West Gambier allrounder Niall Easterbrook was not even considering picking up a bat in the 2021-22 summer of cricket, but he stole the show in Saturday’s Crouch Shield battle with North Sportsman’s at Malseed Park.

On a day when a batter reaching double figures was a moment to savour as wickets tumbled, Easterbrook played on a different planet.

After the Tigers crumbled from 1/33 to all out 59 and Roos’ opener Joel Bull fell first ball of the innings, no one could have predicted what happened next.

Easterbrook showed no fear in the tricky conditions and had a “day out” smashing 140 off just 89 balls.

The whirlwind was an unforgettable sight for those lucky enough to witness it in person with the right-hander terrorising the picket fence slamming 16 boundaries and five maximums.

His second senior century was the shining light in West’s innings with none of his teammates breaking single figures.

The next best score was Tony Geddes’ nine, while four ducks were also made in the same innings.

It meant Easterbrook achieved what is known in some cricket circles as a “Bannerman” a rare feat anyone would be proud of.

In the first Test match ever played at the MCG in 1877, Australian opener Charles Bannerman scored 165 of the home side’s first innings score of 245.

It meant 67.35% of Australia’s runs came off Bannerman’s bat which remains the highest proportion of runs scored by an individual in a completed innings in 144 years of Test cricket.

But not only had Easterbrook reached the threshold, he obliterated it in a similar manner to how he treated the Tigers’ bowlers.

The rampaging Roo smashed 81.39% of his side’s 172 from 29.2 overs to win the match all on his own.

Easterbrook also took two wickets in the first innings, but did not place the incredible performance on the same pedestal as his 119 against the same opposition in the 2018-19 Barber Shield.

Although 11 wickets had just fell for just 59 when Easterbrook entered the crease, he did not believe the pitch had too many demons and backed himself to push the Roos over the line.

“There was not too much wrong with the pitch, we just bowled well and Joel (Bull) smashed a short ball to gully, so all I thought was lets not lose to a side that made 60,” he said.

“I just tried to hit as many balls as I could to the boundary because I made a duck the week before.

“When we were 4/30 Tony Geddes came out and said ‘make sure you put your head down and get us the win’.

“Once we got the win I thought ‘screw this’ and had some fun.

“I do not have many thoughts when it comes to batting, it was all see ball, hit ball.

“I also did not want to umpire, so I kept batting.”

Easterbrook raised his century with his signature swipe over midwicket during an over where he dispatched 26 off the helpless Rajat Pandey.

As he raised the bat and held the helmet aloft in celebration, he revealed a new haircut resembling his favourite player Michael Clarke from “Pup’s” vice captaincy era, while the West batter did not slow down scoring 68 of the 73 runs scored for the seventh wicket.

After averaging 6.6 with the bat in the 2020-21 Hoggies Wines Barber Shield and more importantly welcoming a baby into the world, Easterbrook admitted cricket was not on his radar this summer.

But after dusting off his whites to help the desperate Roos, it appears difficult to drag him away.

“I am not even playing because I decided to have a year off to spend time with family, but they needed fill ins,” he said.

“I have only trained once in the last year, but my wife has paid for my fees, so I have to stay now.”