When Magpies stalwart Brad Zurvas and his three sons Ben, Adam and Liam padded up for the club in a late season fixture in the Mackay Cricket Association first grade competition last summer, they each experienced a slice of history.
It is believed to be the first time that a father and three sons have played a top grade match together since the Magpies were formed back in 1961.
This unique feat was achieved against the Souths Sharks at Jack Lancaster Oval in a game that featured several milestones.
As well as being Brad’s retirement match, talented keeper-batsman Ben posted his maiden top grade century – an unbeaten 110 off 147 balls that included two sixes and nine boundaries in an emphatic victory over the Sharks.
The name Zurvas has been synonymous with Magpies Cricket Club for nearly four decades.
Last Saturday Ben skippered the Magpies to another milestone achievement when he lifted the Poole Cup first grade premiership trophy after defeating favourites Walkerston in the Grand Final at Great Barrier Reef Arena.
Ben was joined by siblings Adam and Liam as the Magpies (8-196) skittled Walkerston (126) to bring home the club’s first top grade trophy double after earlier winning the Twenty20 Shootout title.
Raised in Sarina, Brad played his early cricket with the local Crocodiles club alongside his rugby league mates before grabbing an opportunity to play in the Mackay Cricket Association.
He joined the Farleigh Magpies as a promising 15-year-old keeper-batsman back in 1986 and has been a permanent fixture ever since.
It is a real family affair with Brad the current Magpies Cricket Club President and a proud Life Member along with his tireless wife Julie, who serves as the Seniors Co-ordinator.
Entrenched in the Magpies top grade XI are gifted sons Adam, Ben and teenager Liam who has just returned with the Capricornia schoolboys representative side from the Queensland Secondary School Cricket Championships in Maroochydore.
“Watching the boys develop their cricket throughout the grades has been a proud moment for both Julie and I,” revealed Brad.
“I had a break from the game in my early 20s and made a comeback when Adam first expressed an interest in playing the sport,” he reflected.
Adam, 22, has blossomed into a stylish top order batsman and handy seam bowler while 20-year-old skipper Ben shows natural leadership skills and is one of the competition’s best young keeper batsmen.
Coming up through the Mercy College and Holy Spirit College cricket ranks, Ben was identified as an exceptional talent.
He was named in the Queensland Open Schoolboys team and also represented Queensland Country at both Under 19 and Under 21s level – a testimony of his ability with the gloves and bat.
All eyes are on whiz kid Liam, a Year 12 student at St Patrick’s College, who at the age of 16 is one of the youngest competitors in the Mackay first grade DBCT Poole Cup premiership series.
By Chris Karas
