Sport
16 June, 2025
Darren’s message is to dream
Darren Smith has always loved cricket and despite walking away from playing the outdoor form of the sport for three decades always harboured hope of representing Australia.
With his dream now fulfilled, the Gilgandra-raised all-rounder has a simple message for young people and country folk – follow your dreams.
Darren will tour England with the Veterans Cricket Australia over 60s national side from June 22 to late July.
Australia will tour England for the Ashes, playing 16 matches across 32 days.
The 16 matches will include seven one-day internationals, five against England and one each against Scotland and Wales.
A man of strong presbyterian faith who grew up on the farm near Tooraweenah with parents Ross and Heather Smith, Darren said the mental health benefits of veterans cricket are immense.
“For country people … there is probably a lot of wonderful older cricketers out there that don’t think they can do much … join something like this and have a men’s shed on the field,” Darren Smith said.
“I don’t think there is anything better for mental health for men, is to have something, and be in something like this.
“I reach out to country people and say: ‘Please think, and look, at something like this. It gives you a purpose, something to do, and live for.’
“I love Gilgandra with all my heart, and miss it a lot … in a lot of ways.
“From that, I’ve never lost sight of where I have come from … and that is why I have such a connection with Gilgandra and I’d love to be able to inspire other people.”
He first found veterans cricket in 2016.
John Messer rang me and asked if he could play for NSW in the Australian Veterans Championships.
He played in the NSW second side which did very well and Darren was named as player of the tournament. “I started playing (veterans cricket) more and more and things just took off,” Darren said.
First selected for the Australian over 50s in 2018, he was part of the national team that defeated Pakistan by three runs in the world grand final.
He was then selected to tour South Africa in 2020 but that tour was cancelled after a few matches due to COVID-19 and border closures.
Darren was then selected in the Australian over 60s in 2024 and toured Chennai in India. Australia won the final against England.
The Gilgandra-raised all-rounder scored 88 not out in the decider, which coincidentally is the number on his shirt.
He also made the world veterans team of the tournament at Chennai.
England then toured Australia in October and November last year for the Veterans Ashes.
Australia defeated England to win back the ashes, playing at venues like Bradman Oval at Bowral and then across Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Australia won the ashes back and just recently toured New Zealand earlier this year and defeated the senior Black Caps 3-0.
“My dream was to play cricket for Australia … even when I was in the country,” he said.
“Eventually I got there … my message for kids is to fulfil their dreams.”
The right-handed opening bat and right-arm bowler is a versatile cricketer.
Fielding-wise, he has a strong arm and gets around the field well. For Australia, he opens the batting.
Regarding his bowling, he calls himself liquorice, as in liquorice all sorts.
“I will come in and bowl all sorts of balls,” he said. “People ask how many different deliveries I have. I can bowl, whatever, is needed.”
He said the Australian over 60s side is highly-talented and great mates. “It’s very inspiring,” he said. Veterans Cricket Association players pay their own way to compete.
Darren’s available statistics on Play HQ are widely impressive.
Gathering data from a variety of clubs and matches at many levels, in 188 games recorded, Darren has scored 4087 runs at an average of 45.92 and taken 232 wickets at an average of just 14.28. A total of 68 catches, three stumpings, and 41 run-outs completed by Darren are also recorded.
A further story about why Darren finished his outdoor cricket career will be published at a later date. Darren has also requested that if anyone wants to talk more about the issues raised in either article they can contact him.
