THE cut and thrust of topline bush cricket was never more satisfying for Wangaratta's Duane Kerwin that at Country Week.
This was especially true at Ensign Cup level.
For all his premiership laurels in both cricket and football, Kerwin says the opportunity to play at the highest levels against the best from the bush always was most motivating.
"We would go in against some of the major (far bigger) towns like Albury and Wodonga which had more skilled sides but we'd always be competitive and get ourselves up for the occasion," he said.
Now 46 and a single-figures golfer on Saturday afternoons, Kerwin still maintains a close cricket connection as coach at Bruck Cricket Club.
Originally from Ararat, he is a former Wangaratta Country Week captain and the competition's Cricketer of the Year seven times.
His batting improved with responsibility and in one Ensign Cup match he made a near record 144, just six short of the representative record held by his father-in-law, Kevin Hill.
Two cricket premierships with the Wangaratta Magpies and a footy flag at Greta were further highlights and the opportunity to play most of his major sport at the Wangaratta Showgrounds a major plus.
"We beat Corowa in both the cricket flags. In the first one (1993-94) we got them out for only 90 or 91. I got three-for and was 32 not out when we passed them.
"In the second one Barry Grant won the match himself by making 132 (in the 2000-01 playoff). He could really play.
"In the footy flag we won at Greta, we beat Chiltern, which had been undefeated all year. And they had two of the Lappins (cousins Nigel and Matty) playing for them."
A right-arm medium pacer with a very fast bouncer, Kerwin says cricket and football builds character and provides a lifetime of memories.
In one Ensign Cup match against arch rivals Albury, he opposed West Indian Test batsman Clayton Lambert. "After he smashed my first ball I thought I would try going around the wicket, he said.
"I've never forgotten Lambert's reply to the umpire. 'Good', he said, in his deep West Indian voice.
"I knew then that I had my work cut out."
In 1996 Kerwin and opening Wangaratta bowler Ian Rundell had a season in the UK with Cockermouth in the wondrous Lakes District.
- By - Ken Piesse's latest book is Football Legends of the Bush.
- It is available from cricketbooks.com.au
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2011/11/25/410711_sport-news.html
Duane Kerwin
Last Modified on 26/11/2011 15:35