As of 2023, TKCC is made up of 25 loveable cricket-loving idiots
from across the world. We come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures,
which always makes for a fantastic social scene - from post-knock drinks and meals, to crazy tours
of The Netherlands - there’s never a dull moment with
The Knockers!
Billy
Billy is the spearhead of the Treptower Knockers attack. He is a tall left arm seamer
with
the valuable ability to bring the ball back into the right hander. Whilst we normally
look
upon real cricketing ability with suspicion, we make an exception for Billy – an
original
‘Knocker’ and the current club president. Born on the correct side of the Pennines, he
grew
up in Chorley in deepest darkest Lancashire. His formative cricket years were spent at
Chorley Cricket Club before he escaped the UK for good and landed in Berlin. His batting
is
marked by big hitting, and he has demonstrated a willingness to risk life and sometimes
even
limb in the outfield for the team.
Andy “Skippy” Walus, a TKCC founder and the first ever club captain has led the team on
tour as
well as coaching the team in Berlin. Our attacking right hand batter adds some aggression to
our
middle order as well as a calm head in the field. Whilst a dodgy back has kept him from
playing
as much as he might want he has always supported the rest of the team from the boundary with
a
beer in hand, now fully fit again he will be back on the pitch and in the runs, probably
still
with a beer in hand!
Andy
Neil
The evergreen all rounder, the ice cold winter soldier, the wearer of gloves and breaker
of
hearts, the rattler of bails and the ender of tails, the smasher of fours and pusher for
twos, Neil Mahoney is the Captain's Captain who isn't the Captain but knows when to
Captain
the Knockers to glory.
"Avve it!!" is more than just a catchphrase for Andy West; it's a way of life. This batting
maestro is a founder member of Treptower Knockers, he has become a fixture in the team since
its
formation in 2020. With his left-handed wizardry, he consistently conjures impressive scores
with a touch of flair. Indie rock is practically his life's soundtrack, and Oasis, his
musical
inspiration on his exciting sporting career. As for the football team he supports Blackburn
Rovers is his football team (less said about that the better) :). Straight outta Ealing and
that’s exactly where he struck his Supersonic sixes soaring over London’s skyline where in
his
formative cricketing years, thrilling the crowds in the London leagues and a regular at
Lord’s
cricket ground to watch Middlesex. But he's not confined to local stardom, for his love of
cricket knows no boundaries. From gracing the pitches half the world away Down Under to
representing the Colombian national team no less! In 2014, this charming chappy took his
sporting talents across borders again to Berlin, quickly establishing himself as a fixture
on
the football pitch with the Unicorns. A delight to watch him bat, encouraging and he has
been
key on Knockers European tours regularly among the top scorers. His journey, like his cover
drives, is nothing short of spectacular, and he's an invaluable asset pushing us to the team
Acquiesce to victory. Left arm spin is his thing and though he has been known to sneak out
the
occasional pearoller in his champagne super overs. Keep an eye out for this dynamic player
on
match day. Andy West is our very own Rock and Roll star, making a massive impact both on and off the field.
Westy
Milind
Milind "Miland" Pania. New Zealand tragic, leader of men and Schöneberg's greatest ever off-spinner.
On a mission from God (Martin Crowe) to bring the gospel of cricket to all in Berlin.
Understands the theoretical concept of people who don't like the game, but still reluctant to accept it in practice.
A truly international and cosmopolitan gentleman, Mili is quickly cementing himself as the Godfather of Berlin Cricket,
with more domestic and international connections than Heathrow. He has been an integral part of building TKCC,
particularly in recruiting and organising fixtures.
On top of this, he has been busy selflessly building his own cricket empire academy down in
Lankwitz (“Even God has to take the bus to Lankwitz”) and nurturing talent in Berlin’s emerging cricket scene.
He has even developed a soon-to-be-bestselling cricket board game in his spare time.
An accomplished all-rounder. With the willow in hand, the off side does not exist – but good luck trying to get him out with anything on middle or leg.
A sharp and astute fielder, though be sure to put on a name on that catch if you’re ever nearby.
Known to trade his off-break tweakers for some spicy medium pace – despite sage warnings against any “of this fast s***”.
"In the beginning, there was nothing. Then the Gods created the heavens and the earth, the
sky
and the water, and Adam's determination to bat all day." Alongside nobly leading TKCC
through
their first 2 years as club president, his natural hand-eye coordination and skill has
helped
him develop into a mean and miserly batter, despite playing his first proper cricket match
in
2021. The man is a natural.
Adam
Lucas Klichenstein
Nickname: Lucas Klichenstein Cricket Gott. Favourite shot: Reverse-switch-slog-sweep to
mid-on. Favourite sledge: Wenn du aus einem Boot fällt, kannst du nicht aufs Wasser
treffen.
Alex Meier but with a stick. Born and raised on the mean streets of Frankfurt, Lucas
began
mastering his technique with just a broken school ruler and a billiard ball. Now he is
one
of the most feared all rounders for the mighty Knockers. He also wears some lovely
hats.
