Veterans Cricket Victoria: Darren and Dave Brennan break new ground

On Sunday, the 81-year-old joined forces with his son Darren, 59, to become the first father-son duo to play in the over-60s Veteran Cricket Victoria competition.

The pair played for Barkly Street Uniting, a club in Melbourne’s western suburbs, against Endeavour Hills and were given the opportunity to bat together.

Although Dave said their partnership had a bit of “anticlimax”.

“I faced the first ball and we managed to get a run then when Darren hit the ball and we tried to run again, he pulled a calf muscle,” he said.

“It was a bit unfortunate but hopefully there’s an opportunity to play another game together before the end of the season. Darren qualifies to play for the age group because he’ll turn 60 in March.

“It was a lot of fun, we had some family down there including my wife who was watching her first game of cricket.”

Cricket hasn’t always been the pair’s first sport of choice.

Dave was introduced to the game by club captain Peter Cassell over a decade ago.

Previously the family had been successful baseballers.

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“When Peter said he was starting a side, I’d said I would happily be a fill in but I ended up playing every game in the first season,” Dave recalled.

“There’s good competition but it’s much more about the social side of the game. Darren used to play baseball up until a couple of years ago. When he was younger he played for Victoria and coached Newport as well.

“The other week when we were having a hit, he was bowling really well but unfortunately didn’t get to show that in a game.”

Originally published as Veterans Cricket Victoria: Darren and Dave Brennan break new ground