On the heels of a fine junior career which won him a spot in various national youth sides and a place at the Australian Cricket Academy in 1989, combative wicketkeeper Darren Berry did not take long to make a name for himself in Australian first class cricket. In his debut season - with South Australia in 1989-90 - he not only shattered the previous world record for the most number of runs scored against an individual wicketkeeper's team while no instance of a bye was conceded but also made a huge impression with his athleticism and efficiency. Save for the consequences of a temporary form slump (and his axing from the Victorian team) during the 1995-96 season, it is a reputation which has stayed with him ever since. Brilliant in all facets of glovework - and one of the very few players capable of standing up to the stumps to medium pacers for long periods without in any way compromising his effectiveness - a string of noteworthy achievements have come his way. Alongside his early world record effort, he has, for instance, set a new mark for the most number of dismissals effected by a 'keeper for Victoria (since moving states in 1990-91); equalled the Australian first class record with eight dismissals in a single innings; and he also captained the Bushrangers to the Mercantile Mutual Cup title in 1998-99. His pugnacious batting, which yielded as few as four half centuries over his opening seven seasons, has also blossomed to become a key ingredient in many defiant Victorian middle to lower order performances over recent years. While 'Chuck' has not always won friends with his abrasive attitude and hard-nosed style of play, he is considered by some observers to have been one of the more outstanding 'keepers to have ever participated at interstate level.