Our congratulations to Tom Bell Bird, who last week received the 2021 Cooper Rice-Brading Foundation Award from the Sydney Grammar School Cricket Club!
Traditionally, this trophy is awarded for outstanding performance in the annual Tri-Grammar tournament, which takes place between the Grammar schools from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. In early 2017, amidst his gruelling sarcoma chemotherapy regime, Coops secured 5/20 against Melbourne Grammar, and this award acknowledges that.
Due to COVID-19, however, a Tri-Grammar tournament was not possible this year. Instead, the award was presented to the individual who best exemplified the traits Coops stood for: courage, resilience, and never being told no. Tom stood for all this and more, and was also able to construct a very tidy season with the bat, making him the obvious recipient.
Congratulations Tom!