During round 12, two long-time Bears passed significant milestones for the club. Ray Alexander chalked up his 2000th run for the club during his fine innings of 86, and Jack Thomas claimed his 100th wicket with the third wicket of his haul.
Ray Alexander
Ray joined the Bears from Mosman in 2012/13, coming across with Alastair Fitzpatrick and his brother, Ron. Ray started in 5s and, while his all-round class was obvious in his early seasons at the club, injury did him no favours.
After tantalising in 2016/17, making an effortless 47 in his first 2nd grade match, Ray lost another season, then started to really hit his straps last year. A fourth grade hundred and some solid form saw Ray return to 2s.
This season Ray has truly excelled. In round 5 he dragged second grade from the fire on a tough pitch against Sydney with an unbeaten 56. He then scored 117 out of a total of 245 against Parramatta in round 7. Consistent second grade form (448 runs at 56) earned Ray first grade cap 674, and he made it count with a rear-guard 49 this round against Sutherland.
Ray always looks best when the conditions are toughest. He has the rare distinction of having represented the Bears in all 5 grades, and has claimed 27 wickets at 28.63 with his canny medium pacers, to go with his 2,077 runs at 30.54.
Jack Thomas
The Bears are in Jack’s blood, and he grew up on the Tunks and Bon Andrews boundary lines watching his father Chris captain numerous North Sydney sides.
Jack joined the club in 2011/12 as a Green Shielder, and captained the Greenies side the following season. Jack was consistent with the ball in both his U16 seasons and, after a couple of seasons with only sporadic appearances while he finished school, Jack returned full time in 2016/17.
Jack claimed 23 wickets at under 15 in third grade that season, earning his second grade debut. Against Northern Districts in round 2 of that season, Jack claimed 3 for 27 and all but secured the win for the Bears.
In 2017/18, Jack had another consistent season and highlighted 2018/19 with match figures of 8/64 in a fourth grade routing of Campbelltown-Camden. This season Jack has been instrumental in fifth grade’s run for the finals. He has 20 wickets at less than 9 and claimed 6/18 against Sutherland this round.
On top of his 106 grade wickets and 892 grade runs, Jack has a very sound pair of hands in the slips. He has also been a tireless clubman, earning junior clubman of the year in 2017/18, and proving instrumental in the Bears’ coaching program with our junior club.
Images courtesy of Tony Johnson, David James and team captains