South Road Cricket Club

South Road Cricket Club

Andrew Amos – Life Member

A personal note to the readers from me.

Back in the early 2000’s one of our favourite sons moved his life and his career to Western Australia and until recently the opportunity to present him with his well-earned Life Members’ medal had eluded us. I’m pleased to say at long last Andrew Amos has been presented with his medal.

Almost a lifetime ago (for many readers potentially this is true) a young Andrew Amos graced the park for the first time as a Roadie. Displaying early the ability to deal with hostile short pitched bowling (older brothers will do that to you) a young, hook shot playing Mossy wowed onlookers at the Adelaide Oval indoor nets. Many a pace bowling warhorse was despatched over backward square with the crack of bat and billowing nets in a soon to be repeated sight that Roadies would all come to love. Strangely, on this night almost all were determined to try their fate against the 14 year old prodigy – but knowing my place in the world, I was not tempted to join them. It is one of the times in my life when I have truly had my breath taken away by the audacity of the talent on display. Many of us laughed in pure disbelief as a truly great servant of the club was unveiled to us all.

Now he wasn’t the Messiah – in many ways he was just a very naughty boy – but those of us who have played alongside Andrew can attest that nothing seemed beyond him. Bowl two bouncers that go for six – follow it with a beamer that gets the same treatment and you will find yourself in the same company as one Association speedster. So unruly was the talent that our square leg umpire on the day swears that Mossy said “See Yah” before hitting the deliberate beamer for six. Make a chanceless 105 in a semi-final and come out the next day and take 7 for to post one of the truly remarkable doubles in a final ever seen for our club. Take up bowling wrong-uns so that fielding wouldn’t be so boring and within a year be a weapon with the ball in the association. Take every catch that ever comes your way – there will be many with a better memory than me who could possibly recall one or two – but that’s one or two. I dropped more than that this week!

Admired and respected by his opposition – no-one played it harder out there – Mossy was one of the great cricket characters to grace the field. A tremendous wag with a slicing wit and tongue to match – Andrew was able to distract, amuse, intimidate, inspire and quite frankly outthink most he came up against. Most Saturdays were spent wondering where the next laugh was coming from – usually Moss at first slip – or when the next moment where he would make the game look so ridiculously easy was going to happen. For those of us who saw it – it was a gift you don’t recognise until after.

Many will have a similar tale to tell of other players – I’m blessed to say I saw those once in a generation players in a number of guises: the remarkable Brian Maetze – at 48 posting a chanceless 80 amongst turmoil all around, the great Enio Rossi, the only man I have ever been truly jealous of just because he is such a great human being and the most explosive cricketer I have played alongside of, the steely and clinical execution of my great friend Shaun Krutli and of course Andrew above. I mean no disservice or disrespect for any of the other great guys I have taken the field with – but we understand where we sit in the scheme of things – and we know these guys sit at a different level.

And so – well played Moss. Past player, Captain and President – It was my honour to present you with your medal.

Barn