Trinity Old Scholars batsman Rob McLean hits first century at age 41 then video goes viral
THE brilliant moment a local cricketer scored his first hundred after 41 years playing the game has been caught on camera – and his celebrations have gone viral.
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CRICKET can be a frustrating game at times but it provides magical moments, some decades in the making.
Just ask Rob McLean.
The veteran Trinity Old Scholars batsman fulfilled a career-long goal at the ripe age of 41 on Saturday when he hit his first century – in Adelaide Turf’s B1 competition against Unley at Kingswood Oval.
“When you go so long without scoring one, you think you’ll never get there,” says McLean, who was eventually dismissed for 151.
“(The feeling was) just pure elation.
“We were 4/46 when I came out, so it was more about just holding an end up to begin with.
“Then it was just about playing my natural game and see how far it could take me, and fortunately that was to the century, and then a bit more.
“I’ll give the short boundaries a bit of credit as well.”
McLean’s previous top score was 86 more than 10 years ago while playing in the Riverland.
His biggest knock in seven seasons at Trinity had been 44.
The dedicated clubman and Trinity old scholar was quick to thank his teammates, including the A and C-grade sides watching from the stands due to abandoned games, for their support.
“I’m 41 going on 42 and have been trying not to play as much, so I can do more off-field work around the club,” he says.
“I want to fill gaps where they need to be filled – for me, a lot of that is more important than playing.
“But I think some of the boys might be wanting me to come out for more than just a few games after this.”
McLean’s innings, which helped Trinity reach 9/320, was the fourth-highest in the club’s 11-year history.
It has also created a buzz on social media over the past few days.
He tweeted a video of the moment he reached his ton and by Tuesday night it had been viewed more than 100,000 times, liked more than 2,300 times and retweeted by the likes of former Test batsman Dean Jones.
McLean has been surprised by the response but believes his feat strikes a chord.
“There’s a story in it for everyone, I think, that’s why there’s been so many people engage with it,” he says.
“The outpour of love for cricket from everyone – that’s been the best bit.
“There’s a lot of negative stories around elite level sport these days and we’ve seen some big examples of that this year.
“So I think people just really related with something positive like this
“It was nice to hear from people like me who are battlers.”