Sport
13 September, 2025
England forgets to factor in Darren from Gil
Former Gil boy helps Australia retain Grey Ashes with match-defining performance.
A man raised within the Gilgandra district has delivered a remarkable all-round cricketing performance to help Australia retain the ‘Grey Ashes’ in England.
Representing Australia’s Over 60s side, Darren Smith claimed four wickets and scored a match-defining 97 from 74 balls as Australia tied the final match of the five-game, one-day, international (ODI) series against England at Royal Ascot Racecourse, in late July.
Smith was named man-of-the-match.
The ‘Grey Ashes’ were locked two-all going into the fifth and final match, played in the centre of the famous Royal Ascot Racecourse.
England batted first and raced to 9-269 from its 45 overs.
Smith was Australia’s most damaging bowler with 4-53 from nine overs.
During the innings break, rain started tumbling down and Australia lost 19 overs in their second innings.
With play resuming at 6pm local time, a revised target of 194 in 26 overs was set for Australia to win the ‘Grey Ashes’.
Requiring 7.46 runs per over was going to be a huge challenge, and Australia slumped to 2-7.
Enter ‘The Smith Factor’.
Smith and Victorian Graeme Pavey (51) took Australia to 2-133 with a brilliant 126-run third-wicket partnership.
After Pavey was dismissed, Smith kept going, crucially hitting three consecutive fours in the 24th over to reduce Australia’s target from 27 off 15 balls to 15 runs off 12 balls.
When Smith was finally dismissed, Australia needed 12 runs from eight balls.
It was left to Geoff Patterson and Alan Muggleton, both finishing five not out, to guide Australia home.
Patterson was able to hit a pair of twos off the final two balls to finish at 8-193 and tie the contest which delivered Australia the Ashes as current holders after the visitors won the 2024 series in Australia.
Regarding the fifth and final ODI, squad member Tony Panecasio gave this glowing assessment of Smith.
“At 2-7 the English were clearing the mantlepiece but they should have remembered the Smith factor,” Panecasio wrote. “Along with Pavey, they heroically dragged us back into the contest. But more drama was to come. “At 2-133 Pavey was dismissed followed by Pearce on the next ball. 26 more runs were added before Blair, who had hurt his leg was stumped and then at 182 a gallant Smith went for 97.”
Panecasio was also gleaming about Smith’s century in the third ODI against England earlier in the tour, which Australia won comfortably at Thame.
“They say class rises to the top and this series was about to encounter the Smith factor,” Tony Panecasio wrote via social media.
“Batting first, Australia exorcised the Fairburn demons to amass 284, with Smith smashing an unbeaten 107 ably supported by Stephen Butler with 62 and (Graeme Pavey) Paves with 41 from 26 balls.”
Smith had a remarkable tour, being Australia’s leading run-getter (509 runs at an average of 63.63 with two centuries and three fifties) and highest wicket-taker (23 at an average of 13.52).
The right-hander scored 18.87 per cent of all Australia’s runs on tour across a 16-player squad.
Australia played 16 matches of cricket across 32 days between late June and late July.
With players paying up to $20,000 each to be in England, the squad was rotated, with each member playing at least 10 of the 16 matches.
Included in the 16 contests were the five ODIs against England.
All-up, Australia won 12 of the 16 matches on tour, with one tie and three losses.
“What a dream to play cricket in the United Kingdom, yet alone playing for Australia in the Grey Ashes against England,” Smith said.
“The hospitality and competition were fantastic from England we made numerous friends.
“The camaraderie in our team and the sportsmanship from the English made cricket the winner.
Smith said all people can prosper from playing veterans cricket.
“Men and women 40 years or older, you are formally invited to try out and play cricket the way it should be played for the sake of your mental health,” he said.
“There are many age groups to consider over from over 40s onwards. Most have world cups to compete for. Why not give it a go?”
