For more than two decades, Damien Wright has carried the memory of his great mate Scott Mason with him, through a cricketing career that has taken him around the world and back home to Tasmania.
But when the Tigers take on Victoria in the annual Scott Mason Memorial Match starting today, the occasion will carry an extra layer of emotion for the former fast bowler, with his son Mason – named in honour of his late friend – joining him in a special tribute.
Now back at Cricket Tasmania as an assistant coach after nine years away, Wright will be involved in the memorial fixture for the first time since his return, while Mason, a member of the Emerging Tigers pathway program, will perform the ceremonial coin toss.
For Wright, the occasion is about much more than cricket.
“This game always touches me in different ways. It'll be a really emotional game, and I'm thrilled to be back involved in it, dealing with those emotions again,” Wright said.
“This one was always very, very special. It's obviously honouring a great friend and someone who was very dear to all of us, particularly me."
The annual Ninja Stadium fixture between Tasmania and Victoria honours former Tigers opening batter Scott Mason, who passed away in 2005, aged just 28.
His death devastated the Tasmanian cricket community, particularly those who had shared the dressing room with him, and left an enormous void in the lives of his family and friends.
For Wright, the annual contest has always provided an opportunity to reconnect with Scott's parents Winston and Jill and celebrate the life of a teammate whose influence extended well beyond the cricket field.
“It is always a game that I would venture over and try and sit with Winston and Jill, and not just enjoy being around them for that game, which is always really hard for them as well, but also, I think it's great how we celebrate his life and what he brought to the game, how much he loved playing this game,” Wright said.
The bond between the two families has continued through the years, strengthened by Wright's decision to name his son in honour of Scott.
And for Mason, who is now forging his own cricketing journey through Tasmania's development pathway, the significance of that gesture is something he has grown to understand and appreciate.
“It's a big honour to be named after Scotty,” Mason said. “I knew it had a lot of significance, obviously he was one of Dad's best mates and that he holds a very special place in Dad's heart – enough so to name me after him.
“I know there's a lot of special memories out in that field that they had together.
“This match shows that the game of cricket's more than what it is, and to be part of this game against the Vics and be able to toss the coin and honour Jill and Winston is always a huge honour.
“Jill and Winston have come to a couple of my games and watched me, and how emotional they get after they see me bat is pretty special.”
Like Scott, Mason is a left-handed batter, a coincidence not lost on his father, who takes great pride in the ongoing connection between his son and the Mason family.
Winston remains a keen follower of the youngster's cricketing progress, regularly checking in with Damien to see how he is performing.
“He's always been around cricket as a young boy, and he's able to be over here in the Emerging Tigers program, and Winston and Jill have been able to follow his young career so far, which is lovely,” Wright said.
“He's a left-hander as well, which is crazy, as Scotty was as well. He often rings me up, Winston, and asks me how the boy's going. They're special moments, and something that we're really proud of.”
While Scott's memory continues to live on through the next generation, his influence on Wright's own career remains just as profound.
The tragedy helped unite a Tasmanian playing group that would go on to create history in 2006–07, claiming the state's maiden Sheffield Shield title with victory over New South Wales at Bellerive Oval.
Wright claimed 5-13 in the second innings as Tasmania secured its breakthrough triumph, with an iconic photograph capturing him pointing towards the sky in tribute to his late friend. It is still one of the most emotional moments of his cricketing career.
“That was just pure emotion, upset and happy at the same time, if that makes any sense. There was a relief that we'd been able to do something, and I think we were on the verge of winning that title,” Wright recalled.
“Winston was in our sheds for the whole game… there was a lot of emotions and a lot of things happening. I look back at that picture and I'm so grateful that somebody took that snap at that time, because it just takes you back to a wonderful memory and something that meant more than anything to me.”
Wright credits Scott's memory with changing his outlook on cricket, providing a motivation that went far beyond individual performances or personal achievements.
The desire to achieve something special for Scott and his family helped galvanise the Tigers during their historic championship campaign, creating a sense of unity that Wright hopes can inspire the current generation.
“I wanted to always try and perform for him, and I guess that inspired me and drove me to change my outlook on things, that it wasn't just about me, and it was more about other people, and particularly his family,” he said.
“I used it as a real driving force to excel and try and win things and do things that were great for him.”
Almost 20 years on from that triumph, Wright has returned to the Tigers coaching ranks with a wealth of experience gained from roles across the globe.
His return has also been welcomed by Mason, who has spent much of his childhood around cricket grounds and training sessions while developing ambitions of one day representing Tasmania himself.
Having his father back home has provided the aspiring young cricketer with an opportunity to learn from him both on and off the field.
“He's one of the best coaches in domestic cricket, I think, and to pick his brain every night is pretty cool,” Mason said.
"He's always so good to me, but at the end of the day, he's my dad still, and we have a great relationship at home and training sessions as well.
“Just to have him around is always nice, and just to have him back home in general, it's just really nice to get him back."
For Wright, returning to Cricket Tasmania has reinforced the importance of the traditions and connections that have helped shape the organisation.
He has already shared memories of the 2006–07 championship-winning side with the current playing group, encouraging them to draw inspiration from the unity and purpose that defined that team.
And he has praised Cricket Tasmania for ensuring Scott's memory continues to hold a prominent place on the cricket calendar more than two decades after his passing.
“I think it's a wonderful thing how it's done here. I really do. I can't praise the organisation enough about the influence they have on making sure this game is significant, and it's remembered,” Wright said.
“I've been brought back into the fold and into the coaching structure and it's felt wonderful. There's a connection, we're always talking about our past, but we're also really keen about where we're going.
“This game is such a huge part of who we are, and credit to Dom Baker and Sall [Beams] and Jeff [Vaughan] for making sure that this remains a really significant match on our calendar.”
When Tasmania and Victoria take the field today, the occasion will again bring together generations of cricketers and families united by Scott's memory.
For Damien, it will be another emotional opportunity to honour a great mate. For Mason, a chance to pay tribute to the man whose name he proudly carries, and a reminder that Scott's legacy extends far beyond those who had the privilege of knowing him.
“It's a huge game, and it is really emotional for everyone. I'm glad that Cricket Tasmania is still having the game and still celebrating Scotty's life," Mason said.
“It's a pretty special moment.”
To learn more about Scott Mason's legacy, click here.