Darcy Thomson still remembers being able to assert his big-brother dominance over little brother Blake on their backyard cricket pitch. Unfortunately it might have had an unintended effect.
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"He's better than me now," Darcy said.
"I think it's because of all the backyard cricket we played as kids when I'd get him out all the time. Now he just smashes me around."
Luckily for Darcy, he no longer has to be on the receiving end of his brother. The pair will line up for East Ballarat this weekend in the opening round of the Ballarat Cricket Association season.
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It will mark the first time they've played together since their days playing in the Melbourne premier ranks. Darcy returned to the BCA four years ago, captaining Mt Clear, before returning to East where he played his junior cricket.
Blake meanwhile cracked the Victorian Premier Cricket first grade competition and went on to play three one-day games for the Victorian Bushrangers.
Last season he compiled 719 runs at an average close to 60 to be named in the Victorian Premier Cricket team of the season.
"I still tell him I have the wood over him but it was probably a couple of years ago when he started playing a lot of state cricket and I thought, "yeah he probably has me now," Darcy said with a laugh.
Blake was set to return to Melbourne for the 2020-21 campaign, however metropolitan competitions were postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Instead, he was able to join his brother at the Hawks as a major off-season recruit.
"It fell into place pretty smoothly, he lives in Ballarat so the opportunity was there to play with us," Darcy said.
"If he was living in Melbourne he wouldn't be playing cricket at all, so at least he is getting some matches in so when he goes back he'll be fresh."
Although Blake's stay will only be temporary, there is every chance he could remain at East until the Christmas break.
"I'm not sure Melbourne comps will start before Christmas, so if we can keep him until then it will be a massive factor for us," Darcy said.
Until that day comes, the brothers will make the most of every game they have together.
"I didn't think I'd get the opportunity to play with him for a long time, so it's one positive to come out of 2020," Darcy said.
