BIO
Born 1965, in Mildura
Melville, the left-handed top order batsman and handy right hand off spinner, followed in the footsteps of his older brothers, Wayne and Graham, who also played at Merbein in the 70’s. He commenced his career with South Merbein in 1976 under the guidance of Bill Foreman’s junior program.
Playing multiple junior seasons, in the very strong Merbein, Coomealla, Wentworth Under 15 competition, Melville steadily improved, allowing him to progress up the order in the juniors to also play during the afternoons in the lower grades. He lead the Merbein South Under 15 team in 1979/80 and won the batting average, in what was to be his final year of juniors. Controversially, Melville was blocked from playing the following year by the authorities, as his date of birth fell on the cut-off date and was deemed too old.
Melville’s first exposure of representative Cricket occurred in 1980 in Geelong as he represented Sunraysia at the Schoolboys Carnival. Progressing through the lower grades, Melville was mentored by Peter Foreman, Doug White, Graeme Worthington and Trevor Gebert to make his First Division debut under Gavin Hogg’s 1981/82 team.
Progressing from the middle order, Melville was to join Club Legend and Captain - Peter Danson at the top of the order in the 1984/85 season, a partnership that remained unchanged until Peter retired at the end of 1989/90. That partnership was continued off the field as Mel joined Peter (President) and Paul Kirsch on the committee in the early 80’s. Paul’s influence started Mel’s passion for statistics which continues to today.
The 1985/86 season was the year where he really found his feet, in scoring his first hundred against Red Cliffs at Lake Cullulleraine. Then leading the Mallee Under 21 Team to a State Title against Gippsland, scoring 90 in the final on their own turf. Culminating the season with his maiden First XI Premiership, again top scoring in the final with 73 as the team posted a massive 420 against Mildura Settlers in the final.
Melville’s form was rewarded later in the year when he joined teammate Wayne Carmichael playing for the Sunraysia Team against Horsham in Mildura. This game included international players such as Merv Hughes, Tony Dodemaide, Simon O’Donnell, Jamie Siddons and Sri Lankas Aravina DeSilva. The second flag was just around the corner as the bowlers lead the way to defend a very modest 102 against Mildura West the year after.
Mel’s one and only Club Championship was achieved in 1987/88 as some sneaky wickets complimented his runs at the top of the order. The late eighties saw the change of the guard as numerous senior players retired including long term captain, Peter Danson. Mel took over the leadership in 1989/90 allowing Wayne Carmichael to take over the role the following year.
The reinvigorated First Division team saw finals action for every season of the 1990’s with the ultimate success again being achieved in 1991/92, 1996/97 and 1997/98. Mel’s contribution to the Sunraysia Cricket Association continued with countless representative games against Broken Hill and the Riverland plus multiple appearances at Melbourne Country Week with the personal highlight of scoring a hundred at North Melbourne’s famous Arden Street ground. Mel was also involved in Sunraysia’s dominance in the VCCL Light Ice Cup 50 over competition in the mid 90’s in securing the title 3-times.
Mel’s 19 season First Division career came to an end in 2000/01 as a result, 194 games, 5286 runs, 3 hundreds, 26 fifties and 37 wickets. Retiring in 2001/02 after a year with a young Seconds team who were runners up to Mildura East.
After a 13-year retirement Mel returned to the Club, both on and off the field in 2015/16. The following year Mel was rewarded for his 26 seasons on the field and substantial contribution off the field when he was awarded Life Membership at the 2016/17 presentation night.
Mel also returned to his role as Club Historian, leading the newly formed Hall of Fame committee and the organisation of the very successful 40 Year Reunion in January 2018, of which included his induction to The Merbein District Cricket Hall of Fame. Mel was also included in the 80’s and 90’s Teams of the Decades.
In 2020 Mel completed the enormous task of compiling the Club Statistics since its formation in 1977 on Crickets National database – MyCricket. The same season Mel played his 300th senior game for Merbein South.