Lismore cricket fans enjoyed a warm but rain-free day at Oakes Oval yesterday as the Legends of Cricket Twenty20 put on an entertaining display in front of an estimated 3,500-strong crowd.

Two years ago, the first Legends match was about a group of cricketing legends showing Lismore some love and lifting spirits after the toughest twelve months in our city's history.

This year, the second Legends of Cricket Twenty20 match was still showing support to the community, but this time, it is at a different stage of the recovery. Players certainly noticed a more positive feeling and more smiles as they signed autographs on the boundary.

After a Welcome to Country by Uncle Mick Roberts, the teams lined up for the formal photographs before former Australian Cricketer Trevor Chappell tossed the bat. Adam Gilchrist won the toss and said to Mayor Steve Krieg, "You can have bat....after we do."

With Mayor Krieg positioned at first slip, although he did ride the boundary later in the innings, when Andy Bichel bowled the first ball to Adam Gilchrist.

Gilly hit a quick 34, entertaining the crowd with his usual power hitting before his good rock mate Bernard Fanning (Powderfinger) ran him out.

(Adam Gilchrist in full flight)

"I think his plan was for himself to get run out, but they threw it to my end. I'm too old, too slow, the hamstrings were barking, and I was caught short," Gilly explained.

"I got a couple away, and it was nice to feel the ball out of the middle of the bat, to rekindle a few old memories. But, what a beautiful place to play cricket, what a spectacular day. Just the mood of everyone around, signing autographs for the kids and going and chatting with a few adult friends over there.

"It's remarkable how the transition has been made from what looked like almost a war zone, wasn't it the whole town, compared to this now and to see the development of the skate park and now another new pavilion that utilises the other sports field. What an awesome precinct.

"The mood and vibes (from the town) is good. I sensed that last night, even playing golf and then in the town last night socially. So it's really positive signs, we have to just keep building on it, and hopefully, we can get some big events here."

Gillay's opening partner, Bernard Fanning said he was coerced to open the innings.

"Mate, that's the only reason. He put me on every bloody national broadcast saying that I was going to do it. I haven't played cricket for ten years. It's the only reason I agreed to do it.

"It was pretty fun. I gotta say, Andy Bichel has really ruined the day for a lot of people when he ran out his old teammate. It wasn't anything do with me. There was a run in it. To which Gilly replied, "Maybe ten years ago."

Bernard wanted the bragging rights over his good mate, Pat Davern from Grinspoon.

"If Pat Davern's batting, I'm bowling. I'll try and put a straight one through him. It would be the ultimate actually, to have hit him for four and take his wicket. It will be all over social media."

Being a musician, and one the younger fans may not have heard about, they still wanted an autograph.

"There's lots of kids here. The kids are loving it. I don't think the kids have any idea who I am. They just keep calling me Fanning. Hey, Fanning. Can I have your hat? Can I have your gloves? They probably do actually think I'm Mick Fanning."

(Nathan Hauritz and Michael Kasprowicz signing autographs with a good crowd watching on)

As we were chatting, Pat Davern dropped a catch.

"He's (Pat) killing it actually, he's been fielding pretty well, but that was a sitter. He should have caught that."

Pat summarised his cricketing efforts after his stint in the field.

"I was on the field for first time with some cricketing heroes, which was good. I fulfilled my obligations. I dropped a catch, I bowled a head high full toss to Gilly, two no balls in one over, and entertained the crowd. Lots of laughs whenever I went near the ball, to be honest with you, but I'm an entertainer, so what are you going to do?

One of the young WBBL stars that came to Lismore was Claire Moore, who at 21, was facing some quick deliveries and spoke highly of the wicket.

"It was good fun, I absolutely loved it. It's great out there, absolutely Delta. It's coming through nice onto the bat with some good pace. Bichel's coming in, running and bowling at my hips, same as Dan Christian, can't complain.

As the innings was coming to an end, Claire said the total didn't matter, but anything above 140 was a good total to defend on the Lismore wicket.

"Let's be real, we've got Adam Gilchrist on our team. There are big boundaries, so I think we're in a good position here.

"The kids out here are loving it. I absolutely love it, because I know when I was a kid, I would love getting the signatures, so I try to give back as many as I can. They're all asking for the gear, but gear is expensive, isn't it, so it's hard to give it out. It's good to see all the locals out here having a ball, just to see how tight this community is. I love it."

Young local 15-year-old superstar Cooper Williams hit an impressive 31 in the Gilly 11 total of 143. Cooper looked comfortable against anyone who bowled to him.

