Rob Wilson has played 522 games of cricket since first pulling on the whites 50 years ago. 23751 Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
NARRE Warren cricket tragic Rob Wilson celebrated his 500th game on Saturday – except that it was actually his 522nd.
The gregarious Casey councillor first wielded a cricket bat competitively 50 years ago and began his 45th season on the weekend.
Wilson, 64, opened the batting for Maranatha Methodist against Silverton in its D-grade clash on Saturday.
He hit 28 runs and gave up only a single from two overs of his swing bowling.
Wilson sat down at the end of last summer and worked out how many matches he had played.
He was shocked to find out he had already busted through the 500-game barrier – hence the weekend’s belated celebrations at Narre Warren South’s Strathaird Reserve.
“It’s just a great game. Last year, when I was in B-grade, I was playing with a couple of 13-year-old kids and here was me at 63 and there were 50 years between us,” Wilson said.
“It’s one team, one family, so to speak and it’s amazing how many friendships you make and the different people you get to play against over the years.”
His career began for High School-RSL Cricket Club in the Dandenong District Cricket Association and has had stops at Springvale Church of Christ, Berwick and Maranatha Methodist.
There have been plenty of highlights along the way, including representing the Oakleigh District Cricket Association (ODCA) twice.
Wilson polled 22 votes in the ODCA’s inaugural league best-and-fairest count in 1974-75 to be crowned the competition’s top player that season.
He competed alongside two of his brothers, Adrian and Ian, at Springvale Church of Christ in his junior days.
One of his earliest memories was developing a turf wicket in his backyard – complete with lights and white cricket balls – and inviting all his neighbours around for matches.
Wilson has passed his passion for the sport onto his sons, David, 40 and Garry, 37, who have both achieved Turf One premiership glory for Berwick.
He has held many administrative roles, including president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
Wilson has also been the team manager of local under-18 representative side the Southern Rangers for the past eight years.