The same day Aretha Franklin married her second husband, Jan, Lancashire's own version of
Sir
Edmund Hillary, was born and he was ready from day one.. Ready to make you fear for his
physical
welfare when you see him entering the pitch. For his and your own sake you want to put him
in a
couple of layers of bubble wrap...so no one gets hurt when fielding close to him. When he
bowls
you'll need earplugs because he'll scream at you to "Foooookin catchiit!!!" Jan can be a
stubborn batsman who's sometimes hard to dismiss. His 30mph moonball dibbly-dobblies will
teach
you a good lesson if you think you can run down the track and hit him into the next
postcode. An
original Knocker and avid fan of the mighty English cricket team he doesn't miss a chance to
share his very own theories about the sport he loves so much ... artistic swimming
Jan
Kit
A Worcestershire-born purveyor of dobbly away-swingers and lower-order nurdles.
Bandwagon-jumper and late arrival to the Knockers fold who brims with the zeal of the
convert on the rare occasion he makes it to training. Still failing to make a career
writing
about cricket in German
Coming soon.
Sean
Ben
Off the field, Ben is an almost chemically perfect Berlin expat - in other words,he runs
a
craft beer business and is an accomplished musician and songwriter. On the field, he’s
an
equally canonical English all rounder, who combines aggressive swing bowling with even
more
aggressive stroke play. With ball in hand, Ben makes one recall the ferocity of Simon
Jones
and also the robustness and resistance to injury of Simon Jones. Observers have praised
his
guitar playing for its subtle forms and intricate techniques and his hard hitting
batting
for…other qualities. If you’ve been fortunate to watch a Ben Wuyts innings you’ll know
what
this means,and if you haven’t just try and imagine what would happen if the music of
Slipknot were to come to life and find itself in the middle order. In any event, if
you’re
looking for good show in Treptower, you won’t do much better.
Sossie. The legendary butcher hails from the unforgiving terrains of Ashburton, New Zealand.
His
harsh upbringing as a nomadic hunter in the desolate wastelands of Aotearoa’s South Island
is
evident in his swinging of the willow as though swinging an axe through a wild boar’s skull.
His
lacing of the red leather to and over the boundary rope is rivaled only by his swinging of
the
cleaver in the abattoir. Sossie’s dexterity, honed in the intricate art of sausage tying, is
reflected in his wily finger spinners; his consistent bamboozling of batters seeing him
dubbed
the “Ashwin of Ashburton”. Always the first player picked and the first to tuck into a pint
at
stumps, Sossie is an integral member of any team he graces with his presence.
Simon
Nathan
Meet Nathan from Queensland: a quantum physicist by day, and a leg-spinning cricket
enthusiast by night. Balancing the world of quantum computers with his love for cricket,
he's our go-to for both wicked deliveries and quantum conundrums. Cheers to our local
cricket nerd!
The addition of this fine young gentleman from Lancashire to the knockers was a great one and
not
only because he seriously brought down the age average of our team. But don't be fooled by
his
juvenile charm and friendly smile, as on the pitch he will not hesitate to celebrate sending
you
out with a golden duck using his fierce leg spin attack. If he's on your team though, you
can
rely on him and he'll always have a good tip for you or help out otherwise with his profound
Cricket knowledge and with carrying cricket gear around townin his little car, so that we
can
smash the hard ball around in a portable net without having to fear that we break any nearby
windows or cars.
Jamie
Pete
Pete Clifford: Left-arm fast-medium bowler, right-hand middle order batter. Pete, aka
Business, is club treasurer and more importantly, a treasure for the club. One of three
left-arm bowlers in the team, Pete loves coming around the wicket and knocking over 12
year-old kids, celebrating their wickets like Shoaib Akhtar in his pomp. Pete is also an
excellent middle-order bat, with some glorious timing through the off-side and cheeky
taps
into the leg-side. He’s especially a great runner between the wickets, taking quick
singles
and turning 1’s into 2’s. Pete’s best quality though, is being able to sleep through the
snores of certain teammates. Coupled with his affable nature, it makes him invaluable as
a
cuddle buddy on tour. On a more serious note, Pete is the reason we have ever had tours
in
the first place. His contacts in the Netherlands paved the way for the Knockers to go on
their first ever tour, allowing many of us to relive our cricket-playing days while
others
got to experience their first ever games of proper cricket. He's also a wonderful human
being, having hosted the Knockers for social events at his place, always smiling, even
when
someone takes his Gummibärchen. It's business time!
Arslan Reginald Butt Age: Spritely enough Nationality: Pakistan Cricketing Style: A lothario
with the bat, he can be relied upon to get the important runs with an ill-advised Dillscoop
or a
sumptuously inappropriate reverse sweep. His bowling is deadly accurate, with a wrist action
that would make a nun blush. Fun Fact: Arslan is actually a distant relative of former
Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt and actually played in a charity T20 against him at
Old
Trafford, bowling him out for a golden duck.
Arslan
Alishah
Alishah New to the club since 2023 and already a big man around the club, super friendly
and
can often be found being VERY relaxed. Born in Pakistan, raised in Canada: He bowls
rockets
at your head but he is really, really nice about it!
