‘The most injured I’ve ever been’: Mackay gun tells all after extraordinary run of form

A torn rotator cuff has done nothing to slow down Darryn Dyer, who has been in the form of his life to start the 2024-25 cricket season. Find out how he’s notched up three centuries in a matter of weeks.

Darryn Dyer Pioneer Valley vs Souths Saturday 28 September 2024 Picture:Michaela Harlow

Darryn Dyer is no stranger to the runs column, but even by his standards he’s had an extraordinary start to the 2024-25 cricket season, highlighted by his back-to-back hundreds for the Mackay-Whitsunday Nitros.

But the purple patch has been going on longer than that, as Dyer was a force in the recent Mackay T20 Smash, notching up three scores of 68 or more, including a jaw-dropping 144 not out off 65 and another innings of 89 (39).

And he’s done all that despite being “the most injured (he’s) ever been.”

“I’ve had a slight tear to my rotator cuff. I think it’s just been about focusing on what I’m actually doing and rather than over-hitting the ball, just keeping things simple,” Dyer said.

“I’m hoping (the injury) gets better over the course of the season, but I think it comes down to my preparation and just playing plenty of cricket despite it being early in the season.”

Darryn Dyer and Sam Vassallo batting for CiteCon Kingfishers in the Mackay T20 Smash. Picture: Supplied

Looking back on his efforts in the T20 Smash, Dyer said it was simply a case of him doing the right things in the lead-up through training and preparation before the season.

“I was involved in the Century Cricket Competition even before the T20 Smash, and I think the training for that plus preparing for the upcoming Mackay season helped me get ready for the challenge,” he said.

His first game for Pioneer Valley since transferring from Norths saw him notch up 47 runs, before going on to make a pair of monster centuries (114 and 102*) for the Nitros .

“It was a good way to start the season, it was important to me to get a good start for my new club and help us get the win,” he said.

“And then in Cairns, again it was important it do my best for Mackay and represent us well. It was a good deck to bat on, it did a bit early but I just had to focus and dig deep.

“But it’s all in the preparation, and just having the right mindset going in that allows me to make that kind of score.”

Darryn Dyer batting for CiteCon Kingfishers in the Mackay T20 Smash. Picture: Supplied

On his move from Norths to PV, Dyer said he was “absolutely loving” the vibe at his new club.

“It’s a great bunch of guys down there, from Tim (Cridland) as the captain on down, I’ve played a lot of cricket with them in the past but coming across and doing something a bit different has been good for the mental side of things,” he said.

“The main goal of course is to win the flags that are on offer, between the T20 comp and the one-dayer comp. We’ve got a strong team, and that’s our goal is to try and win everything we can get our hands on.”

Originally published as ‘The most injured I’ve ever been’: Mackay gun tells all after extraordinary run of form