1963-64 Sheffield Shield winning team reunites

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has reunited members of the 1963-64 Sheffield Shield winning South Australian team, 40 years after their victorious season.Captained by former Australian Test player Les Favell, who passed away in 1987, the South Australian team beat Victoria in their last game of the season to clinch the Shield, just 6 points ahead of Victoria. At that time there was no final contested to win the Sheffield Shield.Starring for South Australia in that match, which was played at Adelaide Oval from February 21-24, was Sir Garfield Sobers, who scored 124 runs and took 6 wickets. That season, Gary Sobers scored 973 runs at an average of 74.84 and took 47 wickets at an average of 27.59.SACA vice president Rex Sellers also starred with the ball that season taking 46 wickets at an average of 26.63.The reunion, to take place at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow night (January 31), will see players from that season re-live their winning performances, in their first get together since the 1960s.The evening also will see members of the 1963-64 team present the 2003-04 Redbacks squad with their SACA baggy red caps.The 1963-64 team was:

Les Favell (c)	Sir Garfield Sobers
Ian Chappell	John Lill
Hon Ian McLachlan	Neil Dansie
Neil Hawke	Barry Jarman
Brian Hurn	Rex Sellers
Gordon Brooks	Ken Cunningham
Robert Lloyd	David Sincock

Of that team Les Favell, Ian Chappell, Barry Jarman, Neil Hawke, David Sincock and Rex Sellers all played Test cricket for Australia, with Sir Garfield Sobers playing 93 Tests for the West Indies.Players attending the dinner include Barry Jarman, Neil Dansie, David Sincock, Ken Cunningham, Rex Sellers and Ian McLachlan.Former Australian Test captain, Ian Chappell, the youngest member of that team, can not attend the reunion dinner, although will visit Adelaide for a cocktail function with his former team mates before flying interstate for work commitments.SACA president Ian McLachlan said these reunions are very important because it perpetuates the cohesiveness of the Association."These events are particularly important to continue the tradition and sense of family at the SACA and to ensure our wins of the past are celebrated.""We had tremendous fun in those days and looking back we can see that cricket is a fabulous game for friendships. Many of us have made life-long friendships through our days playing cricket.""We will have a real blend of the young and old there tomorrow night – and of course the old blokes think the younger blokes can’t play and the young blokes `know’ the older blokes can’t play, and exaggeration will win the night!"