The Legends of the Game 20/20 cricket match went off with flames, smiles and some big shots at Oakes Oval yesterday in another big win for Lismore.

The wet weather even slowed its path as the match was completed under overcast skies, the first drops started to fall literally just after the match finished as light as they were.

It was another day when Lismore took another recovery step as the sold-out crowd enjoyed seeing their cricketing heroes take to Oakes Oval and put on a show. The result really was immaterial, for the record Adam Gilchrist's 11 defeated Mayor Steve Krieg's 11.

There were some generous no balls as batsmen were given a few chances to get their eye in and the crowd were given some catching practice when the ball cleared the fence as the big hitters like Chris Lynn and Dan Christian got going. It has to be said that Mayor Steve Krieg showed some cricketing skills when it came to his tune to have a bat.

Interestingly, the bowlers only used the northern end of Oakes Oval, the reason was to speed up the match to beat the forecast rain before the players agreed they were also hitting into the crowd at the Cathedral end.

Lismore's first cricket legend, former Australian Cricket Captain Lyn Larsen had the honours of the coin toss as Steve Krieg's team took to the field first.

There was lots of friendly banter as the match was played in a light-hearted manner. Mayor Krieg placed his legends on the boundary where they spent most of their time signing autographs for the hundreds of kids eagerly waiting to get hats, bats and shirts signed.

"I think that's an official fielding position now," he told the Lismore App.

Former Australian fast bowler Andy Bichel said, "Tell me when the ball comes my way" as he got through a mountain of signings. There may have been the odd four scored while some legends were distracted but all for a good cause.

At the halfway stage, Mayor Krieg told the Lismore App, "I tell you what, some of the best bowlers in Australia's history were out there today so it was pretty good to stand at first slip and watch them in action."

"The generosity of these guys is next level. They just want to be here and be part of the community. Full credit to Adam for putting them together."

The beauty of the Legend 20/20 was the mix of cricketers involved.

Adam Gilchrist had some old school and junior cricketing mates like Lennard Blok taking part and there were some young local 'potential legends' like Sam McLean and Grace Parsons taking to the field.

"I'm absolutely loving it," Sam said on the boundary, "You don't get to do this very often so I'm just embracing it. It's very surreal, very special."

Grace Parsons who plays for the Queensland Fire in the National Cricket League told the Lismore App the older bowlers were still bending their backs, "They've done really well, facing Bichs (Andy Bichel) was a bit scary and he ended up getting me out. It's just a good experience. They're a bunch of quality blokes so it's nice to be around them today."

"This community has been through so much in the past 12 months so to put something on like this and have the turnout that we've had is pretty amazing. A lot of them seem pretty happy today."

Local 12 and Under junior star Cooper Williams had a stroke of luck when Stuart MacGill pulled up lame when bowling and was asked to pull on a shirt and field for Team Gilchrist. Cooper had a bowl and took two catches, one a spectacular catch near the boundary to complete an incredible experience.

(Cooper gets a high ten from Adam Gilchrist after taking his spectacular outfield catch)

In the end, we have to thank the legends for taking time out of their lives to drive or fly to Lismore and put on a display that belied their years.

Andy Bichel: "It's good to see people out with smiles on their faces and an event where there's something to go to and something I look forward to. For me to come down here and be a part of it is great, support Gilly and the boys and just to catch up and probably have a few drinks later which will be good and catch up with a few locals that I've known and have come back to the area. It's been a hard hard slog for everyone. It's just really good to be here."

Jason Gillespie: "That was a lot of fun. We're going to have some sore bodies in the morning I think, but a lot of fun and great to be part of it. I've actually spent my time on the boundary signing photos and autographs which was great. I got to chat to the locals, so just heard a couple of stories of the challenges that everyone's facing here. I'm very grateful that I've been afforded the opportunity to come here and interact and see people and hear some stories".

Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting agreed with Jason Gillespie about the sore bodies, "I reckon I'm going to be a bit stiff and sore in the morning but it's been awesome honestly. Gilly asked us all a few months ago to come here and when your mate asks you to do something that's so close to him all of us bend over backwards and try to make it work. Hopefully, we've made a few of the people here today happy and put a few smiles on their faces."

"When we get some more of these renovations completed, I said to Gilly today, that we should try and make it a bit of an annual event here over the next few years. We know it will take a few years to fully recover so if we can keep coming back and keep giving a bit back then we might speed things up a little bit. Let's see if I get an invite next year."

Legend 20/20 cricket at Oakes Oval each March for the next five years? We'll take it thanks Ricky.

(The longest queues for autographs was always going to be for Adam Gilchrist who didn't disappoint)

Arguably Australia's greatest ever wicket-keeper batsman and local hero Adam Gilchrist said Ricky Ponting did put the proposal of an annual event at Oakes Oval to him earlier.

"That's the effect that this day has had on him and he's the busiest man out of all of us. He's about to go away for probably four months from his home and his family through all of his various commitments in a few days but he still gave up the best part of two days to travel up, play and travel back. He brought it up, he said let's have a crack at maybe trying to make this bigger and better every year because the mayor spoke to all our guys and said it's quite possibly a 10-year project with the recovery. Ricky's made the suggestion that perhaps we can look long term with this and try to build it each year and even make it a fundraising event from corporates that want to support it."

"This was a wonderful event put on beautifully by council. It was a very emotional day for me to be back with my mates. Mates that played at the highest level, mates that played junior cricket with me. To be able to share and experience and, hopefully just give a little bit of joy back to a town that's been through, well I don't need to tell them what they've been through, they've lived it and the resilience is amazing and the attitude in this region is quite phenomenal."

"I was back here not long after the floods and have been a couple of times since the floods and each time you come back there's that little bit more progress made in the rebuild. Everyone knows communities are the people within them, not the buildings, not the structures, of course, there vitally important but it's the human spirit that keeps them vibrant and alive and gives them the possibility to prosper and the spirit in this region is second to none."

Roll on March 2024.