Lives in Cricket No 12 - Ric Charlesworth

Perth he topped the WACA competition’s averages with 56.20. In 1953/54 he came second with 50.50. Edwards recalls an epic Lester century in a ‘marvellous’ last-wicket stand of 140 to defeat North Perth. His partner, Max Puckett, was the son of another of Lester’s state team-mates, Charlie Puckett, himself a renowned tail-end batsman, whose talents as a both a fast-medium and off-spin bowler had won him selection in a Test trial in 1946/47 and a place in the Australian Second Eleven to tour New Zealand in 1950. Lester Charlesworth retired from grade cricket with West Perth after playing just eight matches, with a highest score of 87, in 1954/55. He remained at that club, often serving as chairman of selectors, for years afterwards. Allan Edwards had had the distinction of opening the batting with Keith Carmody in Western Australia’s first-ever Shield match at the WACA ground in November 1947, against South Australia. Carmody had moved from New South Wales to captain and coach the fledgling state side. Controversies over the next few years, especially over his coaching role, made the 198 he scored in that very first innings – the only century he made for the state – the high point of his career in the West, finishing with an average five runs less than Lester Charlesworth’s. As far as the young Ric Charlesworth was concerned, however, Carmody’s importance 12 1952-1969 Dentist and opening bat. Lester Charlesworth scored 494 runs for Western Australia between 1949 and 1951.