15/09/2026
ON THIS DAY - 15th September
In 1973, SYD PHILP ( #269) made his debut for Waratahs. A prolific opening batsman for Churches CC from the late 1950's, Syd was known for his dour defence. He was a nudger and a nurdler well before the practice gained modern popularity through the likes of England's Chris Tavare. As a predominantly back foot player, he was happy to let bowlers toil away and push singles or turn the ball around the corner using soft hands. The only exception was a vicious pull shot that he could send the ball screaming to the boundary anywhere between mid on and backward square.
Joining the club for the second half of his career, Syd played predominantly in A-Res/2nd grade (1,[email protected]) and holds the batting aggregate record in B/4th grade (2,[email protected]). He was one of the senior players who helped re-establish the Club's B grade presence in the early 1970's, carried on by the likes of Ian Campbell ( #212), Tony Bennett ( #355), Jim Pollard ( #395) and Bob Hughes ( #515), which led to a continual supply of cricket talent for the higher grades.
He made three centuries and a ninety in B/4th's and is renowned for his defence and always batting without gloves. He claimed he had no "feel" on the bat handle with gloves on. His gnarled hands showed the price he paid for that feel. He is the only batsmen to have twice carried his bat through an innings.
His final hundred for the Club was made in October of 1988, after opening for 4ths v Churches and being joined by Ian Campbell with the score at 8-107, chasing 239. The pair batted out the afternoon, adding 144 unbeaten, the highest 9th wicket partnership for any grade. Campbell made 60 not out. Waratahs won by two wickets on a rare afternoon for the Club when it won all five grades.
It was one of four century partnership Syd batted in for Waratahs. His total of 5,160 runs places him 4th on the all grades most runs for the club: only Alan Gray ( #26 - 8,675 runs), Graham Johnson ( #207 - 8,320) and Graham Patterson ( #346 - 5,208) scored more.
Syd used to act in the role of wicketkeeper but he himself described himslef as a backstop, despite 114 career catches.
Syd was made a Life Member of Waratahs in 1994.
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