CRICKET is a family tradition that has been handed down through the blood lines for the Cullinan family.
You may often hear of a father-son duo playing in the same team, but it is rare occurrence to find three generations playing in the one side.
However that’s exactly the situation that Don, his son Jason and his son Kayden Cullinan have found themselves in, with the trio playing together for Coomealla-Wentworth in Division Three of Sunraysia cricket against the Mildura Settlers.
To make the situation even more remarkable, Don’s brothers Col and Mark are regular players for Coomealla-Wentworth’s Third Division side, meaning the Cullinans make up nearly half of the Blues’ side this weekend.
The Blues’ round 11 clash against the Setts is the third time Don, Jason and Kayden, as well as Col and Mark, have played together this season.
The trio travel for games from their Pooncarie property where they farm sheep, and where Jason operates his earthmoving business.
However they don’t travel to Wentworth for training, opting to train at their Pooncarie property where they have a bowling machine and a pitch in the backyard.
Don has played cricket since he was 14 in a career spanning close to 50 years, playing in “14 or 15 grand finals”, including 12 Division One premierships.
He could have added another premiership to the tally last season when Coomealla-
Wentworth prevailed in the Division Three grand final over Workers-Gol Gol, if it wasn’t for a broken ankle.
Don said Col played alongside of him in the dozen premiership sides, while Mark played in “eight or nine”. An opening batsman in his heyday, Don has shifted down the order for the past few seasons.
Don even opened the batting against the West Indies in 1968 and 1981, both times at Mildura City Oval when the Caribbean side toured Australia.
“It wasn’t good the first time, they put us in on a wet track they wouldn’t bat on,” Don said.
Don was dismissed for four as Victoria Country were rolled for 162.
The West Indies came out the next day and made 401 off 64 overs, with five batsmen making 50 or more.
In 1981, when the West Indies were about to enter one of their most dominant periods in the history of international cricket, Don top-scored for Victoria Country with 32 against one of the most feared bowling attacks in world cricket, including Andy Roberts, Colin Croft and Michael Holding.
As if that wasn’t enough, the batting line-up included Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Larry Gomes, Clive Lloyd, Gus Logie and Jeffrey Dujon.
“It was a real experience, the difference in them, as a batsman, was the bounce,” Don said.
“Holding would get it from off a good length straight up to your throat when you thought you would lean forward and push him away. He broke three ribs.”
Jason has returned to Coomealla-Wentworth this season after retiring “about six years ago” but doesn’t play every week due to work commitments.
“I’ve been playing with Dad since I was 15 because I started first playing when I was 15,” Jason said.
“So I’ve played a fair few games together with Dad but just not many with Kayden,” he said.
Jason said it was good to be able to give some fatherly advice to his son when the pair are out in the middle on a Saturday afternoon.
“It’s good to keep Kayden going I reckon, he sort of needs a little bit of help,” Jason said.
“That’s why I have come back, just to teach the kids.”
As well as playing under 14s for Coomealla-Wentworth, Kayden fills in for the Division Three team when the side is a player short.
Kayden was also a member of the Mallee Murray Bulls under 14 Country Week campaign earlier this year in Melbourne, where he scored 76 runs in five innings at an average of 15.
“They always help me, when I’m struggling they just keep helping me,” Kayden said.
“If I’m struggling with my bowling I’ve got Uncle Col there to help me as well and Grandpa does my batting.”
This article appeared in Friday's Sunraysia Daily 3-2-2012.
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