He whips in from a medium sized runup and further whips his arm over; a little sidearm, very effective. This is "Dicko" - one of the nicest blokes you'll ever meet.
Craig Dixon first joined the club in season 2008/09 having relocated to the area from the great Snowy Mountains. Truly his brush with the Butchers actually occurred before this; when dismissing fellow Butcher Michael Doig in a Six-a-side competition in Cooma a year or two earlier. At the time neither knew the other, nor would know they'd later end up at the same club.
Dicko will best be remembered for attending everything and his one eyed St George Dragons rants. It's hard to remember a club function or a saturday night at the bowlo that didn't include Dicko. He's true blue - always there for his mates and his club; and proves it time and time again. It hopefully will be a fond period for Dicko - played for a great club, made a bunch of mates, played finals cricket, took fifty wickets, a number of outstanding sledges and finally supported a footy team with recent silverware. Well done.
One of the sledges, if you can call it that, occurred during a game against Balgownie. A bowling change prompted the typical, "Bowlers name?!" The response, "Correa".
At this Dicko chimes in with, "North or South?" Yes, one of the classics.
On the field Dicko was probably the most steady #10 or #11 you'd find. Averaged double figures every season and there was a match winning knock at least once a year. Not something you'd typically want to do; need your tail to get you out of trouble, but a number of times he did this with enjoyable violence.
The best had to be against the old enemy Wests at Fred Finch West earlier this year. This was Wests' strong side, top four material and the Butchers had collapsed to 9/114. In walks Dicko with 4th Grade Sky's amazing run of 13-wins-in-a-row in danger. Teaming up with Geoff Burton, the pair slapped the Red Devils silly; sharing a ridiculous 60-run 10th wicket partnership that was clearly a match winner. Dicko's run-a-ball thirty seven included five boundaries and a six. It would be his highest score for the Butchers.
The innings was described later by Matt Craig, "The next few overs we watched as the Wests heads dropped as Dicko assaulted the Wests attack with a range of shots that would require a Botanist to name." And then later, another memory, "Dicko was practicing picture perfect straight/cover drives immediately after each shot he played; none of which were ever of any techniqual value."
It's the ball that Dicko was really there for, and should he not take a wicket in this his final game this weekend, his yearly return will read: 16 wickets, 11 wickets, 16 wickets, 11 wickets. His average is in the seventeens every single season. The consistency is quite stunning.
Dicko actually began in 3rd Grade, right before the influx of players into the club made the competition for spots in 3rd Grade so much tighter. His first game was against a very strong Keira side who easily chased down a good score of 221. In a bowling lineup boasting the likes of Benstead (both Dan and Matt), Angry Anderson, Peter Cleaves and Anthony Hunt; Dicko was the pick with 0/19 from 10. He then took two wickets in the outright victory over Port Kembla; before returning two games later to face Keira again, who again chased down a good score. Dicko's 2/46 wasn't enough. Unlucky to have to bump into a rampant Keira right away, unlucky that the immensely talented 3rd Grade were as inconsistent as any can remember. Two outright victories were soured by eight losses that season, the Selectors trying everything to find a good formula.
Dicko took his relegation in stride and proceeded to become a core component of the 4th Grade side, a side who played finals cricket every season.
Remember that epic Semi Final against Uni in 2008/09? After a promoted Uni batsman scored 154, Jeremy Lum answered with 90 of his own. In the middle, when the Butchers fell agonizingly short by 2 runs, was Craig Dixon. He, along with youngsters Dan Bond and Rob Murphy, threw everything at them.
Dicko was there again when Sky fell in a heap against Dapto Gold in the Final last year. Both might be hard memories to rehash, but Dicko was there; notout, at the very end on both occasions. He was also the star with the ball - after seven others had a crack, Dicko swept through Dapto's powerful middle order in a blistering spell of 4/23. Dapto had been cruising at 3/105, three ducks and the big wicket of Bright completely swung momentum to the tune of 7/108.
I'd be remiss if I didn't reminisce about Dicko's best bowling figures; 4/17 against Dapto Gold just a couple months ago. Perhaps avenging last years disappointing result, Dicko was again at it with four wickets and, incredibly, three additional Dapto ducks. He'll leave with his love affair with Dapto intact; a club who has never had an answer for his wily delivery.
A remarkable stat, Dicko's uncanny ability to dismiss the opposition for nothing. One in three of his wickets resulted in the batsman walking back with a quacker. Only two other people have a better duck taking ratio; one Paul Doodeman and one Adam Van Wijk. Outstanding.
If you're not playing this weekend, get down to Towradgi Park at some point to see Dicko in action for the last time. Or come back to the Bowlo for a few quiet ones, he'll surely be there.
Good luck back in Jindabyne Dicko. You'll be missed mate. Ehh eh.
Up the Butchers
Dicko's Profile | Dicko's Stats | Dicko's Quotes
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