There was an instant attraction when the pair meet for the first time while Irwin was working on farms in Garah.

"She come down to the pub with my sister and it sort of all went from there," he said.

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The couple - who have two children, Brendan, 14, and Chloe, 10 - celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on Thursday.

And on Tuesday Irwin will witness a new joy in his life: watching Renae and Chloe play for his beloved West Tamworth in the women's comp at Riverside.

The Irwins are officially a cricket-mad family, with Brendan playing third grade and his father still steaming in for Wests' first-grade side.

In fact, something somewhat unexpected has happened in Tamworth cricket.

Irwin, a paceman for more than three decades, has turned back the clock and taken a swag of wickets.

Heading into Saturday's Twenty20 against Old Boys at Riverside 1, the 47-year-old has taken 12 wickets at an average of nine and with a best of 5-23.

He is second on the bowling standings behind City United off-spinner Scott Brennan, who has 18 wickets.

Last season, Irwin took four wickets in seven matches and was 48th in the standings.

"This year, I think, just that bit of rain at the start [of the season] sort of helped my bowling a little bit," he said.

"I'm not express pace - I try to use the ball a little bit, get it up there and let the ball do the work."

Indeed.

Like all responsible veterans, Irwin is now passing his considerable knowledge and expertise on to Wests' young bowling brigade.

"Showing them how to do," he said, "has made me look at what I do as well. It's coming out pretty good now."

Elsewhere on Saturday, Bective-East and City United clash at No 1 Oval. While North Tamworth and South Tamworth meet at Riverside 2.