Darren Berry

On the heels of a fine junior career which won him a spot in various national youth sides and a place at the Australian Cricket Academy in 1988, combative wicketkeeper Darren Berry did not take long to make a name for himself in Australian first class cricket. In his debut season - with South Australia in 1989-90 - he not only shattered the previous world record for the most number of runs scored against an individual wicketkeeper's team while no instance of a bye was conceded but also made a huge impression with his athleticism and efficiency. Save for the consequences of a temporary form slump (and his axing from the Victorian team) during the 1995-96 season, it is a reputation which has stayed with him ever since. Brilliant in all facets of glovework - and one of the very few players capable of standing up to the stumps to medium pacers for long periods without in any way compromising his effectiveness - a string of noteworthy achievements have come his way. Alongside his early world record effort, he has, for instance, set a new mark for the most number of dismissals effected by a 'keeper for Victoria (since moving states in 1990-91); equalled the Australian first class record with eight dismissals in a single innings; and he also captained the Bushrangers to the Mercantile Mutual Cup title in 1998-99. His pugnacious batting, which yielded as few as four half centuries over his opening seven seasons, has also blossomed to become a key ingredient in many defiant Victorian middle to lower order performances over recent years. 'Chuck' is even considered by some observers to have been one of the more outstanding 'keepers to have ever participated at interstate level.

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