Chris Skilton, so often the hero for South Tamworth over the years, will become a minor villain this week.
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Skilton, 34, a part-time cricketer these days, has been bracketed to replace Souths legend and feel-good story Terry “Tex” Psarakis for day two of the two-day clash against Old Boys at Riverside 2 on Saturday.
Until informed by The Northern Daily Leader, Skilton was unaware that Psarakis, who turns 61 on November 27, had a celebrated comeback to cricket on day one of the match last Saturday after a lengthy retirement.
After Souths made 240, with teen off-spinner Matt Bryant claiming 6-52, Souths skipper Mitch Smith threw Psarakis the ball, nine years after his last first-grade game and fours years after he retired from cricket.
Bowling self-described “ordinary” off-spinners, the Central Northern Cricket Zone chairman finished with 1-3 off three overs, having bowled Old Boys No.3 Abel Carney and setting off a wild celebration with his much younger teammates.
Old Boys will resume their innings on 3-48, with Skilton in and Psarakis out.
There was a time when Skilton was unsuccessful in replacing Psarakis, who played “close to 40 years” in first grade.
Skilton said he captained Souths in a grand final years ago in which Psarakis delivered a marathon bowling performance. “I tried to take him off with about seven overs to go. He gave me a spray and I said, ‘All right, mate, you're a life member, stay,’” Skilton said, adding that the wily veteran then got belted all over the park.