Sport
11 March, 2024
Special honour for 'Lefty'
IAN ‘Lefty’ Wright will forever hold a special place in the history books at Nestles Cricket Club.
While Lefty’s playing stats are well known across the district, it’s his behind-the-scenes efforts spanning many years that has earned him a special honour with the club.
During Nestles’ recent 80th anniversary celebrations at Reid Oval, the club’s social rooms were aptly renamed the Ian Lefty Wright Social Rooms.
And it’s not difficult to see why such an honour was bestowed on a gentleman who has contributed so much to the sport, not only at club level but also at association level and beyond.
A life member and prominent ‘legend’ of the Warrnambool District Cricket Association (where he was an executive member for 12 years and president for five), Ian was also a member of the combined association/Corangamite Cricket Zone board for 10 years.
Ian was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, presented to him by Bob Merriman on behalf of the federal government.
The following year, as chairman of the Australian Country Cricket Championships executive, he played an integral role in getting sponsorships and enlisting the support of the local community to ensure the event was successfully held in Warrnambool.
Locally, Ian has been involved with Nestles Cricket Club for almost 60 years.
He played his first year of senior cricket as a 14 year-old and retired at the age of 44 after 29 seasons on the pitch with Nestles.
During that time his accomplishments are large and many.
He has coached countless junior cricketers, has been an active committee member and was captain of the club’s A grade side for 10 years – during which time he won three league ‘Cricketer of the Year’ awards along with the league’s Umpires Award in 1959/60.
He has also celebrated 15 A grade premierships (including five as captain), 16 centuries, two 10-wicket matches (including one in a grand final) and has best bowling figures of 8/21.
After 342 A grade games (which included 371 innings), Ian is ranked the club’s number one player for matches played, wickets taken and runs scored.
The Ian Wright Trophy is now awarded to the division one champion trophy winner each season in recognition of his contribution to the sport.
Ian’s sporting abilities also stemmed to football where he enjoyed a great career with Warrnambool Football Club in the Hampden League.
