Dave is a bit of an EveryMan.   He's a paramedic and he arranges his shifts so that every Tuesday he's at cricket training and every Saturday morning he's at the game with the boys.

Saturday nights he updates the scores on the internet.   And all day, every day, he inspires a team of young fellows to grow into good men.

I know one of his young charges, Tom.   Tom was first drop in the batting order today and he batted out the whole innings after the opener went early.   Tom told me he watched the Phil Hughes instructional video on YouTube this week and that's why his footwork was better and his attitude to the ball so much more positive.  And he's got the runs on the board to prove it.   Thanks Phil.

At 8AM Dave the paramedic lined up two local teams of assorted roughnuts, bookworms, athletes and one future jockey.   24 young boys who'd never lined up together until today.   And in very simple words, the sorts of words that a paramedic might say to a grieving mum while he's still on scene, Dave told those young blokes why they were about to share a minute's silence.   Each of those boys checked his black tape armband, then together they stared at the grass and grappled with the enormity of possibilities around them.

It only took a minute, but Dave led those blokes in a few great leaps forward to adulthood today.   Then they played cricket like men possessed.   I was privileged to have a quick chat with Dave just after his team, "The Butchers" brung home the bacon.