Mates take to field for stricken legend
BRUCE Oxenford will trade umpiring for playing when he lines up at Arthur Angove Park in support of terminally ill Queens Cricket Club legend Brad Winton.
Test umpire Oxenford will be joined on Sunday October 15 by Mudgeeraba Nerang coach Ross Wallace and others from Winton’s time in the Cricket Gold Coast competition from 1985 to the early 2000s.
“If anyone is out there who did play with him or against him, they are invited to come down,” said CGC senior coordinator Greg Little.
The old-school legends will compete in a Twenty20 match beginning at 12pm. Proceeds will go towards the Winton family’s treatment expenses.
With his lung cancer spreading, it is understood doctors have told the 54year-old he has six to nine months to live without treatment, or 12 to 18 months with treatment. Winton’s sons Sam, Jack and Harry have become the cornerstone of the modern-day Queens first XI who have taken out backto-back Kookaburra premierships.
Jack, 26, said the support shown to his father had been overwhelming.
“We are pretty ecstatic with everything; you don’t expect anything from anyone,” he said. “The cricketing community on the Gold Coast have been outstanding.
“Thanks to everyone who has helped support the day and helped support my old man through thick and thin.”
The reigning CGC player of the year said his family Cup were holding up “all right” through the difficult circumstances and revealed Brad may play on the day if he is responding well at the time to chemotherapy.
“If he is feeling all right and a few of the boys he played cricket with get up and say come have a run, I am sure he will,” Jack said.
He added Queens are “looking really good” in their quest for a rare three-peat.
The season starts tomorrow with Queens having the Round 1 bye.
IF HE IS FEELING ALL RIGHT AND A FEW OF THE BOYS HE PLAYED CRICKET WITH GET UP AND SAY COME HAVE A RUN, I AM SURE HE WILL ... JACK WINTON