While he will never get the chance to play alongside them, just to be named among the likes of legendary cricketers such as Sir Donald Bradman is like a dream come true for Dubbo’s Nathan Pilon.
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Pilon, a former Newtown Cricket Club junior, was named in the St George Cricket Club’s team of the century at a special centenary dinner held in Sydney on Saturday night.
The side includes the best 12 players who’ve played with the club over the past 100 years.
“To be named in the side is unbelievable,” Pilon said.
“I was blown away when I first heard I had just been nominated for the side, but then to be named in a side that has three of the invincibles of cricket in it is just fantastic.
“When I received the phone call to say that I was named at wicketkeeper I thought they were joking.”
Pilon was up against four other St George wicketkeepers, including Paul Ryan, Ernie Laider and David Moore. Maybe the fact he hit the highest number of runs in the season of 2001-2002 helped his selection. “The highlight during my time at St George would have to have been in my batting when I made 1193 runs in a season and broke the record,” he said.
“We also won a premiership and a one day premiership during my time there and that was a great thing to be part of.
“I was straight from Dubbo when I started playing for St George, aged 18. It was a fantastic nine years and provided me with a great grounding for my cricket.
“Over the years I made my way up to play for the NSW 2nd eleven and then in the Sheffield Shield for NSW first eleven.
“To be selected to play for NSW was a big honour, but being named in that team on Saturday night would have to be the greatest honour of my career.”
In 2006, Pilon made the decision to move to Melbourne to continue chasing his cricketing dream.
“At NSW I was behind Brad Haddin and it was a difficult and frustrating time for me,” he said.
“I had a few games in the NSW first eleven but I wanted more, so I made the move about six years ago to pursue my cricket.
“I joined Carlton cricket club, where I still play and have played a bit of second and first eleven down here for Victoria.
“I’m 34 now so I think my representative days are probably over but I’ll continue playing with the club, we are currently undefeated this season so it’s going well. Now my main focus is trying to assist with the younger guys in the team who are coming through.”
