By David Nagel
He can divide opinion as well as he can cut a cricket ball, but the fact remains that the highest individual score in the history of West Gippsland cricket now belongs to Merinda Park star John Cuthbertson.
The hard-hitting right hander created history on Saturday, belting an incredible 50 fours and 10 sixes on his way to 360 runs against Emerald in the F Grade encounter at Donnelly Reserve.
He posted a remarkable 410-run stand with Grant Bloomer (107 not out) as the Cobras sped to a massive 2/507 from their 70 overs.
It’s the second time the pair has run rampant this season, Cuthbertson (263) and Bloomer (123) piling on a 392-run partnership against Pakenham in Round 6.
Cuthbertson has now made 1193 runs for the season at the impressive average of 91.8.
His dominance has encouraged many on social media to question his validity as an F Grade player, with his record over the years suggesting he should slot in at a higher level.
But this season he has taken it even further, his partnership with Bloomer producing incredible results.
“It helps having him at the other end; he keeps talking and stops me from having those brain fades I’ve been having since I’ve been getting older,” Cuthbertson said.
“It’s just the little things he says, setting targets along the way and he just makes me think about my game a bit more. He’s definitely played a big role in both of those big partnerships this season; he’s a freak of a batsman and a great team mate.”
Cuthbertson took advantage of the perfect storm on Saturday, Emerald arriving with just nine players on a small ground with a lightning fast outfield. But still not everything went according to plan, with some early luck and an ailing body causing him some headaches.
“I got dropped early and then nicked one through to the keeper who dropped it as well,” the record holder said.
“I gave a few tough chances as well, and both physically and mentally it was pretty challenging. I’ve got nerve and lower disc problems in my back, so my back was killing me. I’m probably an idiot, and old, stubborn and stupid, but you don’t get too many chances like that so I just stayed out there and rode my luck.
“My son Dylan was watching and he knew how much pain I was in, he wanted me to kick the stumps over and get off the ground at one stage.”
Emerald’s attack was young and obviously undermanned, but Cuthbertson refused to be drawn into whether the standard of lower grade cricket had diminished in recent years.
“Look, I’m not going to judge other clubs, but some are strong in the lower grades and some are struggling,” he said.
“Lang Lang, Upper Beaconsfield and Carlisle Park, they’ve got fantastic bowling attacks in F Grade and it’s going to be tough for us to get through finals. I felt for Emerald, they just didn’t have that experienced bowler who could tie up an end but they gave 110-percent in the field all day.
“The ground was quick; they only had nine players and there were plenty of gaps around and I did get dropped a few times off some tough chances. Some days you get lucky and I got super-lucky on the weekend.”
Cuthbertson said the criticism levelled his way didn’t bother him at all.
“Seriously, it doesn’t bother me one bit,” he said.
“Maybe I should be playing D Grade, but we’ve had it done to us in the past and it’s still happening at other clubs right now. If my back holds up and I can train I might have a crack at a higher level next season. I just love playing the game and I’ll play higher if I get things right.”
The Cobras star said he felt a great sense of achievement at cracking the magical 300-run barrier.
“The scoreboard was getting updated towards the end and I saw 286 on the board and I started counting the runs,” he said, before taking a backhanded swipe at his critics.
“I was stoked when I got to 300, who wouldn’t be, and then I just started swinging and the ball kept going through the gaps. Breaking records like this is a great memory for players, I just hope when someone breaks this record we get behind them and congratulate them. Someone will top this one day and I’ll be the first bloke to shake his hand and say well done.”