"It was good out there and playing the game I love with ex-pros....unbelievable. There is a bit of chat out there on the field, a bit of banter, and loads of sledging.

(Cooper Williams hitting the mayor for four on his way to 31)

Cooper is waiting to see if he is selected for trials for the Under 17's National Country squad. He played in the Under 16's Bradman Cup in Albury earlier this year and expects to hear from selectors later this month.

NSW Minister for Planning Paul Scully flew to Lismore to be part of Gilly's 11. He was batting at number 11, so the last man in. Minister Scully didn't mind acknowledging he was nervous.

"I'm not going to deny that there's a bit of nerves running around. I think Question Time is a bit easier than facing up to this attack, but it's been going well. Young Cooper Williams, what a star. What a star.

When asked who he did not want to bowl to him, "All of them, to be honest with you," he answered, "I mean, the mayor's been talking a big game, so maybe he'll come on if I get out there. We'll see, see how that goes, see if he can put his money where his mouth is.

In the end, Gilly substituted for good friend Lennard Blok, so the crowd got to enjoy more boundaries and sixes from their hero. When the last wicket fell, it was on the last ball, so Minister Scully received a batting reprieve. He did go out and field in the outer for the Krieg 11 innings, making some boundary saves.

"It's a great day. There are lots of people out here, and I think it is fantastic that we've had some absolute legends of the game be able to give up their time to come up to Lismore and show their support for the town and the ongoing recovery effort. It's a good thing."

Mayor Krieg declared yesterday that he would open the batting and wanted to face Jason "Dizzy" Gillespie.

"If he does open, he'll definitely be copying some pace," Gilly declared.

The mayor did not walk away from his word; he opened the innings with Dan Christian and faced the first ball, which put him flat on the wicket after losing his balance to a bouncer.

(Mayor Krieg on the ground after the first ball)

Top score for the day was by local Lismore girl and WBBL star Sammy-Jo Johnson with 44, who it must be said, was hitting the ball to all parts of Oakes Oval.

"It's home. It's nice to come back out and just have a bit of fun with the guys. I think it was a great day, and a good turnout. And to play alongside some of these people, like I grew up idolising these guys, so to get the chance to run on the park with them, I'll take it any day of the week. I'd be just as excited if I was sitting up there watching this because it was a great spectacle.

"I've got lots of friends and family that came down to watch, so to see them and people I haven't seen in a couple of years, it means a lot. This place means so much to me, so it's great to be back."

(Sammy-Jo Johnson hits a four on her to the top score of the day, 44.)

At the end of the Legends match, the kids streamed onto the field as the teams were saying their congratulations and shaking hands. It was not something you see on any sporting field now, but it was perfect for this community event.

As the players were signing autographs, Mayor Krieg had a lineup of bats and caps to sign, he said, "When I was growing up, kids were allowed to run on the ground at the end of the game. I grew up in Perth, and running onto the WACA pitch was a lifelong memory that 54 years old this year, I still remember doing it as kids these age. Hopefully, they will remember running onto Oakes Oval with Jason Gillespie, Adam Gilchrist, Andy Bichel, Steve O'Keefe, Dan Christian, absolute legends and icons of our game. And they can say that I was at Oaks Oval 2025 for the Legends of Cricket game, and we're on the oval.

When asked about the talk of a deciding third Legends of Cricket match, the mayor said go and talk to Gilly.

"There's rumours, but I'm certainly not going to put any pressure. I really am grateful for these guys to take the time. I've spoken to them a little bit about whether they've enjoyed it, and every one of them has loved the weekend. But, trying to manage these guys' calendars is a challenge, but if Gillies up for it, we would love to make this an annual event.

"It's really up to the people of Lismore, to be honest with you. If they want to see these events, they've actually got to get out and support them. This was really good. We reckon we had about 3,500 to 4,000 people here, which is good, but if we're going to do it again, it'd be good to get a few more and really make the occasion something special.

"Whether we do it again is totally up to the great man himself, and maybe up to a local journalist to ask the question, no pressure.

When this local journalist approached Gilly, he was surrounded by eager autograph and selfie hunters; it was more important for them to capture their moment with one of Lismore's, Australia's and the world's greatest wicketkeeper batsmen.

The possibility of Legends of Cricket Twenty20 III will have to wait for another day.

For the record, the Mayor's 11 reached the Gilly 11 total of 144 comfortably, making the score one-all after two Legends of Cricket matches.

A huge congratulations to all Lismore City Council Event Staff who made yesterday possible. They worked extremely hard for months to pull an event like that together and deserve our thanks.