It's a remarkable achievement that won't be broken any time soon, but Canberra club cricket stalwart Chris Browning is already planning to go well past the 500-game milestone.
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The Weston Creek Molonglo fast bowler's reason for playing on for another decade — to have a game with his youngest son.
Browning has no thoughts of putting the pads away any time soon as he brings up the remarkable achievement in a Cricket ACT fifth grade match on Saturday.
The 48-year-old first played for Weston Creek in the under-15 age group in 1981-82 before playing his first senior match in the sub-districts competition in 1983-34.
Since then he has played across a number of teams over the past 32 years, ranging from second grade to seventh grade, winning four premierships along the way.
This season, Browning is playing in the club's fifth grade team alongside his 15-year-old stepson and leg-spinner Minh Ngo.
Browning's next goal is to have a game with his three-year-old son Jasper Browning, even though he knows that means he would have to play on for another decade.
"I'd like to have at least a season with my son, who will be four in January, so I'll have to keep playing for another 10 years," Browning said.
"Cricket's a part of who I am. Ever since I can remember, I've ever only wanted two things in life — that was to play cricket and to have a family."
Browning grew up in Melbourne, where he gained a love of the game from watching fast bowling greats Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, before moving to Weston Creek.
The highlight of his playing days was when he was one wicket away from every bowler's dream — taking all 10 wickets in an innings.
"I took 9-55 in November, 1987, in fifth grade," Browning said.
"I didn't get put up to fourth grade the next week because I had to go to a wedding. I grew up watching Lillee and Thomson and wanted to be like them."
Meanwhile, the top four square off in round five of the ACT Premier Cricket Gallop Cup competition on Saturday.
Ladder leaders Eastlake host second-placed Wests-UC at Kingston Oval, while Weston Creek Molonglo entertain Queanbeyan at Stirling Oval. It is a replay of last Sunday's washed out regional Twenty20 grand final.
In other games, North Canberra Gungahlin host Tuggeranong Valley at Harrison and ANU face Ginninderra at ANU North Oval. All games start at 11am.
GALLOP CUP - ROUND 5
Saturday: Weston Creek Molonglo v Queanbeyan at Stirling Oval; Eastlake v Wests-UC at Kingston Oval; North Canberra Gungahlin v Tuggeranong Valley at Harrison No 2; ANU v Ginninderra at ANU North Oval. All games at 11am.
