Mark Collison - play the V
Hawkesbury Cricket Club | August 09, 2024
Mark Collison played NSW Premier Cricket for Western Suburbs, Parramatta and Hawkesbury cricket Clubs. As a wicket keeper batter, he played first grade at Parramatta and Hawkesbury and played many years in the Sydney Shires competition.
Let’s find out more about Mark’s journey in the game.
What year were you born?
1977
Can you remember your first game of cricket?
I think I was 8 years of age and played in the Under 10s for Wentworthville Leagues Cricket Club
RG McGees Richmond is a proud sponsor of the Hawkesbury Cricket Club
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played all my juniors at Wentworthville Leagues CC also then U13’s through to U16’s,
I played for Parramatta District Cricket Association from U13’s (Gee Shield) to U16’s (Watson Shield) and played Green Shield for Western Suburbs District Cricket Club. I first played grade cricket for Western Suburbs for 4 years before moving back to Parramatta District Cricket Club for a further 4 years. I then moved to play for Hawkesbury Cricket Club for a couple of seasons, 7 seasons for Auburn in the Shires Comp before finishing with 2 seasons back at Wentworthville Leagues Cricket playing A Grade
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
4th Grade for Western Suburbs against Fairfield – Liverpool when I was 18.
What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?
I played first grade for Parramatta District Cricket Club against Sutherland at Caringbah. I batted 7 and got 40 odd (I think) and we batted pretty much all day on day 1. We fielded for 2 overs. The game was the October long weekend and Monday was washed out.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Wicket Keeper | batter who gave his all every game. When I wasn’t wicket-keeping I was in the slips and gully as having pretty good hands was a bonus, I guess
Steve Waugh batting, Mark Collison wicket kepper
What were your strengths as a player?
I always wanted to take the game forward. I never wanted to wait to take the game and to be honest it worked against me as well!
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
160 for Auburn in Sydney Shires against Epping at Epping Oval.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
Keeper didn’t bowl
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Brett Lee – just quick and his record speaks for itself
Stuart Clark – Accurate, patient and he would hit the same spot over and over. Decent bouncer as well
Daniel Horsley – Could bowl all day. Big strong and powerful! If he didn’t get injured who knows where he could have got to.
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Robert Aitken – Had a different delivery for every ball he bowled, such a competitor
Anthony Clark – Played a lot against Clarky in juniors when he bowled little seamers. He started bowling off spin around under 15/16’s and just made it his own. Super competitive and loved a chat as well
Paul Sutherland – Super control and could land them time and time again on 20 cent coin
Who were the best 3 batters you’ve played against?
Grant Lambert – I grew up with Lambo’s and couldn’t get him out in the backyard or at Rosedale Oval. He would bat for days! I watched him hit numerous tons as juniors in representative cricket, but this day at Rosedale he scored 100 plus not out, he was a class above
Michael Clarke – Record speaks for itself
Rod Davison – Would bat all day and he put such a high price on his wicket. A 40 plus day at Benson Lane didn’t stop him. He batted all day for 140 not out
Grant Lambert
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Grant Lambert – we scored 370 on day 1 at Rosedale and Lambo’s batted all day on day 2 for I think around 130 odd, not a single chance, everything just hit the middle of his bat and it was just all class.
Shane Lee – hit 100 against us at Allan Border Oval in a One-day game. It was just brutal. What didn’t help was I missed a legside stumping early on in his innings!
Was there any bowler or batter in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Sean Day – inswing or outswing, it didn’t matter as he just had my measure all the times
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket?
Yep, my first grade debut for Parramatta against Sutherland. We lost a wicket just on tea and I spent the whole tea break like a cat on a hot tin roof! Sutherland attack was Stuart Clark, Paul Byrom, Daniel McLauchlan and Paul Sutherland just relentless and keep coming at you!
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Scott Atkinson, “Atko” was tough, uncompromising, work ethic and just trained the house down.
Who are the two players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Tim McMahon and Cameron Watson for very different reasons
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
I was really lucky to play under three captains in first grade at Parramatta District Cricket Club. Tim McMahon (Gavan Twining was injured for my debut) and Gavan Twining, both very different in their approach but both very good.
Anthony Kershler at Hawkesbury had pure passion for the Club and he wanted nothing more than for the Hawks to be successful.
Scott Philipson at Auburn just let you play your game without fear of judgement.
Probably the best captain was Gary James (Jesse). He just had a way of instilling this belief in you that you belonged and were more than capable. He just backed you all the way! As he would tell you now, I doubted myself too much!
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Michael Goeke and Stephen Simons together were always funny
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Craig Bayldon (Bayldo) bowling a wrongun to Izzy Gray (Sydney Uni) first ball. Izzy didn’t pick and was plumb LBW, but given not out!
End of the over the umpire hands Craig his cap and apologizes, says “Sorry Craig, I didn’t pick it!”
Bayldo says “you don’t have to pick it just watch it.”
Who was your childhood hero?
Mark Waugh
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Roger Federer, Tim Cahill and Tiger Woods
Roger Federer
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Mona Park Auburn always something it but I must be honest I loved playing at Bensons Lane. Opposition hated it, but we all loved it! Special Place
What particular team did you especially look forward to playing against?
I always loved playing against Western Suburbs after playing Green Shield and moving into the grade system. They were my first-Grade club and loved my time there, had a lot of mates there as well
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
I played in two grand finals, and we lost both but they’re still special. One was in a 3rd Grade Final for Parramatta v Sydney Uni and I think from memory they scored 370 and we scored 340. The second was First Grade Shires Auburn v Strathfield and both teams came last and second last the previous season so for both to play the grand final was a great achievement.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
First Grade Shires Semi for Auburn against South Sydney. South beat us on the first innings, and thought they were home. We beat them outright to win the game just on dark!
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Steve Simons, Paul Sullivan and Scott Philipson and there’d be some laughs
Auburn First Grade
What are your hobbies?
Rugby League and golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Paul Sullivan – I want you to play in the V until you hit 20 runs, only then you are allowed to play a cut shot!
What is your occupation?
Regional Operations Manager for Altus Group
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
No not involved
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities be to ensure cricket in the state remains strong and successful on and off the field?
Shield Squad players to play more grade cricket and help develop players
Fielding is a must and as we were taught as kids “Catches win matches”
