While Cavaliers skipper Matt Corben, an unassuming wicket-keeper bat, would probably laugh the comparison off, he had suffered a similar curse in the opening stages of this summer after being removed in the nineties thrice – twice for Orange and once for his club.

Outside a third grade century back in 2012-13 the 96 he scored for the maroons on Australia Day was his highest in any Orange District Cricket Association grade, and the closest he’d come to notching triple figures in the top flight.

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Until last Saturday that is, when he smashed an incredible, unbeaten 170 against Centrals.

The dig pushed his side to a nigh-on-unbeatable position at 4-366 against Centrals and with 10 overs left in the day, and at least 80 available on this Saturday's second day, Corben pushing on to a rare double century looked all but guaranteed.

Then he declared, denying himself the chance to notch the competition’s first double ton since former Cavaliers skipper Richie Venner blasted Waratahs into outer space in 2013 with an unbeaten 222, in a one-day game.

It would’ve been just the third double since MyCricket’s online records were established too, with Ray Doolan’s 206 in 2009 the last one before that.

“I don’t play cricket for the personal achievements, I play for the team and that’s why I was trying to do on Saturday,” Corben said, adding he’d planned to declare at that point of the day for a lot of the afternoon.

“I really wanted to get a minimum of 10 overs at [Centrals] before stumps. We wanted to have them two wickets down and [we’ve got] them three down (for 11) which was fantastic.” 

The decision brings about memories, in a way, of Michael Clarke declaring on himself at 329 in 2012 and Mark Taylor doing the same on 334 in 1998 – both could’ve eclipsed Don Bradman’s fabled mark of 334 had they continued.

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Considering Corben had worked so hard to pass triple figures and may never get the chance to reach a double again, it’s as selfless a decision as you’ll come by.

He did get another very special chance on Tuesday though, the opportunity to play on the SCG where, coincidentally, Clarke posted that triple century against India seven years ago.

He lived out that dream alongside his Central West Wranglers teammates and although the side was beaten by the ACT in the Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash semi-finals, Corben couldn’t fault the experience.

“It was unreal, I sort of don’t have words for it,” he said. 

“It was pretty incredible.”