Famous Cricketers No 57 - W. M. Woodfull

1921/22 After graduating as a teacher, Woodfull commenced playing in the Maryborough district. He represented a Ballarat XV against the touring M.C.C. team in 1920/21. He scored a chanceless 51 in about three hours to top score for his team. This innings made a favourable impression in Melbourne and lead to further representative selection. In 1921/22, Woodfull played three Victorian Second XI games and was selected for the last two first-class games of the season. His form in the Second XI matches was such that State selection was a mere formality. Against the South Australian Colts he scored 14 and 186*. He then played against the New South Wales Second XI and scored 34 and then 227* and 20* in the return game. He batted throughout the innings for his 227. Woodfull was given a bowl and took the last wicket. In those days Woodfull was a successful googly bowler, something he did not continue with, bowling a total of only 26 balls in his first-class career. Immediately after these Second XI games, Woodfull scored his first District century, a commanding 156* for South Melbourne against Essendon. This innings possibly clinched State selection. On his first-class debut against South Australia, he injured his hand whilst fielding and did not bat until the score was 6/578. He scored 22* in the time remaining. Few Victorian players of this era made their debut in a Sheffield Shield match. Usually the State selectors would pick them in a non-Shield game (usually against Tasmania). The team was re-cast for the non-Shield match against Western Australia two weeks later with only six players retaining their place. Woodfull batted at No. 4 and scored 153 in just over four hours. This was to be his only century against Western Australia. He had been injured several days before in a match against the Goldfields Association at Kalgoorlie. He was not picked to play against the WA Colts but recovered in time to play against the State team. The VCA said that his 153 “singles him out as a Colt of whom great results may be predicted.” Prophetic words indeed. Woodfull was playing for the South Melbourne District Cricket Club when he first represented Victoria. South Melbourne have produced nine Australian captains over the years: Woodfull, Horan, McDonnell, Harry Trott, Hassett, Yallop, Blackham, Armstrong and Johnson although not all of them captained their country whilst they were with South Melbourne. A tenth player, Clive Lloyd, played for South Melbourne the year before he captained West Indies. Five years previously, Woodfull had played with the Essendon District Cricket Club, but he had performed poorly. Transferred with his job to the country, Woodfull played no District Cricket between 1917 and 1921. As the Victorian teamwas (and still is) picked almost solely from District cricket, this handicapped him and delayed his arrival on the first-class scene. In many ways Woodfull was unique in that until the age of 24 he had played no more than eight innings in District Cricket. He topped the VCA District Cricket batting averages this season, scoring 303 runs at 151.50. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 1. Victoria v South Australia, Adelaide, February 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 (Victoria won by an innings and 232 runs) not out 22 625 160 233 2 2. Victoria v Western Australia, Perth, March 10, 11, 13 (Victoria won by an innings and 72 runs) run out (G.R.Blundell/W.Stokes) 153 485 245 1 168 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Sheffield Shield 1 1 1 22 22* - - - 2 Other matches 1 1 0 153 153 153.00 1 - 1 Season 2 2 1 175 153 175.00 1 - 3 1922/23 Woodfull jumped straight into the leading group of Australian batsmen, finishing fifth in the first-class aggregates. The VCA said he was “Victorian’s most valued and consistent run-getter. He realised the bright expectations formed of him the previous year. His scoring strokes have developed 9