Strathfieldsaye captain hunts flag after 25 years and 300 games
Ben Devanny plays his 300th game for the Jets on Saturday after 25 seasons, still without a premiership.
Ben Devanny is lining up for what could be his 300th match on Saturday for the Jets in the Bendigo District Cricket Association. At 43, he holds the club's games record and now captains the side.
Ben Devanny has reached three grand finals but lost all three to Strathdale-Maristians in 2015, 2022 and 2025. The 2015 loss still stings: after the Jets posted 226, Strathdale-Maristians seemed beaten at 8-159 until a 69-run partnership gave the opposition a two-wicket win.
Devanny made 24 and took 2-53 in that game. He said he left "very disappointed" but knew his team had played the way they needed to.
- 25
- Consecutive seasons
- 300
- Games to be played
- 3
- Grand final defeats
- 2001-01
- Club's only premiership season
Why it mattersAfter a quarter-century at one club and three grand-final heartbreaks, Devanny's hunger to win shows how a milestone achievement and ultimate success are not the same thing.
AustraliaLocal cricket communities across Australia see similar stories of devoted players. Devanny is a rarity in modern sport: a player with 25 consecutive seasons at one club.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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