again Wally will be a mainstay of our fines tin.

Tour Virgins have a lot to learn about Chiang Mai sixes, this is the man to teach them.

JOHN MARSHALL (JM)

Every touring side has its one gentleman, at first you might think that JM is ours. But be careful, while JM is a quiet, friendly, unassuming cricketer, beneath is a man that loves to get away from the crowds, have a drink, maybe a game of pool in a sleazy bar where he can get up to all sorts of mischief. His motto is ‘walk softly……….but carry a truckload of Baht".

This will be JM's second tour after having such a great time last year, who knows there may be a bar he has not visited yet...

DOUG KERR

Dougy has decided to make his 3rd tour to the kingdom in just 12 months, he has taken to the Thai way of life like a duck to water. Doug has become a great supporter of the Dilettantes and a good sponsor of some of the nightlife spots in Thailand. Doug will be responsible to ensure that all the players will make it to the game each day, we are just not sure who is going to help him get there.

PAUL WILSON  (Willow)

Yet another virgin tourist from Alice Springs. Willow should fit in well with the Chiang Mai culture, he is single, loves good food and drink and has never lasted more than five overs in his cricketing career. Sometimes called the Ferret, Willow usually comes in after the Rabbits, but he does make it up with it his wicketkeeping. Sure to be a good tourist, anywhere must be better that spending your holiday in Alice Springs!!!!

MICHAEL PERRIS

Another Chiang Mai virgin from the PINTS cricket club in Darwin. Michael has long heard of the antics of the Dilettantes and he wanted to see if half of it was true. We expect to see him tested to the limit by the extremes of Sixes cricket, of course his first test will be for him to turn up in the right city, on debut there is a chance he will inadvertently disembark at Chiang Rai instead!

Anyway as the new up and comer in the side let's hope he brings a helmet (original said ‘helmut', but we assume Michael is not bringing some German toyboy with him – ed.) so he can field in close to our spinners…