Melbourne University Cricket Club prides itself on creating good people, as well as good cricketers. By that metric, it is impossible to go past Sam Skinner as one of the club’s best.
A MUCCer for sixteen seasons, he spent at least fifteen of those with the moniker of ‘world’s nicest man.’ Apt for someone who has embodied values of selflessness, humility and respect every time he has set foot at The Main, Sam’s friendly and personable nature has left an indelible mark on the club.
Come the close of play on Saturday, Sam will have clocked up 232 matches as a Student. Matches he has played across all grades at the club, Uni is lucky that so many players have had the chance to play alongside – and to learn from him over the journey.
A wicket-keeper batter, Sam had the ability to change the fortune of a match in an instant. Dynamic at the crease, he became renowned for his switch-hits, paddles and ramps; a quick-scorer and true 360-degree player long before it was cool, he would sometimes take simply to facing up left-handed, leaving bowlers and teammates amazed.
Behind the wicket, his hands (often clad in black keeping gloves to match club colours), were fast and true. Up to the stumps more often than he was back, Skinnsy’s appetite for the contest saw him shirk countless broken fingers and hot-spot hands, just to keep opposition batters in their crease. Lightning fast to whip off the bails or snaffle an edge behind, his skill as a keeper alone brought about a bounty of wickets for seamers and spinners alike.
His exploits with bat and gloves earnt Sam First XI cap #927. With more than a dismissal per match across his First-grade career, Sam made his mark in the lower grades, too; both as a Premiership player and a leader.
Captain of a strong Second XI side in 2016/17 and co-captain of the Third XI later in his career, it is fitting that for a man of Skinnsy’s character and skill, he also retires as a three-time Premiership player.
All three flags in the Third XI, Sam won his first alongside great mates Tom Polkinghorne, Chris Grant and Hugh Van Cuylenberg in 2015/16. His second came in the 2017/18 win over Dandenong at Windy Hill, before striking the winning runs in the 2018/19 Third XI triumph.
Multi-talented, when he is not winning flags or hitting keeping drills, Skinnsy is an ultra-marathon finisher and MUCC-podcast host (rumour has it Smiley Times is making its way back up the charts). All done with a warmth and generosity that instantly puts those around him at ease, anything done with Sam Skinner is time well spent.
For all that he achieved and all that he gave, it is suitable that Sam Skinner retires as a Life Member of the Melbourne University Cricket Club.
An exceptional cricketer and a truly wonderful person, the club is lucky that he chose to call The Main Home for the entirety of his Premier Cricket career.
Thanks, Skinnsy.
