GREG Hoysted says he's only ever been truly scared once on the cricket field.

He was opening the batting at the Wangaratta Showgrounds against the touring West Indies and facing the first ball on a greentop from a keen-to-impress Winston Davis.

"Davis ran up and, as was my habit, I got on to the front foot, only to not see a thing," he said.

"I thought 'Gees, where is it? That must have been quick' before I realised he'd gone through his whole action without letting the ball go!"

Hoysted made 44 and said he had almost as many plays and misses as Davis, Courtney Walsh and Co. were moving the ball around substantially in the bowler-friendly conditions.

It remains a highlight of an outstanding North East career which this summer sees him starting his 40th year in the game with a new club, Benalla at the wonderful Rose Gardens.

"Unfortunately, our old club (Benalla Saints) has folded so six or seven of us are going across to Benalla. We want to stick together. That's what cricket is all about," he said.

Few are as passionate about the game as Hoysted, a schoolteacher, who has been a mainstay of Benalla's representative teams for several decades.

Among the most memorable of his 26 career centuries was his 138 not out and carrying his bat in a toughly-fought four-day final against Violet Town.

He went undismissed for more than two days and gave just one chance when the wicketkeeper went up to the stumps to stop him from batting out of his crease and promptly dropped a sharp chance.

Hoysted has been involved in four premierships, three with the Benalla Saints and one with All-Blacks United, in 1995-96 when he was captain.

Benalla is one of the prettiest grounds in the district.

Cricket in the area started on October 16, continuing a lifetime habit for Hoysted who has been playing since he was 11 with the Wangaratta Under 16s.

He says he's just as keen as ever to achieve and would like to think the influx of talent from his old club can lead to yet another Grand Final.