Heat Heartbreak denies Vets finals berth.

On the verge of charging into finals action, the Old Xavs Veterans were denied a potential finals berth by the ECA heat policy in the final round of Vets cricket

As the mercury climbed to a sweltering 37C, the final game of the Vets season was abandoned due to excessive heat without a ball being bowled.

The OX Vets finished in 5th place, cruelly denied the opportunity to displace 4th placed Burwood by winning the final match against Burwood.

The Cricket Gods did not smile kindly on the Vets this season as we only played 5 of 7 rostered games across the season

Earlier in the season a washout denied the Vets a potential big win against the winless bottom placed team, while the washout meant Burwood did not play against the top of the table team….but that’s cricket.

So, it was simply not to be for the Vets in ‘24/25….

The silver lining of the very warm final day was Vet’s Skipper, Dave MacIsaac, wiping away his tears with a rallying call for the Vets to come one, come all to the greatest pub in Melbourne - The Skinny Dog (Sponsors plug).

The Skipper pulled out the big notes, throwing cash down on the bar, and over the coldest beer in town the Vets bonded over our season “of almost, coulda, shoulda ” - and how much we missed Sam (now plying his trade as third change bowler for the Hooters CC in the USA)!!

And the Skipper’s final summation of the season included a loud, stern warning for all “Beware the wounded Veteran’s in 2025/26” …. most took this as especially true in our rush to the bar at the Skinny Dog (sponsors plug) across the long winter months ahead!!