[By Tom Wood – P.D.C.C. Historian]
The Club received notice on 23/7/2025 that Colin ‘Col’ Barr, former First grade allrounder from the flourishing 1950s era, sadly passed away this week at 94 years of age.
Colin Barr was a gifted, enthusiastic cricketer whose skills complemented those of the more illustrious players (Richie Benaud, Jack Treanor, Ron James, Wilf Ewens and Wally Cornock) in the Cumberland teams of the 1950s. His principal forte was accurate and determined right-handed medium paced bowling that skidded deceptively off the pitch, which he backed up with forceful, clean hitting lower-order batting and sharp fielding.
He grew up with Richie Benaud, playing both junior cricket and soccer together for the Rangers Club and they remained life-long friends, as were other ‘Cumbo’ teammates Wilf Ewens and Bruce Ritchie. Post his playing days Colin enjoyed a rewarding business career that involved extensive world travel, loved sport in general and became a dedicated and skilful golfer boasting an impressive 6 handicap.
Like so many other teenage cricketers of his era that came from Parramatta High School, Colin Barr commenced his grade cricket induction in traditional fashion via the A.W. Green Shield team in 1944/45 and 1945/46 – notable teammates being Richie Benaud, Bruce Ritchie and Harold Goodwin.
He launched his grade career in Fourth grade in the 1948/49 season and created a strong impression as a highly promising pace bowler by snaring 32 wickets @ 8.25 – including 6/20 v. Sydney University and 6/25 v. Wests – his form also earned him a spot in the club’s Poidevin-Gray Shield team. The Fourth grade captain Bill Irwin had this to say about Colin in the annual report – “The find of the season – everything a cricketer must have – ability, temperament, enthusiasm, a thirst for knowledge and keen to practice.”
The following season Colin consolidated his ranking as ‘one to watch’ by grabbing healthy 48 wickets @ 15.71 in Third grade – featuring rich wicket hauls of 6/31, 4/57, 5/38, 5/41 and 4/11 – this performance propelled him into the higher grades in the1950/51, a season that saw his debut in First grade.
The 1950s was one of the Parramatta (Cumberland) greatest decades – the club was First grade runners-up in 1952/53, 1953/54 and 1955/56 – there was a wealth of fine bowlers (e.g. Benaud, Treanor, Keith Wall, Ron James and Wally Cornock) competing for First grade places and Colin Barr featured successfully across both First and Second grade through to his retirement in 1957/58.
His First grade career yielded 603 runs @ 13.40 (H.S. – 50) and 72 wickets @ 25.82 (B.B. – 5/40) – it was recorded that he always played with passion whether, batting, bowling or fielding. Possibly the highlight of his First grade stint was a fine all round performance in the 1955/56 Final v. Petersham staged at the S.C.G. – in a tense low scoring match Colin second top-scored with a determined 32 and bowled strongly to collect 4/32. Playing contemporary Wilf Ewens stated that if Colin had played for the club in another period, without the rich array bowlers Cumberland had in the 1950s and had he been given the opportunity to lead the attack, he had the ability to be a contender for first-class honours.
In Second grade he had more opportunity to parade his wares as an allrounder, through heavier bowling workloads and batting a bit higher in the order. Best illustrated by his splendid bowling performance in 1952/53 when he snaffled up 46 wickets @ 12.52, featuring rich returns of 6/40, 4/32 twice, and a career best 7/16 to destroy Northern District ; and the 1953/54 season gave witness to his allrounder capabilities when he compiled 276 runs @ 23.00 (highlighted by a dashing 126 against Waverley made in just 73 minutes) and captured 32 wickets @ 18.88 (B.B. – 4/32).
Overall Col Barr’s career with Parramatta (Central Cumberland) District Cricket Club stretched from 1948/49 through to 1957/58.
Richie Benaud [middle row - 2nd from left], Wilf Ewens [front row – 1st left], Bruce Ritchie © [front row – centre], and Colin Barr [front row – far right].