With a Trojan hero named after him, we knew this strapping young Lincolnshire lad
meant
business when he entered the fold in 2023. A talented artist - with great hands both on and
off
the field - Hector is a right arm express specialist (faster and more punctual and accurate
than
the ICE) who can also handle his own with the willow in hand with some lovely orthodox,
powerful
strokeplay. Added to the mix, he and his lovely partner are busy producing the next
generation
of Knockers. At the time of writing (October 2023), we are very much looking forward to The
Lincolnshire Express' touring debut. Even for a Pom, he is an outstanding cricketer and even
better bloke.
Hector
Cha
Chanakya Bhardwaj. Fierce and tenacious opening bowler. Underrated (only by himself) batsmen. Gun fielder. Conveyor of wisdom and truth, Cha is the Oracle of TKCC. He can often be found providing wise counsel to fellow Knockers, both on and off the field. Growing up and honing his craft on the dusty streets of Ambala, Cha has come a long way to the silicone heights of Berlin. He exudes confidence without arrogance – never batting at training so as to allow others the chance, but very capably swinging the willow in matches. Off the field, Cha and his lovely Benz have been known to throw a mean shindig with amazing food. He’s the sole winner of TKCC’s Best Hair and Fashion Awards for several years running. This Cha-rmer is cause for mothers to lock up all sons and daughters when TKCC is on tour. It’s hard to imagine TKCC – or life – without Cha.
Ken, aka KP, aka Milind’s uncle, is yet another Queenslander donning the black and pink of TKCC. Ken combines technically gifted batting at the top of the order with underrated right-arm dibbly-dobblies. He’s also a gun-fielder and scores highly on the chirp-o-meter. Ken is beloved by aunts, an accomplished lawyer, loves 1. FC Union and always has a witty comment for almost every situation, ranging from how to deal with smelly toilets after post-match Indian food to life advice. You can’t go wrong with Ken by your side. He’ll anchor the innings, bring a smile to your face and offer sage advice. Pick Ken in your fantasy side, both cricketing and otherwise *wink wink*.
Ken
Jules
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Who knew that beloved Marvel character Start Lord had a cricket playing alter ego, named Alex Wright? Not many, but once you get into the nitty gritty of the two legendary characters, the similiarities are there for all to see. Both heroes refuse to do ANYTHING without a killer playlist of classic 70's and 80's anthems, both sport incredible moustaches, and, most importantly, both are the original and founding member of a rag-tag bunch of eccentric players. This may be where the similarities end as TKCC are yet to recruit anyone who resembles a tree, although a few of us are hairy enough to be mistaken for a raccoon.
Alex came up with the idea of the Tuesday knock during lockdown and has led the team in terms of vibe and energy since day one. At a time when the days bled into each other, the Tuesday knock gave us a chance to meet safely, and support one another. With his tricky, hard to pick right arm deliveries and truly unique batting stance, he has been a consistently tremendous addition to every tour he has been involved in, even with his enthusiasm for sharing boxes and wearing used budgie smugglers, Alex will always be loved and recognised as the original knocker.
Alex
Teague
By temperament, aesthetic and many other attributes Teague is far from the stereotype of a haughty, aristocratic English cricketer. Nevertheless, he is an Oxford graduate, come to Berlin to research quantum physics, and bats with a languid, nonchalant style which cannot help but cause the observer to recall a young David Gower. Audiences who prefer punk rock to baroque elegance should keep an eye on his athletic work in the field, and fans of the avant-garde will enjoy the loopy, ragging spin bowling. In short, a welcome addition to the Treptower family (and not just because he helps keeps the average age down)!
DIL, DIL, FOLLOW THE PALMMMM! How to describe Zoheb Veljee? As a wicketkeeper he offers wise words aplenty from behind the stumps, whether they are relevant to the cricket or not. As a batsman, he is a classy strokemaker whose easy-going style is easily adaptable to all conditions - be it the hot and hard tracks of his native Pakistan, the astroturf lotteries of the United States (his former home), or the sacred-yet-raw-and-occasionally-needle-ridden turf of Treptower Park. But this man is no ordinary keeper-batsman. In fact, he is the ultimate all-rounder. After keeping wicket for half the innings, the Knockers regularly turn to Zoheb to bowl his full allotment of overs late in the day as their much-vaunted pace attack discovers 10 pints and a kebab the night before may have been a mistake... Zoheb's somewhat convoluted approach to the stumps transforms gracefully into a classic right-arm off-break action, delivering consistent flight and guile that almost always restores control for his captain when it is needed most. Guitarist, guru, all-round good soul, Zoheb adds more than just cricket skills to any team he lines up for and any Tour he joins. Always enthusiastic, always respectful to the game and the good times it brings, and a true shining light on and off the pitch #trueknocker
Zoheb
Mrijan
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Rael, a proud Afrikaner, and in his own words: “I can switch off my brain and just hit the
ball
without overthinking it”. And so has it been seen! He may talk all day about “Biltong”, but
it’s
always a pleasure to share the ground with him.
Rael