Mark Fisher - gave everything on the field and enjoyed a beer after
Heatherhill Cricket Club | December 31, 2023
Mark Fisher is a Life Member of Heatherhill Cricket Club
Mark is a four time premiership winning player and three time club champion in 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2009/1 having taken over 580 wickets and scoring in excess of 3,750 runs. He also served on the club committee for many years including 3 years as Vice President.
Let’s find out more about Mark’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1970
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I think I was about 12, can’t remember how I went.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I started at HeatherHill around 1982 and never left. Too many lifelong mates to go anywhere else and still playing with some of them today. Played about 350 games at HeatherHill
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
First senior game in 5ths
What was the highest grade you played and can you remember what you were feeling when you were selected and how did you perform on debut?
I remember my first provincial 1st game at Bruce Park against Mt Eliza. I was pretty nervous when bowling but got a few wickets and took a catch so I was wrapped
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Opening medium pace swing bowler that could swing the bat at the end of an innings if required
What were your strengths as a player?
Ability to bowl long spells usually non-stop from one end. Always gave everything on field and enjoyed a beer after and a tail end bat that loved smacking a few sixes
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
118 at Heatherhill Provincial 2nds and 76 in Provincial 1st including 9 sixes
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
9/64 Provincial 1st against Long Island
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Scotty Phillips was just at you with pace
Nick Johnson was scary fast downhill at Mornington
Pete Klaur from Red Hill was accurate and did heaps with the pill even on wet days
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Brian McCue long spells and accurate
Tim Birch great variations and hard to get away,
Paul Bradley long spells and always at you
Playing with, Brett Upton on his day was unplayable
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Hard to name three batsmen.
Rob Bedford was an absolute gun
Luke VanRay classy and loved to bat long innings
Simon McEvoy would look in trouble then just explode and smash you everywhere
Shane Beggs was one of the best, run machine
Keith Burdett could make you look second rate on his day
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Brett Upton 90 odd against Tim Bateman who was bowling thunderbolts and Chook smashed him and Jason Hamilton-Smith 160 odd against Mt Martha, he destroyed them
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Scotty Phillips always at you and seemed to like bowling short to me?? got me out plenty of times
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
Facing Terry Doyle downhill at Red Hill, bloody shitting myself. He fizzed a couple passes my ears and I didn’t last too long
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Jeff Calder
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
John Hille and David Martin
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
David Martin best captain led by example. He had respect of everyone and seemed to be always a step ahead with field
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Funniest was Hammer, the quiet prankster from putting fruit in Simon Parrots gloves and sandwiches in his pads to taping a photo of a nude man at the crease as Paul Hartle came out to bat.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
James Boletta in our 2nds was bowling sharp and this young fella hooked him up onto the hill a couple times and Jims reply was “you’re wasting my time”
Who was your childhood hero?
Michael Tuck
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Jonathan Brown, Shane Warne, Mick Fanning
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Ricky Ponting
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Bruce Park
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Prov 1st premiership and 20/20 final in same year, and hitting 4x6 in a row to win game when we were 9 down at Grayson’s road off Brian McCue
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Pip Heath, David Martin, Jason Hamilton-smith, Brett Upton, Dermott Brereton have them for a BBQ any day
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Head down and hit straight and my dad once told me “if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with bullshit”
What’s your occupation?
Plumber
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Help clubs get and keep juniors as numbers are dwindling at a lot of clubs, subsidise clubs so kids don’t have to pay subs
