The highlight of Brian Nettle’s career came in January 1969 when chosen for the S.A. Country XI for a match against the West Indies, being the first Wistow cricketer to play at this level. It was a day of sweltering heat at Loxton when he opened the bowling, taking 2/32 and later scoring a quick 10 runs from the spinners, for he intended departing before Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths resumed bowling. During the 1960’s and early 70’s “Sting” was a regular Country Carnival player and was in the combined S.A.C.A. Country XI in 1969 and 70 but it was his bag of five wickets in 1968 against a city XI that saw his selection for Loxton.
Brian played his first full season in 1959/60 after a handful of games previously. He was an early “bloomer” and soon this promising teenager was opening the bowling and throughout the 1960’s became a bowler of genuine pace and fire who could take early wickets and lift for a big game. Wistow won five premierships during that time.
Several club bowling trophies were his as was the Association Bowling Aggregate of 38 wickets in 1972/73. The winning of several club and two Association Best Allrounder trophies in a career of 32 years ending in 1991/92 was understandable For 20 years he was a quality bowler who could bat and in later seasons he excelled as an upper order batsman. Statistics show:-
- Club’s youngest A Grade century maker at 16 years, and oldest at 42 years,
- 14 centuries in all, but only one Club batting trophy!!
“Sting” played an extraordinary 20 seasons in Association matches with a best effort of 5/32 in winning the Meyer Shield in 1974 against the Hills Cricket Association. Brian was Club Captain for three seasons and served on the committee regularly. He has been Club President and Secretary/Treasurer and was awarded Life Membership in 1988.
FOOTNOTE: Ian Slade ( A Mt. Barker cricketer who played for Wistow from 1965 to 1968) was selected in the Combined SACA Country Carnival XI in 1967 and 1968 and captained the team against a City XI.