There was a time when Dubbo held very few happy memories for Len Pascoe.
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The Australian quick had played at No. 1 Oval during the days of the Tooheys Country Cup, a competition designed by Bob Simpson where state and national players joined regional sides and played in country areas.
The match in Dubbo was decades ago now but Pascoe, who played 14 Tests for his country, can still vividly remember.
"Bobby Simpson said to me don't bounce these guys, just bowl normal," Pascoe said.
"So I did go off a short run and the batsman, whoever it was, put me twice into the grandstand.
"I looked at Bobby Simpson and the dressing room and then I looked at the batsman and thought 'well that's the last time you'll do that'.
"So I came off the long run and nipped him on the inside of the leg and he was carried off. Bob Simpson came out and told me I was banned and I couldn't play Tooheys Country Cricket for quite some time.
"It wasn't my fault."
Pascoe can laugh about incident now and his views on Dubbo have changed as he can't wait to get out here next month.
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The now 70-year-old Pascoe will be in Dubbo on January 19 and 20 as part of the Shaun Brown Cricket Coaching clinics.
He's been a part of Shaun Brown program for more than 20 years but the excitement and joy of being involved hasn't wavered.
"It's more than cricket coaching," he said.
"It's about involvement and development of a young player as they grow.
"Initially when I was involved you're full of brimstone and fire and you want every one of the kids to be a Test player but over the years I've come to appreciate Shaun's style more because I see the smiles on the kids' faces.
"It's about social skills and development through sport."
Pascoe added he's worked with players "right across the whole gambit" with some kids attending camps in the past having never played cricket before while there's been children with medical conditions who have also been given the opportunity to take part.
Pascoe expects this season's camps, run throughout NSW, Victoria, and Western Australia, to be hugely popular given children and sports fans have missed out on so much this year due to COVID-19.
He added he was also hopeful of seeing a large number of female players in attendance given the ongoing success and growth of the women's game.
More information on the camps at Dubbo, which will be held at the Bob Dowling Ovals, can be found on the Shaun Brown website at www.cricketcoaching.com.au.
"Dubbo has been a fantastic region for sport and especially cricket," Pascoe said.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
