My journey in cricket - Mark Simpson
Mark Simpson | June 09, 2023
I was an OK cricketer. I was a Batting All Rounder who bowled Wrist Spin (Wrong Uns, Toppies and the odd Leggie). I was a solid style batsman, who took my time to get set and could then play some shots.
I played Junior Cricket at St Ives Cricket Club and for my School (Ku-ring-gai High School). I played against Normanhurst Boys High in a Cup game and the Normo Teacher liked my bowling. He suggested I come along to Northern Districts at some stage.
After school I went up to Northern Districts and had a go. I bowled better against better batsmen. I ended up as the 6th best spinner in the club behind, Whitfield, Peter Taylor, Paul Grimble, Todd Mills and some other bloke. So, I played fifth grade side, playing with some proper players.
I played one season and then realised I was good enough to know I was not that good.
Because you batted against much better bowlers in the nets, the one thing that did happen was that I could now bat. So, I went back to play A Grade Park Cricket with a guy from work.
We were Northcote and we played in the Northern Suburbs comp. We were just OK. Then we merged with Southcote and we were good enough to have a really good top team and a not bad second team.
In the top team, we peaked with a Grand Final win down at Balmoral Park. I ended up playing for about 10 years. I was now a top order batsman and exceeded all my expectations. I never scored a ton, but I got a 99 (out), a 95(left stranded), a 96 (trying to hit the last ball for 4) and an 88 not out when we got the runs.
My bowling became more and more ineffective.
Three big factors; 1) We played on astro turf and I got too much bounce.
2) I no longer had superb fielders and a superb keeper, who snapped up every chance.
3) I no longer bowled three times a week.
Invariably I would bowl two good overs, get two catches dropped and then bowl a few loose ones and get whacked a bit. Every now and then I would bowl a peach of a ball and get a wicket.
Finally, about ten years ago I was asked to play Shires with Hunters Hill. Back on turf, my bowling was OK and could still bowl a jaffa or two.
My batting was OK, but my eye had one. My fielding was terrible. I could still catch but I could not ever work out when I needed to be!! I ended up falling over in delivery when my left hip collapsed. That was the end of my career!!
Even in my modest cricket career I played with some excellent people. Neil Maxwell, Ross Toohey and MIchael Goeke were in my team at ND's and all went on to bigger things. Seeing Mark Taylor go through from 2nd Grade at ND's to First Grade and U19s and then NSW in short order was great. I had played against him when he was at Chatswood High. Craig Bainbridge, who ended up in Second Grade at Gordon was the star of our school side. He opened the bowling and batted #3 and was by far our best player. I also played soccer with Craig for many years. But some of the guys I played Indoor with at Barry Knights (Chatswood) and in Park Cricket with Northcote were just as talented. Freaky skills, they just did not have the application, the hunger, the discipline, the technique, the mentality or they were really bloody good at lots of other things as well.
Outside of Cricket season, I was a cyclist and then I settled into playing 30 odd years of Soccer. As my body fell apart, I found I was much better at organising sports than playing sports, so I ended up helping out in the running of three great football clubs.
I served as President at North Ryde Soccer Club for 8 years and loved every moment. Later on they made me a life member, which was a huge honour.
Seeing young players come through our development programs has been wonderful. I ended up playing one game of soccer with my two sons. I was 55 and they were 18 and 21. I played Centre Back partnering with Ryan and Hugh was our GK. We won, I was responsible for the other teams only goal and I think I lasted 15 min and then did two more 15-minute stints.
Career wise, my studies were in Accounting and Marketing. I have worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years. I worked in the Motorcycle, Commercial Vehicle and Car segments for some great brands.
I also had the opportunity to run two businesses. A vehicle leasing business and a Coaching and Consulting business.
In between, I worked at Deloitte in their Motor Industry Services practice.
So, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, cricket, soccer, family and mates.
My era in business and my era in Cricket have been the best.
The car game has been corporatised, homoginised and commoditised. Motorcycles and Trucks are still a bit more fun.
Coming through cricket, well behind the likes of Taylor, Waugh, Waugh, Day, Liggins, Bainbridge, Green, Hookey, Toohey, Maxwell was such a thrill. Learning from an older group and then seeing that mighty group come through after was amazing.
It was AB passing the baton to Tubby who passed it to Tugger and then Ricky Ponting. Gilchrist and Warne were just phenomenal for the Sport. Pat Cummins is my new hero. Not just his skill and ability, but his decency and character.
That's me!! Mark Simpson
