The veteran West Tamworth medium-pacer is already looking to the distant horizon, to the day when his son, Brendan, 11, is old enough for grade cricket so they can play together. That happens in two years.

At age 44, Irwin reckons he has “another four or five” years of cricket in him. “I love me cricket too much to retire any time soon,” he said.

That’s good news for Wests. Because Irwin’s experience is proving valuable this season after the club’s first-grade side was hit hard by players losses at the end of last season, including the departure of their three frontline bowlers.

Cue Irwin’s return to first grade after mostly playing second grade the past several seasons.

Weather permitting, Irwin may be called on when Old Boys resume at 7-269 on day two of their clash against Wests at Riverside 1 on Saturday. Aaron Hazlewood blasted a 68-ball 125 following undefeated Wests being rolled for 119. “I reckon we can do it,” Irwin said, perhaps unrealistically.

But that is the type of enthusiasm Wests need as they look to impose themselves with a new-look team. Irwin said he “enjoyed” helping his younger teammates such as Alex Cook, who made his first-grade debut this season and spearheaded the attack against Old Boy – taking 1-68 off nine overs and getting a bit of a lesson.

“He’s been bowling well … It’s been a good start to the year,” Irwin said, adding that he “immensely” enjoyed being back in top grade. “And playing with [skipper] Dave Mudaliar is a big plus,” he said.

In other matches on Saturday, Bective East will be fighting to avoid outright defeat against North Tamworth at No. 1 Oval, resuming at 1-11 in their second innings.

Bective were dismissed for 49 in the first innings. And then Norths declared a 3-261, with Redbacks skipper Brendan Rixon belting a 75-ball 101 not out to record his third century in his past four first-grade innings.

At Riverside 2, City United will resume at 2-40 after South Tamworth made 231.