Mr Dependable Ben Martin - Parramatta District Cricket Club
Parramatta District Cricket Club | March 10, 2025
After compiling a sterling First Grade career with Parramatta District Cricket stalwart paceman Ben Martin decided to ‘hang up the boots’ at the close of the 2018/19 season.
The scrawny little Kings Langley junior, by his late teens, had morphed into a tall, strapping fast bowler and after spearheading PDCA to win the Under 19 Durham Shield Final, with a ‘seven wicket bag,’ decided the time was ripe in 2007/08 to venture into the Premier Cricket ranks with Parramatta – promptly making his presence felt by debuting in 1st Grade in that initial season.
A ‘Cricketer’s Cricketer’ Ben was the type of bowler all captains relish in their teams – wholehearted, never gives up, always ready to bowl, had the stamina to deliver long probing spells – a champion of a bloke, he was always a great team man.
Season after season, he was the steadying influence in the Parramatta bowling attack, operating at fast-medium he possessed the ability to swing the new ball away and seam the older ball around in the middle overs of a match. He played a pivotal role in the classy Parramatta pace battery that helped Parramatta claim the elusive 1st Premiership in 2017/18 by snaring 40 wickets @ 26.73.
Major individual highlights of his career were – winning the Cumberland Medal in 2016/17, selection in the SCA’s Merit Eleven in 2016/17, and destroying St. George at Hurstville oval in 2016/17 claiming 10/71 (6/22 & 4/49). A popular figure around the Club he was one of the Club Captains in recent seasons and has assisted in the staging of several club activities.
His grade playing days spanned 12 seasons – 2007/08 to 2018/19 – 10 of these years were with Parra and 2 with Manly (2011-13), his performances for Parramatta in 1st grade over the decade were outstanding as evidenced by 284 wickets @ 25.68 (including 8 by 5 wicket and 1 by 10 wicket haul) and this placed him in the upper echelon of pace bowling ranks in Parramatta’s history – with the addition of 39 wickets he captured at Manly all up he claimed 323 1st grade scalps. At times he also chimed in with some more than useful lower order batting exploits striking 1,030 runs @ 13.92 (H.S. – 61*) for the two-blues.
(By: Tom Wood – Club Historian)
