John Ogilvie will be playing his 200th game this weekend. PICTURE: JUSTIN WHITELOCK
JOHN Ogilvie will walk out onto the field to play his 200th game with Golden Point Cricket Club this weekend.
This will be a big achievement in many ways for Ogilvie – he stepped away from cricket after being diagnosed with cancer just before the first round over a year ago. He had played 198 games.
Ogilvie endured complicated surgery that removed a tumour from his bile duct, removed half his liver and reconstructed the bile duct and the blood supply to the liver, before being treated with six months of chemotherapy.
“Considering where I was this time last year – lying in a hospital bed – to go out on the field is great,” Ogilvie said.
“One of my physicians even told me to make sure my will was in order, but we were able to gain access to the only surgeon in Australia who was willing and able to lead a team of surgeons to perform the delicate operation that would give me a chance.”
The Golden Point committee member has made 5602 runs, with an average of 28 per match. He has scored seven centuries and made 23 half-centuries.
As young as 19 he captained the firsts, and played for Ballarat when it won three consecutive Melbourne Country Week Provincial titles in the late 70s and 80s.
Ogilvie stepped away from cricket at 26, when he was pursuing his career in teaching, but returned to the sport as his children began to show an interest.
He walked out on to the field last week for the first time since his diagnosis, and will play this weekend, but after Saturday will give up the playing side of the game.
“The boys at the club encouraged me to complete at least two games this season so that I can reach the 200 milestone,” he said.
“My enjoyment will come now from being on the sidelines, watching my kids, Simon and Madeleine.”
nicole.cairns@thecourier.com.au