Was Ben Judd Wistow’s Best Bat?
The evidence places “Juddy” on a level with other top batters before or since in terms of ‘A’ Grade long service and consistent runscoring per season; and also the winning of trophies of which he won the ‘A’ Grade Batting Aggregate eight (8) times together with nine (9) Average awards. Though unable to play for the Association team for several seasons due to work commitments, he eventually played in the Meyer Shield in 2007/08, the season he thought of as his personal best.
In addition to his numerous WCC batting trophies, Juddy was also the Association leading runscorer on three (3) occasions – in 1996/97, 2003/04 & 2009/10 – a great indication of his longevity as a consistent ‘A’ Grade runscorer.
However, the quality that set Ben Judd apart was his unflappable calmness in the pressure of finals, particulars in grand finals where he scored a century on two (2) occasions, to almost single-handedly ‘take the match from the opposition’.
Never one to wear a helmet, Juddy wasn’t troubled by the bouncer as his batting was based on a sound defence, mixed with smooth and elegant strokeplay all around the wicket. His trademark was timing and placement between fielders which often seemed to inspire his batting partners to play with more confidence. Also a gun fielder, Ben’s fielding in the slips cordon was a sight to behold.
Ben’s family lived at Nairne and at aged 14, he began playing Colts for Nairne CC, progessing to senior cricket and ‘A’ Grade by 1987, aged 16. An extremely talented footballer, Ben played 110 league matches for Sturt in the SANFL between 1990 and 1997 and was twice drafted to the AFL, first by Carlton with pick 67 in the 1989 AFL Draft and then by Melbourne with pick 39 in the 1992 AFL Pre-Season Draft, however, on both occasions Juddy elected to remain living in South Australia.
Towards the end of his SANFL career, Juddy was lured out to the Hill by some old school friends and commenced to play for Wistow in the 1996/97 season, where he would go on to be a regular in ‘A’ Grade until retiring in 2010, although he did play several matches as a ‘fill-in’ afterwards and in most recent seasons he has returned to cricket to play with his sons for our archrivals at Hahndorf Cricket Club.
During Ben’s ‘A’ Grade career a Wistow, he played in 13 finals matches, including six (6) grand finals, winning four (4) premierships – all top highlights for him. Always rising to the challenge of finals, Juddy scored 529 runs at 44.08 from those 13 matches, including the two (2) aforementioned centuries scored in successful grand finals.
At the time of his WCC retirement, Ben found himself in 7th place on the WCC career runs leaderboard, along with 2nd for both highest career batting average (narrowly behind contemporary and fellow club legend, Wayne “Willow” Willis) and most centuries – all despite placing a relatively lowly 40th on the list of most senior matches played for the Echidnas.
Of his 11 ‘A’ Grade centuries, Ben said that the most memorable were his two (2) grand final centuries (106 vs Bremer/Callington at Milang and a few years later, 120* against Hahndorf at Langhorne Creek), together with his high score of 169* against his old teammates at Nairne and his final century, which came at age 40 against Mount Barker at Mount Barker.
HONOUR BOARD
Four-time A Grade Premiership Player – 1999/00 (top scored – 106), 2002/03, 2004/05 (top scored 120*) & 2007/08
1996/97 Association A Grade Batting Aggregate – 394 runs
2003/04 Association A Grade Batting Aggregate – 482 runs
2009/10 Association A Grade Batting Aggregate – 421 runs
1996/97 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 394 runs @ 43.78
1999/00 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 493 runs @ 30.81
2003/04 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 482 runs @ 53.56 **Stats are incomplete for this season**
2004/05 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 569 runs @ 94.83
2006/07 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 518 runs @ 43.17
2007/08 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 404 runs @ 36.73
2008/09 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 216 runs @ 27.00
2009/10 A Grade Batting – Aggregate & Average – 442 runs @ 36.83
2011/12 A Grade Batting – Average – 48.00 (240 runs)
113 senior matches (all but two in ‘A’ Grade)
4,429 runs @ 40.26 (4,379 runs scored in ‘A’ Grade @ 40.55) including 18 half-centuries and 11 centuries
56 catches
